Is this a fitting compromise for Gay Marriage?
107314
Why not?  But the churches will still publicly fight it just for calling it marriage.  I say let people do what they want and just fix the issue with the benefits problem so it's not abused, and totally ignore the churches just like they totally ignore facts and science and other opinions.
551910
Well its not really "marriage" is it.\n\nMarriage is recognised by God as a man and a woman.\n\nI think if two people want to spend the rest of their lives together, and they are gay.  Feel free, but its not natural so dont parade it around in front of others.
1095831
I agree.  Any marriage between two consenting adults, be it gay, lesbian, interracial, or interreligious, is perfectly fine in my eyes.  Love is love and should be honored, not condemned.
298235
No.  The federal government is currently run by morons who are afraid to legitimize gay marriage because they are under the dilusion that it might somehow impact the Church (even though the religious and legal institutions of marriage are totally and completely separate and any Chuch can refuse to marry anyone they want for any reason they want).  Same-sex partnerships essentially have no legal status in the US, so their existence is virtually irrelevent to the immigration process.  It's not fair but that's the way it is.
772719
It depends on exactly what you're asking here. Will you have the right to wed openly and have your spouse guaranteed the same benefits as a partner in a heterosexual marriage? If that's your question, I would say probably not. The Christian right still has its claws on the balls of government. Separation of church and state is a convenient illusion. G.W. is an evangelical Christian. He opposes everything about gays, including their right to love whomever they want. As far as you have come in assuring that you will be treated equally in America, you have that far to travel yet again. Good luck.
848695
Two people who willfully choose to join themselves in a committed relationship and who plan to stick it out through the good times and bad times, come hell or high water.\n\nSince this is the LGBT forum, I will add this. I am really angry about all the hoopla about gay marriage going on in my country (US) right now. So many people keep saying marriage is a one man + one woman only affair, but the fact of the matter is that marriage, at least in the US, is a LEGAL MATTER. If you choose to have a religious ceremony, it isn't legal until you get the marriage license issued by the state. Since it's a legal contract, I find it obscene that anyone wants to legislate that it can only be between a man and a woman. If marriage was simply a religious affair, then I would say it was up to the religious leaders of that faith to say who can and who cannot be married, but I find it repugnant that some people are not allowed to enter into a binding legal agreement simply because they happen to be of the same sex. The simple fact that I have two X chromosomes, and my partner is an XY gives us, automatically, all sorts of rights and privileges that are denied to other couples because they are the same sex. I am weary of people saying, "well, they can go to an attorney and make sure that they inherit each other's stuff, and they can go to an attorney and legally adopt each other's kids, and they can go to an attorney and give each other medical power of attorney, and they can go to an attorney..." because all of that stuff was just given to me and my husband when we married. No one in a committed relationship should have to spend thousands of dollars in legal fees getting their ducks in a row so that when something happens to one of them they can end up with a rotten judge in court and have it overturned in favor of "next of kin", who are, sadly, not always mindful of what their dearly departed would have wanted. It's all just offensive to me. \n\nOkay, sorry for the outburst. I will put my soapbox away now.
387345
Sure. Then let's let every other person who wants to enter into some freak union have at it too. We'll have people marrying monkeys, watermelons, like eight people at a time in some state-sactioned marital gang bang. Sure, what the hell. It'll destroy the fabric of what America was ... but at least we'll be tolerant.\n\nThis is such a stupid question. The whole concept is just off. Just because you WANT to do something and most people think it's okay doesn't mean it automatically allowed. I'm sure the majority of people would condone cheating on their taxes ... let's start shaking our fists in anger and see if we can get that allowed too.\n\nYou see what the ACLU has done to this country? Like Dennis Miller said ... the ACLU will sue to keep you from putting up a nativity display at Christmas and then sue to defend the right of the local stoner who stumbles into the display and wants to screw one of the sheep.\n\nFreaking liberals are RUINING this country!\n\nP.S.\n\nIt's HILARIOUS that you posted a question asking about the consensus on gay marriage in the "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered" section. What in the world did you think the consensus would be?
596529
Yes, I believe if two people are in love, they should be able to wed. If they want to make that kind of a commitment and are that secure in their relationship, which I doubt I will EVER be that secure, let them have at it!! I do have a problem with them raising kids though. And I would hate to see a divorce between 2 gay men. That would be one hell of a cat fight!! I think a lot of people are coming around to this point of view since a lot of states have legalized same sex marriages. It was a very good thing indeed!! Thank you for asking!!
1174446
I'm perfectly fine with the idea of gay marriage. Perhaps those against gay marriage just done want to be outdone by spectacularily fab weddings that are sure to be the result of gay weddings. On the downside, if gay weddings would be lavish, tastefull affairs can you imagine how nasty a gay divorce would be! Yes, I am being silly, but in all seriousness I think that whoever wants to get married should be able to.
1090623
It depends upon the person and the country.  If the leader is able to keep his or her mind open to what is best for the majority of the people rather than "my {religious text of choice} tells me that this is wrong so we're going to make sure it's illegal," there's not a problem.\n\nSorry, I'm having major problems with President Bush's view on same sex marriage right now.
121341
I'm not really sure if marriage is a federal issue right now.  It will be a federal issue if the right-wingers get their way and change the Constitution.\n\nIt will be legal on a state by state basis when enough people realize that the only real argument against it is of a religious nature and that there is a constitutional separation of church and state.\n\nThink about it, gay people should have the same rights as every other American and allowing them to be legally married would harm no one!
1144778
yes it should be legal, the people that are afriad i twill affect their relationshiops don't have strong relations and fear losing their loved one. RIGHT TO PRESUE HAPPYNESS. Marriage is about love not religon creed or sexual orentition, if you really wanan look at it religously I'd guess that jesus would have hung out wiht the gay guy or girl or the bisexual just like he hung out with the prostitute and blind guy and the guy with lepracy, if theres anyone  who he wouldnt hang with its the guy saying no these arnt people and that they cant live happily and love who they want  to. I'm not even religous I just like to give what i think even catholics and cristians can think cuse I used to be one till I decide I was bisexual ... and I think the only thing needed for marriage is LOVE.
1028674
Rules?There should be compromise.
148742
No, its not a case of separate but equal. Its a political compromise to provide some relief to gay persons in an atmosphere where the majority of persons don't want actual same-sex marriage. Yes, it might not be "the same" as heterosexual marriage, but then there is nothing in this that is similar to the civil rights movement where you were talking basic human rights in the separate but equal doctrine. The separate but equal doctrine was actually a way to institutionalize discrimination rather than reducing it. The civil unions movement is an attempt to remedy the discrimination.
580173
Marriage is a religious "Christian" institution. Gays should be allowed to join in legal "unions" that have all the same benefits of marriage. But to call it marriage is like a buddhist claiming he wants to have a Bar Mitzvah.
349054
No.  I am a heterosexual in favor of equal rights for gays and lesbians.  The fact is that the Christian Right enjoys favor in Washington right now, but if we really were as we claim a nation that separates Church and State, gays would be allowed every privelege heteros have, including marriage.  There are plenty of liberal churches who marry gays-- why aren't their theologies driving public policy and law? \n  It is insecurity and ignorance that keep people from allowing gays equal rights... but the times they are a'changin'...
927296
Start here for more or less neutral look at the issue:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage#Controversy