6 posts tagged “gay marriage”

Face it folks, in churches, synagogues and temples across the country, gay people are marrying each other in same sex marriages.  Whether you live in a state that has passed a law banning it or laws that allow it - gay people are marrying each other.   The question of whether or not they can be married is irrelevant because it is happening whether you like it or not.  The real issue is whether or not the federal and state governments will equally recognize all marriages of two, consenting adults or continue to show prejudiced, preferential favoritism to a select group of religious groups.

Iowa and Vermont are the two latest states to allow gay marriage and for that I applaud them!  They understand that the right of two consenting adult - heterosexual or homosexual - should be recognized equally.   They understand that the recognition of same sex marriages at a legal level offers same sex couples more that 1500 rights and privileges offered to man-woman couples. So while some states push to reinstate prejudicial laws and treatment of homosexuals, some states fight for equality.

California now looks to its Supreme Court to decide if their recent voter-approved ban on gay marriage is constitutional.  Their recent ballot measure cost 170 million dollars of money that could have been put to good use actually HELPING families rather than trying to hurt them. 

California Supreme Court Associate Justice Joyce Kennard seems to support the new law because she doesn't want to override the will of the people. "What I am picking up from the oral arguments is that this court should willy-nilly disregard the will of the people."  Clearly Justice Kennard fails to realize the the USA and all of its states are NOT democracies - they are Republics.  As republics, mob rule does not apply.   The courts have the right to override prejudicial and unfair laws - even if 90% of the populace votes for them. 

 Thank god Justice Kennard wasn't around when they decided Brown vs Board of Education.  After all, the mob (aka the majority) supported and voted on the laws that segregated black people from white people.  In Kennard's world, voters approved those laws, so they should have been allowed to stand.

What an EXCELLENT turn of events!  It seems that Massachusetts will now extend the right to marry in their state to out-of-state individuals.  This includes homosexual and hetersexual couples.  Bravo to them!

Its about time that people recognize that marriage is not the invention of religion.  No one religious group should be allowed to define the contractual binding of two consenting adults.  No religious gorup should be given preference.  So the extension of marriage rights to all consenting adults is WONDERFUL!

I am also encouraged by forward thinking individuals that understand that marriage is a constantly changing institution.  If only others would accept the changes in  marriage and quit claiming ownership of the institution. If these people REALLY want a traditional marriage - they need to treat it as a property exchange.  The father of the bride  (or brother if daddy is dead) is transferring ownership of the woman to another man.   That is what marriage was - do we really want to go back to that?

Now, maybe my Aunt Brenda and her life partner can marry the next time they visit her niece in Massachusetts.

This week the California court system informed the people there that the ban on gay marriage (Prop 22) was unconstitutional. Good For Them!!! Two consenting adults that wish to join in the union of marriage SHOULD be allowed to marry!

Today I opened my email and the American Family Association (AFA) had sent me an email with the following:

Dear Kathleen,

As you know, the California Supreme Court has legalized homosexual marriage. This happened despite the fact that voters in California passed Proposition 22 with 61.4 percent of the vote. Proposition 22 defined marriage as only between one man and one woman.
The recent 4-3 ruling, if allowed to stand, would destroy marriage as it has been known for thousands of years. It would lead to the logical conclusion of the following:

• Legalization of polygamous and other aberrant unions as "marriages"

• Legalization of marriage between an adult parent and adult child

• Legalization of group marriage

• Overturn all the marriage laws in the other 49 state

Apparently - the AFA equates homosexuality with incest and other "aberrant" types of marriages. Why can't these people live and let live? Why do they have to try to legislate other people's lives?

Bravo California! Now if only we could get ruling like these here in Michigan - then my aunt could marry her partner of two decades.

The 10 Couples Site is a very nice and very simple site that shares the stories of 10 different same sex couples.   They are heartwarming stories that show that these couples can and should be considered just as 'normal' as any same sex couple in this country.   They talk about the trivial issues that are common to every couple and they talk about the complexity of being a same sex couple.  

I would hope that everybody go to this site and at least, give it a chance.   I don't care if you are against the recognition of same sex marriages or against of homosexuality - you should at least be willing to educate yourself about the people or the state of being that you dislike.  I am willing to read news from every source because it helps to better understand issues and where my opponents are coming from.   I also allows me to empathize with your positions.   Perhaps - you should do the same.

When people watch this - remember, there are more than 1000 federal rights, priveleges, responsibilities and protections that come with being married.  There are another 400-600 at the state level. We need to help make sure that all people are equally protected under the law. 

Just as an FYI - I understand that some of your churches tell you that homosexuality is wrong.  Thats fine.  Nobody is asking you to change your views or your church.  Nobody is asking you to engage in a homosexual relationship or to marry a gay couple in your church.  What we want is an understanding that your church is not the only one in this nation.  Your church should not be allowed to infringe on the rights of other churches or taxpaying citizens.

Well, I knew this was coming.  The lovely law that drove the hateful conservatives to the polls to reelects their dictator is now hurting gay partners and families in our state.  Earlier this week, the appeals court in Michigan decided that the the gay marriage ban also forbids same sex partners from receiving health insurance.   Yes, this particular case applies to governmental and state employees but it will most likely be applied to other employers in the state of michigan.

The conservative extremists who wrote these laws are excited by this measure and thats disgusting to me.  These laws of hate hurt FAMILIES.  Just because they aren't considered "normal" to one close minded group  of people(really, what is normal anyway?) - doesn't mean they aren't a family and they don't deserve equal rights.  Hell, what about the children of partners who receive benefits through same-sex partners?  

There are so many broader measures being implemented by these hateful laws across the country.   In Ohio - they are deciding if same-sex couples can be charged with domestic violence.   In New Mexico - state retirees are suing the state because they refuse to provide health care coverage to their same sex partners.

This is such a sad situation and it was all brought on by the Republicans, Karl Rove and George W Bush.  They were the ones that got these bills of hate put on the ballot.  They did it to drive the extreme far right to the polls.  Unfortunately - it worked.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/08/national/main2447358.shtml

OK folks, I understand that you fear what you don't understand but do you really need to be frightened of things that don't affect you in any way shape or form?  

LEGAL marriage in America is the contract that joins two individuals.  This contract grants them certain rights and priveleges (over 1000 of them at the federal level) and it al confers on them responsibility for their mate.   The marriage license (contract) should be granted to ANY two consenting adults that want to cement their relationship legally - Gay or straight.

The Christian Uber Right in this nation is hell bent on banning federal recognition of gay marriages, why?   because their version of Christianity says its wrong.   Does their God or their Bibles also tell them that its wrong for Elvis impersonatoeto  marry people in drive-thru wedding chapels in Vegas?  If ther God is dictating who can or can't be married, then can wiccans be married?   What about satanists?   What about Christians who believe that gay people should be married?  Why is it that one INTERPRETATION of God's will is more important than any other?   Why is it that these religions get to interfere in on of the basic rights of this nation?   You know, the pesky, "Freedom of Religion".

Some supporters of the ban gay marriage movement state that marriage should only be open to those who can procreate and have children.   Well then, do we test every man and woman to make sure they are fertile prior to marriage?   Do we put a time constraint on when they will have children to ensure they don't break that mandate from god?

Some claim that gay marriage will cause a breakdown of society and it will weaken the bonds of marriage.  Umm yeah, its not allowed now and we still have over a 50% divorce rate.  How can it get much worse?  Perhaps if you let gay people marry, they would trly appreciate the privelege  and show straight people how to STAY married - then again maybe thats what they are afraid will happen.  If you are worried that gay marriage will destroy you marriage - perhaps you shouldn't have married a gay person?  Personally, if any group make marriage look bad and cheap, you need to look at celebrities that marry in druken parties in Vegas and divorce 24 hours later.

Face it folks, two gay people marrying won't hurt you.  In most cases, it won't even affect you.   What it will do is grant the status of full citizen to an oppressed group of people.