What do people think of domestic partnership?Should gay men and women,have a right to married.?
470269
Seeing as how church and state are separated, your religious views have nothing to do with the rights of the citizens in the U.S.\n\nYes, gay people should have every right afforded a straight couple.    I have seen many gay couples who love eachother more than some straight couples.  Why shouldn't they have the right to express that love?\n\nIf you have distaste for it...  you don't have to be friends with them, or attend their nuptuals.\n\n\nTo the members of the Christian Right:\n\nWhatever happened to live and let live?\n\nWhatever happened to 'all sins being the same in the eyes of God'?\n\nWhatever happened to 'judge not lest ye be judged'?\n\n\nIt sickens me that you use your religion to judge other people when it clearly state in the Bible that God is the judge, not you.\n\nIsn't your sin of judgement just as bad as their sin?  Doesn't it say that all sins are the same in the eyes of God?  If it doesn't, feel free to let me know.....   and please don't forget the pamphlet asking me if I know where I'm going when I die..
414580
No i dont think gay marriage should be banned why would people want to keep someone from marrying the person they love. they dont keep a man and women from marrying each other when they love each other. So why should they keep two people from doing something that they want to do.
76781
Because it's the right thing.\n\nIf someone wishes to spend the rest of their lives with another person together with legal and marital status...they should be able to do it.\n\nConservatives cry that it will break down the family. I believe the heterosexuals have already done a good job at that. \n\nMy guess is gay marriage would strengthen 'marriage' as being something based on love and commmitment to one another.\n\nFor gay couples I can think of many good economic things to come from gay marriage:\n- Right of Survivorship\n- Ability to visit other party in the hospital\n- Savings on gym memberships\n- Health Insurance/Dental Insurance/Eye Glass Coverage \n- When we die, and give our property to our loved one, the property will be taxed as a gift, unlike married couples.\n- Insurance Issues\n- Being able to file taxes jointly. When taxes are filed separately; the deductible expenses of one, cannot shelter anothers.\n- Social Security Benefits cannot be claimed\n- Many more stupid little things...\n\nFor me at this given time, being able to be married to my boyfriend of 4 years would mean $16,000. $16,000 is the amount I would be able to get for college if I was married and would be able to file as an Independent Student, rather than as a 'dependent' student. (under my parents) ==> I have heterosexual friends who have known each other for less time, have worse relationships and are able to take advantage of these simple little things.\n\nSecond class citizenship in the US stinks.\nEqual would be nice.
973896
Most definitely, they should. I've known/known of gay couples who have been together in loving, monogamous relationships for decades. They are better examples of how to having a loving, compassionate partnership, which is more than anyone can say for the majority of heterosexual couples (one look at the divorce rate will tell you this). There is absolutely no reason to say that heterosexual couples can offer a more stable, caring environment for a child, simply because they have sex with a member of the opposite sex. Ask the many, many anti-homosexual rights congressman with 4 or more marriages under their belts if stability and love are sure bets in hetero relationships. Seriously.\n\nAlso, there is no proof that a single gay man or woman cannot provide a loving home for a child which desperately needs one. Being the product of a single mother home, I can personally attest to the fact that it is in no way necessary to have a mother *and* father. If there is love, a child will thrive. And one could reason that homosexual parents would be best for this task, seeing as they treasure the opportunity to share love with each other, as well as children, more than your average heterosexual. It could also be argued that these couples will provide an extremely important testement to acceptance, and holding an open mind. Children cannot learn enough about this essential part of being a kind, loving, human being. If they don't learn this, they become the sort of people who go around websites like this one, condemming people they've never met, and know nothing about.\n\nStill not sure? Ask the thousands upon thousands of children who await adoption around the country. I can promise you that no 7 year old child is going to say "No thank you, Gay people shouldn't adopt. I'll go ahead and remain an orphan."
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.
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'...
860865
You definately picked the right place to ask your question!!!\n\nI don't see how the government has any right to say whether or not a gay couple should be married.  The institue of marriage is religous and therefore it should be up to the institue that will perform the ceremony to decide if they wish to do it or not.  If I decided I wanted to spend the rest of my life with a woman I wouldn't go to, say, a Catholic church and expect the priest to marry us.  What IS wrong though, is that there are Christian communities that support the idea of gay marriage and cannot perform the ceremony because it is against the law and America won't honor it.\n\nWhat I don't get is why everyone says that if two people of the same sex get married religous fanatics say that it will disturb the sanctity of marriage... meanwhile Britney Spears can get drunk with a friend, have Elvis marry her, and then have it anulled the next day.  I'm not saying that all people who are gay are perfect because truth-be-told, we are still human.  Us as a society has changed so much that with divorce at such a high rate the "sanctity" of marriage has already been dissolved.\n\nIn the constitution it says every man has rights and freedoms... our freedom to marry whomever we choose and our right to do is not present.  It really feels like the government is going against it's own rights for thier own personal, conservative beliefs.  How, in a "free" country, can a government tell certain citizens "We won't give you the opportunity to get married"?  Isn't that grounds for discrimination?  Ask any older black person how the term "seperate but equal" works...\n\nIf one man has been with another for decades and one dies the other has no right to the estate.  How would that make you feel when you not only are morning the loss of lover but will now lose your house because you weren't married?  Gays also have no say in keeping thier partner on life support or not for the same reason.  \n\nIf a gay couple also wants to adopt a child it is also harder.  For the amount of neglected, hungry, and orphaned children in this country, adoption agencies should jump at the chance of anyone wanting to adopt a child.  They do background checks and interviews to see if the place where the child will potentially go is a safe, loving, and healthy environment.  There are agencies that won't even allow a gay person or couple to adopt a child no matter financially stable or loving the household is.\n\nWhat I believe is that since gays are now "coming out of our closets" and standing up for ourselves, is an improvement in society.  When a people can join together and be proud and powerful, that's where the improvement is.  All the gay bashers and hateful people have nothing better to do than try to make life more difficult than life already is.  We have people in this country that are dieing on the street, we have kids with drug problems in middle school, and the thing that they decide to put all thier energy into is stopping same sex marraige?  People with backward beliefs like that are what is slowing down the advancement in our American Society.\n\nThe only way I will change my mind is if marriage is taken away all together.  If straight people will let it go then I will too, because to me marriage is about love and commitment not the involvement of opposite sex organs.\n\nMy name is Christine, I live in NY, I am a bi female and you can quote me on anything and everything I said becuase it needs to be known...
653290
Power to the people!!! I myself am a lesbian and I don't like the fact that most epople in this society contradict themselves when they say that "WE" should be able to marry then turn around and call me a carpet muncher...\n\nI like to make the homophobes cringe when they see me and my mistress holding hands or kissing inpublic(even though i'm single), BUT i think it's about time that equal human rights be more established...again...\n\n..POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!
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.
1035954
love is love, no matter if the sex is the same.. \nim not a les but i feel that everyone should have a chance in a married life. Gays/les should have the right to get married
24769
Well, given that I’m gay I would have to say yes.  \n\nI find the arguments against gay marriage, and therefore gay rights, like the ones stated above amusing.  Yes marriage is the building blocks of the family unit, so why are literally hundreds of thousands of families across the country not extended the same rights of marriage?   \n\nThe original purpose of marriage was procreation, yes.  This in no way excludes gay couples.  Many use artificial means to have children (as many sterile straight couples do), and many more adopt children.  Others already have children from previous marriages.    Also, I don’t see anyone arguing that old people, and people who are sterile, shouldn’t be allowed to get married.  We also do not make people fill out forms declaring that they are planning to have children when they get married.  That’s because beginning in the 20th Century marriage stopped being centered around procreation and started being about love.  \n\nI also love the slippery slope argument mentioned above: “But, if we let men get married to men, what’s going to stop a man from trying to marry a horse?”  This has some variations, from trees, to horses, to dogs, to polygamy.  Well, to start I would like to point out that neither trees nor horses have been granted rights by the constitution.  Also, if everyone is so tolerant of gay people, and many are quick to point out that they have gay friends, why do we immediately associate gay marriage with bestiality and polygamy?  \n\nUnfortunately, my civil liberties are severely hindered by the fact that I can’t get married.  If my partner gets sick, there is no law protecting my rights to visit him in the hospital; if he dies, there is no law saying I have any rights to our owned property because as far as the government is concerned, “our property” doesn’t exist.  If children get involved this gets even uglier and more complicated.  There is more than one case on record of judges taking children away from a surviving partner and giving them to an ex-husband or ex-wife who has no connection to the child, simply because the surviving parent “had no legal connection to the children.”  This is all directly connected to the fact that we can’t get married.\n\nSo, I’m afraid people can’t have it both ways.  If you support gay rights, as I do, you have to support gay marriage.  Without gay marriage, we’re second class citizens, and are only accorded the rights of second class citizens.
691592
i havent read all the responses to this ques so sorry for any over lapping ideas.\ni am of the opinion that being attracted to the same sex is the most natural thing, and man woman marriage is a part of conditioning. well now that may be refuted. but marriage, relation or watever is a very personal choice. its like telling someone publically not to wear a bra but continue with a breif! i mean its ones choice whether he/she wants to b with a man a woman or both. if any one tries to stop this sort of personal desire or right, they are coming in the way of a person's regular life - and that my dear friends is the very basic threat to all our natural, basic and fundamental rights. this is the root cause of a lot of evil, disharmony and unhappiness to many people. live and let live. support those who want to b with people of their own sex. its healthy for them as well as people around them. being gay is like saying i'm happy, why come in someone's way of happiness? \nso yes...ultimatum - lesbian/gay marriages should be supported ad not banned. everyone has the right to a happy pesonal life that is spent in the loving wake of the one they chose to loose their heart to.
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.
198559
YES! YES! NO!\n\nI don't understand this witch hunt that seems to be going on against gays.  And that's what it is... they get one right taken away after another... after the 'ban of marriage' succeeded, now, people are going after their right to adopt children.  What's next?!  Their right to breathe our air?!\n\nThis is a huge hot spot with me. I'm not gay, but I believe in EVERYONEs rights.  They aren't criminals, they have a different life style, and they should not be punished for that.  I mean, they can't help the way they feel... that's just the way you are born.  And WHAT HARM is it doing anyone if they get married, or adopt children?  It's actually doing the adopted child a favor, they'll have a loving family.  A lot of times gay couples will adopt children that other (straight) couples won't adopt because they're too old, or have behavioral problems or what not.  Are we going to punish this child by making them NOT have a home until they are old enough to go off on our own, JUST so we can punish someone for being gay?\n\nAnd as far as I know, the children that they have would NOT be confused.  They'd be well adjusted, and learn to be more TOLERANT towards others who are different.\n\nI could go on for a while about this, but I won't.  I'm afraid to see what all the other answers will be though... sigh.\n\n(but I just submitted and looked at other responses and was so far pleasantly surprised.  Thanks guys!)
783301
Unequivocally NO! If they chose that life style then so be it, but as far as benefits are concerned out of the question.  Societies fall from moral decay and that is a fact, and ours is well on it's way, I do believe all this gay and lesbian stuff is about to blow up in their faces.  It is a life style that destroys the vary meaning of marriage between a man and a woman, In my opinion they are an insult to humanity.  I believe it is time our religious leaders and government gives these people a loud and clear message that the party is over and will not be condoned by our society.
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
1052966
I'll put my own marriage up against anyone else's marriage any day.\n\nI'm proud of what we've done together.\n\nMany, many, many Gay / Lesbian marriages are worthy to be admired and  would put many, many, many Hetero marriages to shame on any day.