Gay Marriage

  • nichole

    nichole (150)

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    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16440559/

    BOSTON - Lawmakers in Massachusetts, the only state where gay marriage is legal, voted Tuesday to allow a proposed constitutional amendment to move forward that would effectively ban it.

    The amendment's backers had collected 170,000 signatures to get a question on the 2008 ballot asking voters to declare marriage to be between a man and a woman, but they still needed the approval of two consecutive legislatures.

    Sixty-one representatives and senators voted for the amendment and 132 voted against it. But the measure needed only 50 votes to advance.

    Calling it a “question of conscience,” Gov.-elect Deval Patrick had urged lawmakers not to vote on it Tuesday, which would have effectively killed it.

    “I believe that adults should be free to choose whom they wish to love and to marry,” Patrick said shortly before lawmakers were to meet for the final day of their session.

    Outside the Statehouse, crowds of gay marriage supporters and opponents waved signs as legislators began arriving.

    The amendment’s backers had collected 170,000 signatures to get the amendment on the 2008 ballot, but it still needed the Legislature’s approval.

    Last fall, the Legislature angered the amendment’s backers and the governor when it recessed without voting on the issue. Senate President Robert Travaglini didn’t immediately say if he would force a vote Tuesday.

    A vote to adjourn the joint constitutional convention without taking up the amendment would kill the measure and put supporters of a ban back to square one.

    Patrick, a supporter of gay couples’ right to marriage, met with House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi to lobby against taking an up or down vote on the amendment, which would leave Massachusetts’ existing same-sex marriages intact but ban any more.

    ‘A question of conscience’
    “Above all, this is a question of conscience,” Patrick, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Using the initiative process to give a minority fewer freedoms than the majority, and to inject the state into fundamentally private affairs, is a dangerous precedent, and an unworthy one for this commonwealth.”

    About 8,000 same-sex couples have wed in Massachusetts since the Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2003 that the state constitution guarantees gays the right to marry. A few other states offer civil unions with similar rights for gay couples, but only Massachusetts allows gay marriage.

    Backers of the amendment gathered at the foot of the Statehouse steps Tuesday with signs reading “Let the People Vote.” Many argued it should be up to the people, not the courts, to define something as important as marriage.

    “Legislators are sent to Beacon Hill to vote on a matter, not to not vote on a matter,” said amendment backer Paul Ferro, 30, of Norton.

    Supporters of gay marriage, who held their own rally across Beacon Street, said the civil rights of a minority should not be put to a popular vote. “Let the people marry,” read one retort.

    Some lawmakers have said they wouldn’t vote on the amendment issue because the ballot question would write discrimination into the constitution.

    Lovely, eh? Post your comments and thoughts about gay marriage here.

    Personally, I think it's incredibly discriminative. But America's made some stupid decisions before, and I hope it's only a matter of time until people wise up and say 'Hey, this is homophobic! Let's let them get married!'

    I'm done.
    January 2nd, 2007 at 10:48pm
  • Gravity Thrill

    Gravity Thrill (150)

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    As Frank says. - homophobicness (I think thats how u say it?) is gay.

    I think if you are gay, you should be allowed to be gay. It doesnt make you any less human. Just a bit diffrent.
    January 2nd, 2007 at 11:14pm
  • Matt Smith

    Matt Smith (900)

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    Left.For.Dead:
    As Frank says. - homophobicness (I think thats how u say it?) is gay.

    I think if you are gay, you should be allowed to be gay. It doesnt make you any less human. Just a bit diffrent.
    Homophobia. :D

    I think the issue has far and beyond passed whether actual homsexuality is acceptable (I mean, I don't know about other countries, but homoseuxal acitivity was decriminalised here in '67). Now; to marry or not to marry is the issue.
    January 3rd, 2007 at 12:02am
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    Gay marriage being illegal is not always about people hating gay people..

    Now, where did marriage come from? It's essentially a religious tradition. So, by the Chruch standard, homosexual sex is frowned upon, and we cannot force people to change their religion.

    So, marriage is a religious tradition, we've established that. Now, you recieve government benifits for being married. Your marriage is valid across state lines nationally, you can file for income taxes together, ect. You don't get that with a civil partnership. Federal Law overrides State Laws, so the benifits given to you by the national government can't be obtained from something given to you by the state government.

    Now, lets get back to the whole 'marriage is religious' thing. Like I just stated, you get benifits for being Married. Marriage is a religious tradition, which when put together means you are getting government benifits for practicing a religion. WTF That violates Seperation of Church and state in more ways than one.

    So, now anyone who says making gay marriage legal is fair, they're wrong. Thats discriminating against religious people. Anyone who says keeping illegal is fair is wrong, becuase gay people can't get government benifits.

    So, I think marriage is unconstitutional, and the whole system needs to be reworked. All these little cases with in the state will end up being changed and vetoed, its happened multiple times before. The Supreme Court needs to make a ruling, and change the whole system to where marriage isn't involved. Something new thats not religious needs to be made available to everyone needs to be created.
    January 3rd, 2007 at 01:00am
  • Khrist

    Khrist (200)

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    FIRST OF ALL- Marrige was made way before religions were. So how can Christians and Catholics and what not just barge in and say, "this is how it is!"

    SECOND OF ALL- The anthems say Land of the free, the true north strong and free, and justice for all...
    Yes, justice for all. Except...

    THIRD OF ALL- Whats the big deal? Dont we need population control anyway?

    People should be allowed to follow their own beliefs in such a multi cultural place. I dont get this.
    January 3rd, 2007 at 02:45am
  • wx12

    wx12 (10125)

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    demon_girl_121:
    FIRST OF ALL- Marrige was made way before religions were. So how can Christians and Catholics and what not just barge in and say, "this is how it is!"

    SECOND OF ALL- The anthems say Land of the free, the true north strong and free, and justice for all...
    Yes, justice for all. Except...

    THIRD OF ALL- Whats the big deal? Dont we need population control anyway?

    People should be allowed to follow their own beliefs in such a multi cultural place. I dont get this.
    Religion has ALWAYS been around, and before you tell me Im wrong, I suggest you do some research. Marriage originated as a Jewish tradition.
    January 3rd, 2007 at 03:53am
  • astroz0mbie

    astroz0mbie (160)

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    Gay marriage does not disturb me. A person shouldn't love by what genitals they were born with.
    January 3rd, 2007 at 06:07am
  • Michaela Wayne

    Michaela Wayne (150)

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    theres nothing wrong with it. elton john has a "civil partnership" and so does matt lucas from little britain.they arent any less of a man
    January 3rd, 2007 at 08:57am
  • Mike Dirnt.

    Mike Dirnt. (100)

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    Kurtni:
    demon_girl_121:
    FIRST OF ALL- Marrige was made way before religions were. So how can Christians and Catholics and what not just barge in and say, "this is how it is!"

    SECOND OF ALL- The anthems say Land of the free, the true north strong and free, and justice for all...
    Yes, justice for all. Except...

    THIRD OF ALL- Whats the big deal? Dont we need population control anyway?

    People should be allowed to follow their own beliefs in such a multi cultural place. I dont get this.
    Religion has ALWAYS been around, and before you tell me Im wrong, I suggest you do some research. Marriage originated as a Jewish tradition.
    Yeah...I beg to differ. The first marriages were actually Hindu marriages. It was and is the first complex religion with laws such as marriage and there is more than enough proof for that.

    Now, how is it unfair to religious people? The government is secular. Marriage has become a civil thing. A liberty given by the Constitution. Why else do people choose to marry in courthouses? And why are marriage liscences needed? Because its a civil thing. Marriage is a legally binding contract to spend the rest of your life with a person you love deeply. If its against your religion, that is not the issue of the government.
    January 3rd, 2007 at 03:30pm
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    I still find the religious bullshit as just that--bullshit.

    Aethiests can get married; why can't homosexuals?

    Because it offends the "sacred" act of marriage.

    No one ever tries and to disallow other religions or people who aren't religious to get married. It's always the queers and the dykes.

    I'm sick of the government trying to tell me who I can marry.
    January 4th, 2007 at 12:08am
  • nichole

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    Last night my mom said that gay people only wanted to get married for each others benefits, because all gays died of AIDS.

    I kinda wanted to punch her.
    January 4th, 2007 at 12:23am
  • Matt Smith

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    druscilla:
    I still find the religious bullshit as just that--bullshit.

    Aethiests can get married; why can't homosexuals?

    Because it offends the "sacred" act of marriage.

    No one ever tries and to disallow other religions or people who aren't religious to get married. It's always the queers and the dykes.

    I'm sick of the government trying to tell me who I can marry.
    We can't.
    Civil Unions or the highway, no Church will marry heterosexual Athiests.
    January 4th, 2007 at 01:25am
  • Pleasure Ryland.

    Pleasure Ryland. (100)

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    Kurtni:
    Gay marriage being illegal is not about people hating gay people, thats retarded. If you think thats the issue you've been blinded by activist groups to think that way... or you just never thought the issue through.

    Now, where did marriage come from? It's a RELIGIOUS tradition, meaning that it originated in the Chruch. So, by the Chruch standard, homosexual sex is frowned upon. According to Christian morals, you are never suppose to hate a person, just the sin they commit. So, just because you follow that faith does not make you a homophobic gay people hater, it only means you practice the values of that religion. Actually it originated as a Jewish tradition, but its been adopted by Christianity.
    you are right there.
    this law was probably passed because a large majority of people belong to the Christian faith, and their beleifs are that gay marriage is wrong.
    i know there are some people out there who are homophobic Christians who were raised to think that anything other than being straight was wrong.
    Heck, my Grandma tried raising me that way.

    But people tend to overlook the wants of the other party.
    They want a healthy, binded relationship like all other couples do.
    But it's hard because of laws like this.
    Kris_the_Demon:
    SECOND OF ALL- The anthems say Land of the free, the true north strong and free, and justice for all...
    Yes, justice for all. Except...

    People should be allowed to follow their own beliefs in such a multi cultural place. I dont get this.
    People do have the rite to do this, it's marriage which is the question[ as Blodraine already said ].
    your second point states ' justice for all '.
    it means justice for all in the form of a democracy.
    votes were taken to achieve a result and that is what happened,
    it was a case of majority rules.
    January 4th, 2007 at 01:42am
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    druscilla:
    I still find the religious bullshit as just that--bullshit.

    Aethiests can get married; why can't homosexuals?

    Because it offends the "sacred" act of marriage.

    No one ever tries and to disallow other religions or people who aren't religious to get married. It's always the queers and the dykes.

    I'm sick of the government trying to tell me who I can marry.
    We can't.
    Civil Unions or the highway, no Church will marry heterosexual Athiests.
    I beg to differ. My mother married her [now ex] Athiest husband in a church.
    January 4th, 2007 at 05:39pm
  • Matt Smith

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    druscilla:
    I beg to differ. My mother married her [now ex] Athiest husband in a church.
    Then it was a Church that disobeyed God.
    January 4th, 2007 at 08:42pm
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    druscilla:
    I beg to differ. My mother married her [now ex] Athiest husband in a church.
    Then it was a Church that disobeyed God.
    I tend to find a lot of those.
    I plan to marry in a church, dyke or not.
    January 6th, 2007 at 12:31am
  • Bibz

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    My question is, what's the big deal with gay marriage? i mean two people love each other, get married, what's the problem? Your economy won't crash because both people have penises! nothing will change! actually, the catering company and wedding planners will have more costumers. Its not fair that homosexuals can't marry each other. Its not a sin against god, if you believe in god then you'll believe that god made people the way they are for a reason, including homosexuals. personally, as a bisexual young woman i'm outraged that if i were to leave the province i live in i would not be able to marry a woman, if i so choosed. i don't see a difference between if i were to marry a man or a woman, if i chose to marry at all
    January 6th, 2007 at 12:48am
  • princess.

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    Man, I think everyone should just chill the fuck out about this. Yea, I think people should be allowed to marry who they want, regardless of sex, but I personally don't think anyone should bother getting into anyone else's business about it. If they don't want you to, then they should be allowed to not want you to. Now, yes, I believe they shouldn't force their opinions on people and try to stamp out anything that opposes them, but I also think people shouldn't try not to entitle these people to their opinion. That's what makes the US a democracy, after all.

    Let it be - the United States of America should be a place where you can do what you want [within boundaries, I must admit]. Of course, it's not, but that's a whole different issue.
    January 6th, 2007 at 01:06am
  • Matt Smith

    Matt Smith (900)

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    druscilla:
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    druscilla:
    I beg to differ. My mother married her [now ex] Athiest husband in a church.
    Then it was a Church that disobeyed God.
    I tend to find a lot of those.
    I plan to marry in a church, dyke or not.
    If you can find a church that will accept that, then good for you.
    January 6th, 2007 at 02:21am
  • Pleasure Ryland.

    Pleasure Ryland. (100)

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    Bibz:
    Its not a sin against god, if you believe in god then you'll believe that god made people the way they are for a reason, including homosexuals.
    from a religious point of view, it is a sin against God.
    January 6th, 2007 at 05:10am