Gays and Gay Marriages

[BCBlondie]

Okay, well, I've been wanting to ask about this, but decided to stay off the topic during the election. Now that it's over, and abortion has been brought up, I might as well bring this up as well...

I was wondering... what are your opinions about gays or gay marriages? (PLEASE don't start any fights!! I'm just curious to see peoples' opinions) I know our President for another four years, Bush, wants to ban gay marriages.. (Anyone know exactly how far along he's gotten with that? If it's still in the process of being done or if it HAS been banned already?) I know that a lot of places no longer allow gays to be married.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with gays. I've grown up in an area where people freely express themselves, not only in speech (like rights and opinions) and religion, but also sexual orientation. It's their decision and I have high respect for them. However, I do hear about a lot of discrimination against gays. And I just don't understand... Growing up in a very diverse community, I don't understand why someone would think that being gay is wrong. I mean, gays are people too! Just like African Americans, Latinos, Asians, etc. Being against gays is almost like being racist, from my point of view, because you're discriminating against a minority. I know that gays are not exactly a race, but it's still prejudice against innocent people. They can't help who they like and it's their own decision... They should be free to be able to decide what sexual orientation they are (and respected for their decision!), just like others have the freedom to decide what religion they believe in.

Now, speaking of religion... I do understand that it is against the Catholic Church for people of the same gender to marry... I know why, but I still don't see what's so wrong about it... I mean, gays were allowed to get married in some places before Bush banned gay marriages.. *is confused* Those weren't Catholic Churches, were they? I don't know all the details.... But here's my opinion: If two people love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together, it should NOT matter what gender you are, what religion you are, what color skin you are, etc. Love is love! I don't think it's right to tell someone who you can or can't love and spend your life with. That's just my opinion.. now let's hear yours!

[GoldenRetrLuver]

I agree with you 100%, Di.

I have family members who are gay, and friends who are gay/lesbian. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. I do not think of them any differently. I support gay marriages 100%.

IMO, nobody has the right to say who you can and can't marry, same gender or not. I just don't see HOW it's hurting anyone by "allowing" people of the same sex to marry, and I never will.

[sammy101]

i have nothing wrong with gays/lesbians.I support them 100%,and i dont have a problem with them.
thats one of the reasons i dont like Bush,b/c he wants to ban gay marriages.

[aly]

Originally posted by GoldenRetrLuver

IMO, nobody has the right to say who you can and can't marry, same gender or not. I just don't see HOW it's hurting anyone by "allowing" people of the same sex to marry, and I never will.

I totally agree with that.

Di and I were talking about this last night. We have both cried over the subject even though we're not gay ourselves. I just can't fathom why, in this day and age, equal rights are not granted to all.

[dappledoxie]

I agree with what you guys have stated. I think that there are just too many people out there who aren't open to things just because they don't want to take the time to really think about it. I think people have the right to do what makes them happy. I want my friends to be happy and if that is a man loving a man or vice versa, hey, as long as they are happy I am happy for them. I think they would deserve the right to be together forever by marriage too. I mean, that's what life is about right, living and being happy, making the best of YOUR life, because it's our choice and I don't think anyone should be able to make me do something or keep me from doing something I want to do. As long as no one is harmed/hurt what's the problem....

[catnapper]

I personally would never judge what makes another person happy. If they found someone who they love so deeply that they want to marry - why should anyone or anything stop them?

I live in an area where its strictly taboo, and my husband is SOOO against it. I keep trying to tell my husband that he'd better learn to accept gays and lesbians because he has a niece that should be coming out of the closet within the next few years. He denies it, but then "jokes" about it when he thinks I'm not listening. He knows in his heart that she is a lesbian, but won't admit it. Whats going to happen when someday she finds the person that makes her happy (finally) and she wants to create a life with that woman? Is he going to deny her the happiness we all want simply because her perfect person also happens to be a female? I think that if you take it out of "those gays and lesbians" and make it more personal with names and faces... that more people would be likely to agree that its not a far-blown concept, that people and lives are greatly affected.

[leslie]

hi catnapper! Have you ever asked him what exactly bothers him about it? he may just be following suit of what he was taught and have no real reason to scoff at her decision, what do you think? I am curious for personal reasons!

[sirrahved]

I don't have a problem with civil unions, but do not support gay marriages. I find the term marriage to be a church-related term, and I think it should stay that way. My views against homosexuality are religion driven and therefore cannot apply in a political setting.

[CathyBogart]

I would say that more than half of my male friend are gay, or have had a significant romantic relationship with another man. I may even, eventually, surrogate a child for a gay couple that I know. I think anyone who finds someone they want to spend the rest of their life with they should be able to.

[Kfamr]

I see no problems with Gays or Gay Marriages, and have never understood why someone wants to stop either.

[Samantha Puppy]

Originally posted by sirrahved
I don't have a problem with civil unions, but do not support gay marriages. I find the term marriage to be a church-related term, and I think it should stay that way. My views against homosexuality are religion driven and therefore cannot apply in a political setting.

Well put. I feel the same way.

[Tonya]

I think that there are so many other things that the government needs to be addressing. Who we love should be the least of their concerns. We need to put that time and effort towards violence, drug abuse, poverty, etc... They're all worried about people falling in love and getting married, yet sex offenders are walking away with a slap on their wrists. Why put so much effort forward to ban something that is so nonviolent? Marriage is about love.

[Maresche]

Originally posted by Samantha Puppy
Well put. I feel the same way.

How do you feel about couples married at the justice of the peace or in some other non-religious ceremony? Is their marriage a marriage or just a civil union? If the term marriage is going to be applied to religious ceremonies only, then hetero- couples who get married at the justice of the peace can't use the term either.

I'm not sure how well that would stand up with those who were married with a justice of the peace.

As for myself, I have no problems with homosexual couples getting married and using the term marriage. If you want to redefine the term marriage to apply only to those married in a church or with some kind of religious officiant, go ahead but it needs to apply to both homosexual and heterosexual couples.

[Tonya]

Originally posted by Maresche
How do you feel about couples married at the justice of the peace or in some other non-religious ceremony? Is their marriage a marriage or just a civil union? If the term marriage is going to be applied to religious ceremonies only, then hetero- couples who get married at the justice of the peace can't use the term either.

I'm not sure how well that would stand up with those who were married with a justice of the peace.

As for myself, I have no problems with homosexual couples getting married and using the term marriage. If you want to redefine the term marriage to apply only to those married in a church or with some kind of religious officiant, go ahead but it needs to apply to both homosexual and heterosexual couples.

Yep. And divorce is immoral and unbiblical, so we better outlaw that too while we are at it.

[Maresche]

Originally posted by Tonya
Yep. And divorce is immoral and unbiblical, so we better outlaw that too while we are at it.

I also think for the protection of marriage movement to have any kind of validity it should also outlaw adultery in all its shapes and sizes, including married couples actually having sexual relations outside the home, to "swinging", to married couples viewing porn. They are all different variation on the adultery theme.