BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Gay/Lesbian News Gay Marriage - your reactions

So, I just wrote one of the most controversial pieces yet. I have been called many names thus far in emails. I want to know what your reactions are to the series - Gay Marriage.

Share what you think of the sides of the issue, if I portrayed them to negatively, or not. I want to know what you think of Gay marriage and the things I mention in the articles.

Right now (8/10/2006) the only article public is the Gay Marriage - The Left.. part 1 of the 3. What'd you think? Was it a disservice? Do I misrepresent the fight? Do I have no clue? Am I a modern day Uncle Tom? Share ;0)

Jason,
I liked the article, it did make me think. I have lived in Calif. all of my life, so as I have been told, I am too far to the left on most things. I have always believed that marriage was for 2 people that were in love. It does not matter the gender. But that is a given. As for the political end of it, I think that this battle will be won by eating that elephant one bit at a time, state to state. It is frustrating, but little by little we will bring down this beast. I don't think that I will see it in my lifetime, but I believe that my grandchildren will see it. With more and more of us out in the open and raising our children with more open minds, it will happen. I am a bi woman, my children are proud of who I am and my grandchildren think nothing of (as my grandson says) "Nana and her Honey". BTW my partner is female. Wish us luck we are off to live in Florida and change Attitudes there! hehe
I look forward to the rest of the articles.
Cindy <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />

Jase, I like that you're going to do this as three parts. I'm sorry so many folks have decided to fling mud at their first opportunity.

Given that people will pair-bond and raise children no matter what their orientation, I think those that wish to commit to do so should all get the same legal rights, benefits and protections.

Bearing in mind I'm hetero, married, and not religious, here goes:

I feel very strongly that my gay friends deserve the same rights I have - ie the chance to marry the person they love. Having said that, though, I also don't feel that little piece of paper is so important (but I do realise that when you don't have that little piece of paper it hurts like hell and really is far more important to you than when it is as simple as walking into a courthouse and signing a register - so I apologise if that comes across as callous). My husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversaries (we have two), but we also celebrate the other anniversaries of our commitments to each other - the day we became a couple, the day we moved in together, the day we informally proposed to each other, the day we got engaged. Now we're celebrating the process of buying our first house together... it's all those things and much more that make a marriage whether it is a legal marriage or not. That day my hubby and I informally proposed is the day I consider to be our true marriage date because of the surreal intensity of the event. The events that followed were only repeats of that first marriage commitment, however beautifully designed they were.

It just gets my back up when I hear that the love that one person has for another can be invalidated by a third party who has nothing to do with the couple in question. To me that's absurd, as you say Jase - the religious right are fighting something that has nothing to do with them. Why?

But it's for that reason that the GLBT movement needs to at least keeping holding its head up, at least keep a shoulder against the door to prevent it being shut and locked on you.

I read your article and will be looking forward to reading the ones that follow. I felt you were beig very objective and realistic so I'm confused at the anger you have had to deal with over this piece. Throughout history we have witnessed people constantly struggling to over come prejudice and a set mind according to what society has taught to be the norm. Unfortunately equal statis has had to come most generally with winning small battles rather than one large war. However becoming content and stagnet over the won small battles would be a mistake if it prevented the desire to go forward to attempt the major battles.

I think you made some good points. The unfortunate part of this whole argument is that people fear what they don't understand or what they are told to fear. Let's face it - many out there are sheep being led by 30 second soundbites on the news (many of which are ultimately owned and run by the right). The right also has some good slogan writers to fill those 30 second bites.

I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the concept that gay marriage hurts others. I've heard all the arguments and if you leave religion out of the equation they all fall flat.

As Grace said, "becoming content and stagnet over the won small battles would be a mistake if it prevented the desire to go forward to attempt the major battles."

Keep on writing!

It seem to me that gay marriage has been politicized to the point of being ridiculous. My straight friends ask me how we have affected their marriage? I wonder the same thing. And how do we possibly affect any organized religion. The religions need a rallying cry. This decade's is marriage. Marriage between men and women is a relatively new phenomenon coming into being not as a religious ceremony, but as an economic necessity that bound two families' wealth and property together. The church got involved when they saw a possibility of gaining power. Even to this day, I can't see where any church has any business intruding on marriage. It is a civil contract and must be treated as such. And if we wish to form that civil contract we must. If the marriage participants wish to involve the church, that is between them and their chosen church.


Jan Goldfield

Sadly, when one does not have that "legal piece of paper" in times of medical emergencies the significant other's voice or power to decide for their loved one can be null and void when it comes to making the important life and death decisions.

I truly believe if two people are committed to each other regardless of race, color, religion, creed or gender they should be allowed to legally wed in the eyes of the law and everyone else can go take a long leap of a short pier.

Absolutely. Agreed 100%.

Wow, I can see all your points. I am glad I was able to spawn some debate and interaction on this topic. Means I am doing what I am supposed to be doing LOL