Is there historical precedent for gay marriage in another culture or civilization?
957187
There's some really bad scholarship claiming the Christian rite of brother- or sister-making, adelphopoiesis, was gay marriage, but it's utterly laughable.\n\nJuvenal mocked a homosexual "marriage" in Roman times:\n\n"I have a ceremony to attend," quoth one, "at dawn to-morrow, in the Quirinal valley." "What is the occasion?" "No need to ask: a friend is taking to himself a husband; quite a small affair." Yes, and if we only live long enough, we shall see these things done openly: people will wish to see them reported among the news of the day. Meanwhile these would-be brides have one great trouble: they can bear no children wherewith to keep the affection of their husbands; well has nature done in granting to their desires no power over their bodies. They die unfertile; naught avails them the medicine-chest of the bloated Lyde, or to hold out their hands to the blows of the swift-footed Luperci!"\n-Juvenal, Moralists without Morals
202096
Events must be taken in the context of history.  I do not believe it is valid to place today's standards, whether legal or moral, on a society or events that happened hundreds of years in the past. Concepts such as law are an evolving institution, changing over time to meet the needs of society in a certain place and circumstance. What was considered acceptable or proper two hundred years ago might be scourned on today. When Columbus landed in the New World, the attitudes he brought with him were of European origin, and whatever treatment the native peoples received at the hands of the explorers fit that time and place.  The Spanish invasion of Mexico, Central and South America was a similar situation.  There were horrific battles in which thousands of Maya, Incas or Aztecs were wiped out.  There was no such term for genocide at the time, and it was not even an issue.  By the same token, the Salem Witch Hunts were a part of that society's behavior, and acceptable at the time. Even slavery in America was acceptable at one time.  All these things have to be viewed in the light of the time and place they occurred.  To place today's standards on events that happened generations ago lacks legal, moral, and ethical standing in my opinion. Things were what they were at the time, so value judgments should be made relative to the times in which these things happened. We may not agree with them based on our modern-day upbringing, but that was then and this is now. For this reason it seems ludicrous to me to seek reparations today from one group of people by another group of people for the sufferings of still yet another group of people 150 years earlier, as in the case of slavery in America.  In my opinion there is no legal standing by anyone livng today on this issue, and any such claims should have been made at the time instead of waiting 150 years.  The same applies to the actions of the Spanish in the Americas in the 1500s.
170221
actully wat happened in acient times people from one tribe take girls from other tribe for sex. so marriage were formed to allow such forceful act.
1026324
Not at all. The normal people ( so called) will continue to get marry the normal way. why would a  straight go for a gay marriage even if the law allows it.\n\n-k-
738876
There isn't a real one. One of the arguments made by opponents of same sex marriage is that allowing it could open the door for other things, such as acceptance of polygamy. It's baseless and primarily a tactic by the morality police (Conservative Christians) to keep people under their reigns.
391571
No.  Homosexuality was a common practice in Greece and Rome.  The Spartans particularly were known for engaging in homosexual relationships until their heterosexual marriages were arranged.  Some warrior societies in China and Japan were exclusively comprised of homosexual males.  In many tribal societies, homosexuality is considered acceptable but "special" behaviour, favoring one to become a shaman, or Medicine Man or Woman.
701735
Yes, in all provinces. And in Spain, and South Africa. \n\nThe Columbian Senate just considered and passed a bill, though it hasn't become law yet.\n\nMexico City is now recognizing same-sex domestic partnerships.\n\nIn the Netherlands, gay marriage has been legal for years.\n\nIn Israel, the Supreme Court ruled that the state  must recognized same-sex marriages solemnized in other countries, so that a couple married in Canada will also be considered married in Israel.\n\nIt's just America that doesn't get it.
185129
The first amendment, among other things, protects the individual's freedom to associate with whomever he chooses.  As far as I'm concerned, if two fellas want to free associate, they can do it as much as they like.  But the day you tell me that marrying another man is mandatory, that's the day when I leave the US.  Nobody's gonna force me to get gay married.
552211
Some historians believe he was.  It is possible, but we will probably never really know.  Was every man throughout history who never married gay?
953253
You can't make decisions based on if you know someone involved or not.  You have to be empathetic or not to gay marriage regardless.  If one of your family members is gay, that doesn't change whether it is right or not for gays to be married.
74349
Some people interpret parts of the Bible to mean that 1 race shouldn't marry into another. Whether that is true or not,there are some social implications to such course of actions. Dependent on how enlightened or not the society is in which they live,that couple could live happily or miserably ever after, there could also be some medical and physial complications for the offsprings.Then there's the obvious cultural adjustments each of them may have to make.
1023996
It amazes me that people are so hung up on gay marriage.  The "God didn't want it that way" crap holds no water, according to the Bible we should not kill, slavery is a good thing, adulterers should be put to death and women have no place in church leadership.........where is the logic to any of it??  I'm straight but I believe gays are treated in today's society is no better than African-Americans in Mississippi in the 1950/60's.  I really think it all boils down to fear and ignorance.
356899
No, it's not unrealistic.  My understanding of Jewish law at that time was that it was expected if him to marry and have children.  Why it's considered such sacrilige for that to have happened is confusing to me. Just because the Bible didn't mention it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
19577
As many people have recently witnessed in San Francisco and Massachusetts, gay marriage has absolutely no effect on straight people who are married.\n\nI don't think its possible for a straight person to comprehend what it's like to live in the closet, any more than it's possible for a white person to know what it's like to be called a racial slur, or a man to feel complete fear of being raped walking down a dark alley at night.  It is completely outside their realm of experience, so they don't think it's all that bad.\n\nThese same straight people (at least one person who answered probably falls into this group) will then say we should just have civil unions, or some other second-class legislation that will give gay people a small fraction of the rights that married straight people get.  Or better yet, let's take their rights away just to be on the safe side.\n\nThe problem is that people don't live very long, so they don't know that the world used to be radically different.  As you mentioned, all left handed children were once scorned, and forced to learn how to write right-handed because left-handedness was considered the mark of Satan.  About 30 years ago scientists came out and said that it was just genetics, people are born that way.  Society evolved and we now accept left-handedness.\n\n160 years ago slavery was legal, with arguments from the Bible as the primary support.  We freed the slaves and the world didn't end.  50 years ago multi-racial marriages were illegal.  "Activist judges" made them legal, and the predictions of Armageddon never came to pass.  Around that same time people were predicting that divorce would unravel the very foundations of society, again very little happened after divorce was widely legalized (except more people who were living miserable lives were able to get divorced, perhaps.)  \n\nFor every civil rights struggle that we’ve had in this country some people have predicted that if we do such-and-such God will reign down fire and brimstone.  Each and every time we’ve evolved, and God has remained silent.  I personally think it might be because God likes greater civil right for minorities, but call me a whacky liberal.
65486
No, currently the California Supreme Court (which sits in San Francisco) says no gay marriages until all the lawsuits from gay activists and opposing religious groups are decided. \n\nIn the meantime, the same court has ruled Domestic Partnerships that grant the rights and responsibilities of marriage to gays are definitely legal. So the fight at this point isn't substantive, its over the actual use of the word "marriage" only.\n\nAs for the lawsuits, there has been conflicting rulings...in Orange County and Sacramento County, the ban on same-sex marriage was uphelded. However, judges in San Francisco County and Santa Cruz County reached the opposite conclusion (holding that the ban is unconstitutional). No matter who wins these little trial court battles, however, it'll eventually be appealed all the way back up to the California Supreme Court.
528249
in ancient Greece\nAlexander was gay\nalso in Sodom
546249
same sex marriage is gay.