I have gotta present on why/why not gay marriage? your ideas, ideals on the issue will be greatly appreciated.
157027
I personally think gay marriage is good.  People get married all the time, why shouldn't they be allowed to?  It's a personal choice and doesn't hurt anyone any more than it would if I got married.  It may even lower the divorce rate,since they tend to stay together longer than most straight couples, at elast from my experience.  The thing I found most ironic is Elton John went to England to get married.  Didn't we fight for freedom from England to be allowed to have our own lifestyles without persecution?  Then why ccan't gay couples have more than commencement ceremonies and enjoy the legal and financial benefits that come with any marriage?  I really don't have any information on why a gay couple shouldn't get married, Sorry.
1068992
I personally think it is silly to want the state involved in any marriage either straight or gay. Marriage is a formal ceremony stating your intentions before God it is a travesty and an abomination to invite the state to take part in such a union. I have a marriage license but only because my minister required it. I think if I was to get married now I would find a minister who would agree to do it with out the states intrusion. Regardless of if I was marrying a man or a woman. Although as a bisexual I don't think I would ever get married again.
527126
Okay- I did a Public Speaking presentation on same-sex marriage. (BTW, not only homosexuals want to get married to people of their own gender, bisexuals would like to do it too; if you use "same-sex" marriage, it's more professional, since that's what the news media has termed it recently.)  In the sources, I've put all the internet sources I used.  I'm not sure if this will help, since you didn't specify if it could be an online newspaper or if it had to be a print newspaper.  Good luck!\n\nNOTE: For the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (last link), I used Articles: 1, 6, 7, 12, and especially 16\n\n(PS- I can't remember where I found it, but I remember one of the pros was that married people pay more taxes, so that if same-sex couples were allowed to marry they'd be charged under spousal income tax laws and more money would flow into the government.)
249251
I believe that same gender marriages should be allowed and I am happily married and not cheating on my spouse.But I do agree with you. Divorce and adultry are blatant attacks on marriage so they should be banned to if they are going to use that arguement against same sex unions.
358163
Nope gay peoples should never allowed to get married.\nBecause marriage for for a man and a woman and it leads to a family. They should find their way of dealing with each other and leave the marriage thing for people who wants to have a family
440524
Everyone should have the same rights regardless of their sexual preference. If gay people want to get married they should be allowed to. I don't why there is so much controversy over this issue, it's a basic right to marry someone. They are still people who experience love just like straight people.
1151448
I think that same sex marriage should be allowed - for a variety of reasons - however I do not believe that any church should be forced into sanctioning it if it goes against what they truly believe in from their perception of the bible or?.  Understanding all of that, I really do not believe that this is what the majority of people who want to be in a same sex marriage are asking for..\n\nPart of the reason that I believe we should allow this is:\n#1 - No matter what one feels on this subject - we need to realize that there are children involved in many cases.  Because those who are currently living together are not entitled to one another's benefits - those children within this family  unit are also not entitled to the other care giver's dental, medical etc.  Why make them less fortunate that others who are living common-law ie: heterosexuals?   I find this very discriminatory.\n\nAlso -\n#2 - what if one of the couple dies?  Perhaps there is a another party also dependent on these two for support - like an older parent?  The one left will not be entitled to any portion of pensions etc. from the one who has died - which could have a devastating effect on the ones left behind.\n\nI don't think that people realize or take the time to think past the sexuality of the couple. \n\nAnd besides - do people stop and ask you what you do in your bedroom??  I don't think so - so why do we always equate same sex partnerships with only sex.  I believe that this shows our narrow mindedness... think beyond the general concept and try and grasp the whole picture!!\n\np.s.  am married with children - but feel strongly about this subject...
1147467
>>>If the United States is so perfect and so fair then why don't people have equal rights?? Gays should be able to marry!! <<<\n\nYou're so right!   Gays don't have equal rights because they can't marry each other!\n\nAnd while we're at it, how about it for all the pedophiles, bigamists, polygamists, incest committers, and those who are prone to bestiality -- because all of them are prohibited from marrying the objects of their sexual desires!\n\nThree cheers for the idea that "marriage rights" should encompass any and all sexual desires whatsoever!\n\nAnd to hell with the fact that 45 out of 50 states have laws specifically defining marriage as a man-woman union.   Who in the hell needs respect for the democratic process, anyway?
258810
I think it should be legalized, and so do a lot of other smart people, including the folks at the American Psychiatric Association\nhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/22/AR2005052200785.html\n\nAnd yet another study just came out today saying same-sex marriage bans cause trauma\nhttp://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid26315.asp\n\nThe California State Legislature also agrees that gay marriage should be legalized\nhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/06/AR2005090602076.html\n\nBut Arnold vetoed it (bastard)\nhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR2005090702020.html\nhttp://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/09/29/MNG4IEVVEG5.DTL\n\nOne the best articles to make the case has been reprinted in numerous journals and books, and you can find here\nhttp://www.indegayforum.org/authors/corvino/corvino59.html\n\nAs for books, I reccomend\n\nGay Marriage : Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America by Jonathan Rauch, 2004\n\nSame-Sex Marriage and the Constitution by Evan Gerstmann 2003\n\nWhy Marriage Matters : America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry by Evan Wolfson  2004\n\nWhat God Has Joined Together? : A Christian Case for Gay Marriage by David Meyers 2005\n\nWhy You Should Give A Damn About Gay Marriage by  Davina Kotulski 2004\n\nCabaj and Purcell, On The Road to Same-Sex Marriage (Jossey-Bass Inc., 1998)\n\nW.N. Eskridge, The Case for Same-Sex Marriage: From Sexual Liberty to Civilized Commitment (The Free Press, 1996).\n\nE.J. Graff, What is Marriage For? (Beacon Press, 1999).\n\nA. Sullivan, Same-Sex Marriage: Pro and Con, A Reader (Random House, 1997).\n\nAnd here is a shitload of websites:\n\nStart with this bibliography\nhttp://law-library.rutgers.edu/SSM.html\n\nAnd move on down\nhttp://www.sfgate.com/samesexmarriage/\nhttp://www.allianceforsamesexmarriage.org/\nhttp://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/scotts/domestic-partners/mainpage.html\nhttp://www.ftmf.org/fof/\nhttp://www.freedomtomarry.org/\nhttp://www.glaad.org/media/resource_kit_detail.php?id=3457\nhttp://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/issues/record?record=9\nhttp://www.marriageequality.org/main_home.php\nhttp://www.nbjcoalition.org/issues/marriage.html\nhttp://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/Table_Marriage.htm
161220
I am a homosexual. My partner died of AIDS in August. Even though we had been together for 12+ years I walked away with nothing. I was not allowed to be by his bedside as he lay in a hospital, I wasn't allowed to handle any of his funeral wishes, and I was evicted from my home that we had shared for many many years. So I think civil unions that grant everyone, regardless of sexuality, equality are a necessity. Look into the past regarding marriages and you will find that certain races weren't allowed to marry at one time. Now that would be unheard of. But homosexuals are still stigmatized as the unnatural people, and once that is cured then perhaps we shall all be free.
784269
I won't get into the sin thing, since I'm a Humanist and that's a religious concept, but it does seem to me that, if one of the reasons societies promote marriage is to promote stability, then it doesn't make sense to discourage same-sex couples from marrying.  Denying gay couples the right to marry is not defending marriage.
271871
Marriage is based on a religious Principal your not going to get them to accept gay marriage. And I don't think they have to corrupt it because a minority wants to make it so. I do think that there should be civil unions without religion so gays can finally make it legal.
729898
Find an argument for gay marriage that I cannot use for bigamy, incest, etc.\n\nO.K. Me and my Mother are two consenting adults who want to marry each other. Why can't we? By your standards we should be able to also.\n**************************************************\nAll I'm stating is that once you change the definition of marriage, there is no stopping it. Gay people CAN get married, so long as it's with someone of the opposite sex. \n\nIf you're argument is that the definition of marriage is two consenting adults who love each other, then anyone can argue that they can marry their relative. Why can I not marry two women? If we are all in agreement and we all love each other, why can't we all get married?\n\nWhat is your argument for changing the definition of marriage? Every argument leads to other types of marriage such as incest bigamy etc.\n\n***********************************\nI also can't believe how Separation of Church and State has been so distorted. Separation of C&S was designed to keep the government out of the church not the Church out of the Gov't. There is nothing that says people cannot make laws that coniside with their religous views.\n\n************************************\n*******************\n"I certainly hope this person is kidding, because if they aren't, we should all be very afraid. There is a vast difference between two consenting adults engaged in a loving relationship and incest or bigamy. They are very different things and frankly there is no logic in this answer what so ever. "\n\nExplain why it is different? Is it because you think incest is wrong, unnatural, immoral? I think gay marriage is wrong, unnatural, and immoral. Why is your standard better than mine? If you want marriage to be b/w two consenting adults who are the same sex, what difference is it that someone wants to marry multiple wives or their relative? Again, I'll say it again. Any argument that can be used for gay marriage can be used for big./incest. Why homosexual and not incest? Once you open that door there is no shutting it.
344824
Wow there are alot of choices that have different views. Not sure what you are looking for but here are some debates:\n\nAbortion, gays adopting, spanking children, immigrants, etc. \n\nI will still think about this one and get back to you.\n\n\nETA: Polygamy, Same sex marriages
959301
In the UK we have recently started to accept civil partnerships, which I hope is the first step towards a better gay marriage law.  The difficulty is that a lot of pople think that "marriage" can only be between a man and a woman and a lot of people think that gay people don't deserve the same human rights as straight people, I hope that these views fall out of favour because there is no real difference and surely two people in a happy, commited relationship are better off than two single people that are living alone and miserable!
1130655
So, it seems that the answer is "NO", there are no rational reasons against same-sex marriage.\nThere are even people stupid enough to think that marriage is a religious institution. *rolls eyes* Let me let you pin-heads in on a little secret; marriage is a LEGAL institution, NOT a religious one. Don't believe me? Try getting married in a church or other religious place without the legal documentation. You can't. You can however, get married at a city or town hall without ANY mention of god or any other magic sky-pixie. \nWhy? Because marriage is a LEGAL institution. \nAnd that makes this a CIVIL right. \nSorry all you back-woods hicks, you lose. Bush is playing you inbred morons like a cheap fiddle. \nI feel nothing but pity for you.
57526
Yes...although I'm thinking this wasn't the place to ask this question...unless you're looking for a fight.  You will invariably get rude and hateful answers.  Since you don't have any history, it's impossible for me to guage if you asked this to see others' views on the subject or if you are gay and wanting to marry.\n\nI am a strong advocate for gay marriage.  I'm straight myself, but I have quite a few gay friends and I like to think of myself as somewhat liberal.  Who are we to define who should and should not get married?  Granted, anything within a family is sick and wrong (although I'm sure there are some people out there that will beg to differ with me - but I've seen in places that the result of children from incestuous relationships often have severe abnormalities)...and I agree with NoMorLuv that anything involving animals (beastiality) is also wrong.  They can not speak for themselves.  Multiple partners, not okay either.  \n\nThat remains simple.  Set a law establishing that a marriage is a union between 2 persons - be it a man and a woman, 2 men or 2 women.  That's it.  1 union per 2 people, not related by blood.  There ya go.  Solves that.  Why can't 2 guys get married in most states?  Why can't 2 women?  Why does it matter?  \n\nI'll tell you why - because you have the religious types (nope, not quite sure where my faith lies) that say that it is wrong in the Bible.  I thought God was supposed to love you no matter what?  No matter what your sexual orientation?  I've seen people post here that if you repent for your sins (ie homosexuality - I saw it on a post concerning lesbians going to hell) that God will forgive you.  Why should you have to repent for loving someone of the same sex?  That implies that it's wrong, when it's not.  So what if you're the same sex?  As long as you love each other, that's what's important.\n\nIn my mind, I think that a marriage should be just as stated above.  It's a commitment to love and honor your spouse, no matter what.  I have a very close friend at work (he lives in Massachusetts - where gay marriage is legal) who is married to another man and he can't be happier!  And you know what, I can't be happier for him!  \n\nPeople say that by allowing gays to marry, it will destroy the sanctity of marriage.  Will not.  Like said, it shouldn't matter as long as there is love and commitment there!  \n\nPlus, there's the whole children thing.  Just because Mary has 2 moms (or 2 dads) doesn't mean that she will grow up to be a lesbian.  It's more important to show a loving relationship than the sex of the parents.  Homosexuality is not something that is induced by surroundings or peers, it's just something that happens.  Nor is it an abbhoration, as I've also seen people post here.  Damn people and their closed minds.  It's actually been seen in young children, sometimes they just don't know it yet.  I believe it's something that is just predetermined...a lot of gay people (mostly men) that I've talked to said they always knew.  Actually, my married friend was married to a woman once...he thought he might change!  (I saw that here too...someone said with enough of the right counselling they can "become" straight!)  So it really doesn't matter who your parents are, as long as they're happy.\n\nBesides, why should they be denied the benefits of being married just because they're not man/woman?  Gay people need health insurance too!  (No smart comments, future posters, please!)  Life insurance?  Then again, some plans might let you place a sibling or what not as a beneficiary.  There's the tax break (although that's not as big of a reason but it is still a reason)...\n\nSo all that being said...YES.\n\n\nPS - Thanks for the clarification.  I'm all for it.  If you don't live in a state where gay marriage is legal yet, lobby for