Legal rights for Gay couples i.e. Civil Unions

[Amazon 7]

A post in another thread based on something Sarah Palin said about gay rights during the debate made me wonder how people really feel about this devisive issue. So how do you feel about civil unions

[TrophyHusband 0]

19 vote and no replies? i have a question for those who voted no to civil unions. why do you care?

as for me, i don't care if gays want to get married. i doesn't effect my life any. the civil union moniker is a joke. being ok with a civil union, which is the same as marriage, but just being against calling it a marriage has even less logic to it than not wanting to allow gay marriage/civil unions. marriage in general is not sacred. if it were, divorce rates would be a lot lower, and there would be a hell of a lot less infidelity.

"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com

[Nightingale 0]

I don't see why the federal government should be in the business of legitimizing religious and social relationships between individuals at all, but if it is, it should not place restrictions on whose relationships can be legitimized.

[Misternatural 0]

>>being ok with a civil union, which is the same as marriage,

I think the difference exists between the legal and religious definitions.
civil union- legal
marriage- religious

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[okalb 104]

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I think the difference exists between the legal and religious definitions.
civil union- legal
marriage- religious

Fine, then the government should stay out of all marriages. They shouldn't recognize anything BUT civil unions whether gay or straight. If they are however going to recognize straight marriages, then to not recognize a same sex one is discrimination no matter how you slice it. If it is a religious union then the government has no business being involved. If it isn't then they have no business discriminating. Coming up with a different term for it (i.e. civil union) is just a not so backhanded way of saying we are begrudgingly giving you the same rights because we have to, but don't think you are equal because you aren't.

Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

[JohnnyD 0]

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>>being ok with a civil union, which is the same as marriage,

I think the difference exists between the legal and religious definitions.
civil union- legal
marriage- religious

I am an atheist who married in a casino in Las Vegas. I have a marriage certificate, not a civil union certificate.

[TrophyHusband 0]

legal definitions are what we are talking about here. the government has no say in religious definitions.

"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com

[Misternatural 0]

Just stating what i think the difference between the two definitions is- not the application thereof.

As for the application-
I have friends who are gay or lesbian, or whatever the proper nomenclature is, and living together and although the marriage/civil union debate is a hot topic, they seem to make up their own rules and live their lives regardless of the governments policies or other peoples belief systems.

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[Lucky... 0]

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I don't see why the federal government should be in the business of legitimizing religious and social relationships between individuals at all, but if it is, it should not place restrictions on whose relationships can be legitimized.

You're in America.... welcome to the fun and so-called US Const.

[Lucky... 0]

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I don't see why the federal government should be in the business of legitimizing religious and social relationships between individuals at all, but if it is, it should not place restrictions on whose relationships can be legitimized.

You're in America.... welcome to the fun and so-called US Const.

[pirana 0]

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>>being ok with a civil union, which is the same as marriage,

I think the difference exists between the legal and religious definitions.
civil union- legal
marriage- religious

I am an atheist who married in a casino in Las Vegas. I have a marriage certificate, not a civil union certificate.

Atheist here, but married in a chuch (made all parents so happy). My marriage certificate was issued by the state and has nothing to do with any church or religion.

Marriage is a state sanctioned event. It's time the states change their laws and allow same-sex marriages. All the political gamesmanship and semantics surrounding "civil unions" is a load of crap that we'll probably have to put up with for a while; at least until after the current generation of stuffed-shirt fat white men that run our legislatures die off.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[Shotgun 1]

As long as no church is forced to perform a marriage that they don't agree with, I see no reason to not let same-sex couples get married with all the same rights as heterosexual couples.

And I hope that Prop 8 (initiative to change CA's Constitution to ban same-sex marriage) is thoroughly shot down here in this next election.

[guppie01 0]

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And I hope that Prop 8 (initiative to change CA's Constitution to ban same-sex marriage) is thoroughly shot down here in this next election.

There is a house up on a hill near mine with a GIANT lighted sign Yes on 8..... I can't believe people would go to the extent of paying for a giant sign on their property. Oh lordy.... the shame.... what if their daughter or son came home and confessed to being gay. I suppose they also believe the child can be brainwashed into believing they are hetero.

sorry rant over...

I'm a NO on Prop 8.

g

"Let's do something romantic this Saturday... how bout we bust out the restraints?"
Raddest Ho this side of Jersey #1 - MISS YOU
OMG, is she okay?

[billvon 3,078]

> I can't believe people would go to the extent of paying for a giant sign on their property.

I can. For some people, this is a real, direct threat to their way of life.

Take an example - a conservative guy with a family who is a prominent member of his (anti-gay-marriage) church. He's told his family and his friends about how sinful he thinks homosexuality is. He has been attracted to men all his life, but has resisted his urge to do anything about it. Legalizing such relationships would be akin to legalizing cocaine to a cocaine addict. Sure, he can still decide not to do it, but it's much harder when it is not only available, but openly condoned and accepted.

If Prop 8 fails, he could well lose everything he has worked for his whole life. That is a big deal to some people.

At a less personal level, there are a lot of religious conservatives who are terrified that gay marriage will not be the disaster they predicted it will be:

1) It will make them look like fearmongers if their predictions do not come to pass.
2) Success in California will show other states that it can be done without anything bad happening.
3) Traditionally California sort of "leads the way" in some areas (car emissions controls, technology, silly fashions, starlet scandals etc.) So this may be the harbinger of things to come.

[georgerussia 0]

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I don't see why the federal government should be in the business of legitimizing religious and social relationships between individuals at all

They have to, since the federal government is in charge of other laws, such as immigration or tax laws which treat married people differently. Thus they have to deal with definition of what "married" is.

* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

[diverborg 0]

I'm actually torn internally on this one. One side of me due to my Christian faith has some strong convictions on the issue that I just can't do away with. Now before I get flamed, I'm not going to say that its a choice, or that I know why people are gay because I honestly have no clue, and its something I'll never understand.

I do however strongly believe that Christians are supposed to love everyone, and I think we are all created equally with equal rights. But this is where I get torn because I believe they should have equal rights, but the thought of recognizing gay marriage goes against my faith. So in weird sense even though its the same thing, the words "civil union" for some strange reason make me feel a little better.

Christians base their faith on the teachings and life of Jesus, so before Christians should go judging me or anyone else on this issue, they should look at what Jesus did in his life. Jesus spent most his life befriending the down and out and religiously rejected crowd. While the bible (if you believe in it) is clear that homosexuality is wrong I think we'd be representing Jesus's character more by spending our money on feeding the poor and helping the homeless than campaigning to fight some civil union bill. So honestly I would probably vote no if I had to, but at the same time the gaybashers and those people or organizations that would spend millions in campaigning against it truly drive me crazy.

So to sum it up, I simply don't know how I truly feel about this, and this is my most honest answer.

[Amazon 7]

Thank you for your honesty.

Personally my faith has this little thing that says everyone has the choice in life to follow what was taught or not. It does NOT say anything about judging your neighbors. That is between their god and themselves.

The two gay guys on the 5 acres next door to me.. are a loving committed couple more so than many hetero neighbors around here. Their relationship has ZERO effect on my life in any negative way. As long as your actions dont affect those around me... I dont think I have the right to judge them.

[Lucky... 0]

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And I hope that Prop 8 (initiative to change CA's Constitution to ban same-sex marriage) is thoroughly shot down here in this next election.

There is a house up on a hill near mine with a GIANT lighted sign Yes on 8..... I can't believe people would go to the extent of paying for a giant sign on their property. Oh lordy.... the shame.... what if their daughter or son came home and confessed to being gay. I suppose they also believe the child can be brainwashed into believing they are hetero.

sorry rant over...

I'm a NO on Prop 8.

g

I can't believe people would speak out so vehemently against homosexuality and then tap toes in bathrooms trollling for cock. Tho protests too loudly all over the place, sometimes the louder - the more gay (if there is a measure of gayness).

[diverborg 0]

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Personally my faith has this little thing that says everyone has the choice in life to follow what was taught or not. It does NOT say anything about judging your neighbors. That is between their god and themselves.

Not saying you, but a lot of people assume that because I may vote against civil unions that I somehow would treat them with less respect or view them as less of a citizen. My wife has several friends that are gay and they are wonderful people like anyone else. If you really knew us on a personal basis you'd understand that we really aren't judgemental people. Even her gay friends know how we feel about this issue, and they are still great friends. It's just an area we see differently. I guess in one way or another this can be viewed as judgemental, but I hope the gay people that know me don't view me that way.

[Shotgun 1]

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But this is where I get torn because I believe they should have equal rights, but the thought of recognizing gay marriage goes against my faith.

How do you feel about atheists being allowed to marry?

And I thought that the Bible pretty much says that homosexuality is wrong whether two people are married or not. So if you will vote against same-sex marriage because of your faith, it seems logical to want homosexuality to be illegal too.

(I'm not trying to be confrontational or anything. I appreciate your honest answer. I just don't understand why anyone would want to prevent two loving adults from being able to marry each other and have the same rights that everyone else has.)

[TheAnvil 0]

What business of government's is it who marries who? I don't care.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[diverborg 0]

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How do you feel about atheists being allowed to marry?

And I thought that the Bible pretty much says that homosexuality is wrong whether two people are married or not. So if you will vote against same-sex marriage because of your faith, it seems logical to want homosexuality to be illegal too.

(I'm not trying to be confrontational or anything. I appreciate your honest answer. I just don't understand why anyone would want to prevent two loving adults from being able to marry each other and have the same rights that everyone else has.)

I have no problem with anybody wanting to marry whether they are atheists, bhuddists, you name it. If the state never recognized or treated anybody differently for being married then this would be a non-issue. There's nothing keeping any gay couple from having a ceremony, saying their vows, and living together forever. The difference becomes the state recognizing the institution of marriage between a gay couple, and if not giving them a civil union so they can have the same benefits. This is where I admittedly am torn and may have a double standard. Like I said I really don't know how I would vote if I had to on civil unions because I can recognize some of my own hipocracy on the issue from a world's standpoint.

However, I would never be for outlawing homosexuality in general. If that were the case then where would I stop. Let's outlaw drinking, cursing, gambling, premarital sex, you get the drift. But I do see a difference between tolerance and acceptance. From a logical perspective you guys will have me beat on this one and I'm not going to try and argue it. I'm just mainly expressing my own convictions. We are all allowed to vote based on our convictions and I'm still trying to sort this one out in my own mind.

[Nightingale 0]

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I don't see why the federal government should be in the business of legitimizing religious and social relationships between individuals at all

They have to, since the federal government is in charge of other laws, such as immigration or tax laws which treat married people differently. Thus they have to deal with definition of what "married" is.

Yes, but I don't think the law should treat married people differently. Discrimination on the basis of family status is still discrimination.

[Amazon 7]

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What business of government's is it who marries who? I don't care.

Because government controls all of our lives by virtue of LAW.

Marriage currently is a legallf binding contract...as would be civil unions.

Currently if a gay person is sick and dying in a hospital..their partner/spouse/lover has no right to make any decisions about their health care yet a family member of the sick individual who may be estranged.. and not seen the sick individual can see them and make those decisions.

Have you seen any gay people filing their taxes as a couple? Married filing jointly???


Hopefully you get my point. Gay people do not have the same rights as other Americans who grew up assuming they had all the rights that the Constitution reserves for them.

[ErricoMalatesta 0]

I enjoy it when homosexuals enter marriage or civil unions and I also enjoy it when they raise kids.