where does everyone stand on the issues of gay marriage?
465904
No opinion really. to each their own
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'...
116979
absolutely nothing. people like to order other people around based on their beliefs. abortion and gay marriage are things that really don't effect us on a day-to-day basis, but they are highly controversial opinionated topics that are the base of the conservative platform.
927296
Start here for more or less neutral look at the issue:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage#Controversy
937742
In all seriousness, I know a lot of gay people that believe marriage is meant for man and woman, but believe they should at least have a civil union. they both contribute to each other except of course the reproductive aspect.
393982
It really depends in how and where you look. When people are asked should there be a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, I've seen polls 2:1 opposed to the amendment. When you ask people "SHOULD GAYS GET MARRIED?" the water gets a little more murky, because you've completely charged the question. \nThe issue legally is whether two consenting adults can enter into a legal contract. That being fully realized for marriage totally freaks out some legal scholars, lawyers, and politicians.... why? Because the legal tactic being used primarily to push for marriage equality is that people have freedom to contract with whomever they choose. This legal precedent gets even trickier because the basis for that constitutional protection goes back to the Lochner case where the courts decided workers and employers should be able to make any kind of working arrangements they decide. This meant employers could work you to the bone and you'd not have that fancy overtime thing over their heads. \n\nFor liberal minded people this causes a rift becuase your basis for marriage equality is a thorn in the side of economic and work related principles... do you want gay marriage enough to invoke a precent that says your boss can contract you however he feels fit?\n\nThe other "ghost" of Lochner which looms over this push for marriage equality is the second part of that decision... Consenting adults can enter into as many contracts as they want. What does this mean when coupled with this push for same sex marriage? Polygamous (marrying multiple partners) would not be very far from being legitimated. This isn't just hypothetical... since Lawrence v Texas there has been a spike in challenges to polygamy laws at the same time as the more popular push for marriage equality cases started popping up. \n\nIf same sex marriage is validated, you gotta take all that comes with its historical approach. Are you ready to figure out how child custody, insurance, pension, or hospital visitation rights will be dealt with when people have multiple legal multi-sex partners? How many people can they marry into the country through immigration law? How will DIVORCE WORK?\n\nThe point is that this will open a pandora's box, so people aren't that crazy for saying same-sex marriage may destroy the institution... in reality it's gonna make it so widely available that eventually you wont have any meaning or legal protection.\n\nChoices:\n1. Keep marriage as is and deny the right to same-sex couples.\n2. Allow ONLY gay marriage and repeat the cycle of prejudice against a new group (polygamists).\n3. Allow people to enter into marriage with whomever and however many people they want, then run duck and cover.
114139
I think that with time, this will become the accepted norm.\n\nHopefully fifty years from now our current situation will seem as ridiculous as not allowing mixed race marriages.\n\nHow to acheive this goal is difficult, because most of us who are pro-gay marriage live in places where most of our neighbors agree with us.\n\nIt becomes incumbent upon pro-gay people in the so-called "red states" to get the word out, write their congress people and try to expand people's minds to accept that tolerance for gays is the only acceptable way to look at things.\n\nIn the meantime, just be vocal in your support. I think, and hope, that it is just a matter of time. \n\nWe need to stand up and say that people like Sam Brownback and Fred Phelps are *wrong* and that we will not stand for their intolerance.
1100940
I support governmental recognition of all marriages performed by recognized religious group, adn that is the secret about the gay marriage question.\n\nThe gay marriage fight is really a battle between two groups of religious denominations - Christian and other in both cases. That battle is being missed by the media, and I believe that the battle threatens democracy in America.\n\nOne of the reasons for the Revolution, in which ancestors of mine fought -- was to establish freedom of religion in the new nation. Now, we are throwing that away, because contrary to what those on the Right would like you to think, this is not a battle between "people of faith" and "atheists" or some such -- this is a battle between two groups of people of faith, using the government to establish one sides views -- the EXACT THING that the anti-establishmentarian clause of the Constitution is there to prevent.\n\nOf course no one should "make" those whose faiths oppose gay marriage perform such marriages, and no one ever would. So ministers from the Southern Baptists and Assemblies of God and Ultra-Orthodox Jews and Fundamentalist Muslims should never be asked to perform gay marriages, and certainly not forced to.\n\nOn the other hand, why should faith groups that support gay marriage -- such as the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian/Universalist Society, the North American Spiritualist Church, Reform Judaism, and the Correllian Tradition of Wicca -- all recognized Churches and 501c3s be barred from practicing their religious faiths, which say it is ok to marry same sex couples?\n\nThe first group of faith groups is realistically using the government to prevent the second group of faith groups from practicing what they believe. The founders tried to prevent this, for the stability of the country. It doesn't matter that everyone "thinks" they are right and others are wrong -- it matters that we are plural as a society and the government should recognize everyone's ceremonies the same -- which means that gay marriages committed by churches and faith groups that believe in gay marriages, should be honored by the government regardless of what groups that don't like it say.\n\nEveryone's beliefs can be honored, thus preserving the values that my 12 times removed Great Grandfather died for -- but not if we allow one side to legislate away the rights of the other side.\n\nSince I do not believe the government should be used to control religious belief -- I think that the government should recognize gay marriage, when performed by members of clergy -- and should create a civil union equivalent for those interested only in secular marriage.\n\nOtherwise we should stop saying we don't have an establishment of religion.\n\nRegards,\n\nReynolds Jones\nhttp://www.rebuff.org\nbelieveinyou24@yahoo.com
447325
I REALLY don't understand what the big deal is all about.\nThis world is a weird and scary place. If an adult can find true love and wants to marry someone, I don't care if they are gay or black, or Hindu or little people or WHATEVER. That will have absolutly NOTHING to do with my marriage. I do understand that marriage is a sacred thing but, isn't it up to us to keep our own marriages sacred rather than poke around in someone elses business?\n\n  The divorce rate is around 50% in this country. What is so sacred about that? Since Gays and lesbians arn't allowed to marry, the high divorce rate and the lack of respect for marriage is an obvious sign that most straight people don't honor marriage. Maybe if we allowed gays to marry, they could teach us straights a thing or two.\n\n  Could it be at all possible that people are afraid to let gays marry because maybe the gays will be more successful at it? Just a thought.\n  And as for the people that quote bible passages against gay marriage, I can pop my head into the bible and find tons of quotes advocating slavery, incest and all that jazz.\nThe fact is that this country was founded on the principal of "Separation of Church and State" Look it up if you don't understand. I appreciate other peoples religous views but,\nIf we do not see eye to eye, it is because we have different opinions and NOT because one of us is right or wrong. To behave in a self-ritous way like that is ignorant and just plain rude.\n  Also, There are THOUSANDS of orphans and foster kids living in institutions. They are sent out into the world without a family once they turn 18. I bet dollars to donuts that if you ask these kids, they would much rather live in a nice home with a couple of  married gays than the orphanage. If gays could marry and adopt, it would give these forgotten children a chance to be a part of a loving and supportive family for LIFE. How happy they would be to have their own bedroom and parents to help with their homework and to see them in the school play? \nWe have already tried hating people for being different and it dosn't seem to have done much good. Maybe we can all try to be more loving or understanding to people different than us. Maybe we Christians can see past the hatred and fear to the TRUE word of Jesus Christ. I don't remember Jesus hating on "sinners" or people different than Him. I remember acceptance and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. WWJD? In your HEART you know the answer. \nPlease forgive any misspellings, spellcheck is on the fritz.
814877
I am a conservative.\nI do NOT support sanctions and laws against gays marrying and women having abortions.\nThey are definently moral  AND political issues.\nThe reason it is a political issue is the fear of change and the fear that someones morals are not going to be the same.  If it was just a moral issue there would be no laws abridging the issues.\n\nWhat you are looking at is the Republican party platform.  There are real conservatives out here and we want real change.
1036033
I can't believe you even have to ask this question, because the obvious answer is YES.  \n\nGood reasons why:\n-They are people too, who have the same right as we do to marry whoever they choose\n-In the constitution it clearly states "all men are created equal."  \n-There is suppossed to be a seperation of state and church here, and if gay marriage is kept illegal, that boundary is clearly being crossed in favor of religion\n-Gays and lesbians should have the same rights that marriage provides for everyone else, such as insurance plans, visitation rights, etc.\n-Not everybody is this country is christian, so why should everybody be forced to follow its principles?\n-Love makes a marriage, not oppossite genders.  You can't possibly say that gay marriage would undermine the "traditional family" because it's already being ruined by the 50% divorce rate in this country.  \n-Someday we will look back on all this stupidity with the same disbelief we have today that blacks, not too long ago, did not have equal rights.  Isn't this the same thing?  Do we enjoy being a bunch of biggots?\n\nThere, are those good enough reasons for you...I should think so.
1003980
Its been quietly going on for some time.  The recent furor over legal same sex marriages has just put it in the public eye.  Lesbian priests, gay marriage, and western civilization hasn't fallen.
199651
Sorry this is a long one, but ignorant people make me so I think that most people are accepting of homosexuals today, but they aren't gung ho about accepting it.  I accept homosexuals for who they are and think they should have the right to marry.  I have gay friends and see no problem with their lifestyle.  However I'm not about to go protest in favor of it.  Not because I'd be embarrassed, but because I'm way too lazy to protest for anything.  Whereas we've all seen the bible thumping lunatics in the streets screaming to keep certain rights away from people they don't agree with.  They're too stupid to realize gay people are born that way, because if they admitted it they'd have to admit the bible is wrong, and at that point their whole foundation of life would crumble.  They're idiots who base their lives off of a fictional book(the bible).  If there was ever a proposition or something that I a voter could vote on directly, you'd have my vote.  People in love should be able to marry regardless of who they're in love with.  This is one straight man who is giving you his vote.
1035552
I totally support same sex civil unions.  I believe all people should be viewed as equal, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
802846
abqdan.. is spot on....\nI agree with him completely, the only 'bad' thing is a religious implication of sin.\n\nIf people are so conserned about 'family values' maybe they should look at past religious teachings about the accepetablity of wife beating. and look into single parent families, and foster families and no families. \nIf people are against it for reilgiouse beliefs so be it that is their right.  The freedom of religion.\n\nBut they can not expect to be able to force there religion on another.. therefore cancelling thier freedom of religion.\n\nThe only consquence of same sex unions becoming legalised, will be more work for the governement in re-writing forms and such, and also the cases thathave come up about organizations not allowing...say for example.... the renting of a hall for a gay wedding..\n\nThis is against the law, if you advertise a public service you are not allowed to dicriminate against people, for any reason.\nThere will, for this generation be many 'bad feelings' from people towards the gay community, but that will change in the next generation as it become a social norm.....\n\nIn example, i bring womens equal rights.... only 50 years ago, women were lawfully beaten by there husbands, as it was his right to do so.  Now women are equal, are not allowed to be beaten, work the same jobs, and can choose whether or not to be married....\n\n50 years ago the question you asked would have been also asked about women and equal rights. but now adays its part of every day nrom to see women doctors, police, firefighters.\nand so it will be with gays, by the time our grand children have grown, it will have been accepted as a social norm
808679
Gay marriage for one, minimum wage for another.\n\nit's not that these issues aren;t important, but they are used to distract from other issues (Iraq, Immigration) and set up separate camps of opinions
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