Gay Rights

^ Why would they try and get a civil partnership when it has the same rights as a marriage? Why not just go for the marriage?

^From the article:

"Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle, both 25, said they want the same legal rights as a husband and wife, but did not want to enter an institution that is closed to homosexuals. "

And now it seems they've found civil partnership to be an institution closed to heterosexuals.

Donks:

Changing the subject slightly...there was an interesting article in The Times today about how a straight couple attempted to get a civil partnership but were rejected on the grounds they weren't a homosexual couple. They're now seeking legal action and are even preparing to take it to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary because they feel they've been discriminated against because of their sexuality.

Thoughts?

My thoughts are that it is ridiculous. In the U.S. straight couples are allowed to get civil unions, it's just that most choose not to. To discriminate against a straight couple is as ridiculous as discriminating against a gay couple, especially when their motives were so . . . genuine.

^Maybe they're just trying to be equal-in-discrimination to avoid the issue being raised again as to why they're not just being equal.

Gay people don't have the right to marry. And so to try and "balance" that they make it so straight people don't have the right to enter into a civil partnership.

So both groups, so to speak, have access to one institution and are blocked from the other. Equal craziness.

Sheepy:

^Maybe they're just trying to be equal-in-discrimination to avoid the issue being raised again as to why they're not just being equal.

If that's the case... it's pretty fucked up logic.
"They discriminate against us so we'll discriminate against them."
It makes them just as wrong as the other party.

^The council who denied them the partnership pretty much said "Don't blame us, the law says it's just for gay people"

I'm actually quite surprised to find they're right; the first group of people the Civil Partnership Act lists as being ineligible are heterosexual couples. (link)

Alexface.:

^ Why would they try and get a civil partnership when it has the same rights as a marriage? Why not just go for the marriage?

Better connotations. Marriage has a lot of traditionalist baggage, some see it as an institution that marginalises women and so on. Whereas Civil Partnerships are purely secular and neutral. I've said all along that they should open them up to everyone. I'd get a Civil Partnership but not a marriage.

Faceless_time:

At least here in the states, gay rights is one of the least things we need to worry about right now. Gay's have plenty of rights, the only right they don't have is the right to marry... is that more important than millions losing there jobs? Is that more important than millions dying of disease because they have no health care?

Are you kidding me? People loose thier jobs over being gay every day! Health care passed so that's done. The economic issues will take time and there isnt going to be one fix.

Gay marriage has been left up to the individual states but if it became a national thing then they would have to realize that it would effect the entire world. So many people would move out of the country. I dont think people realize how important marriage is to some people, and if that means losing certain rights (non discriminative rights) then a lot of us would accept it.

They would have to legalize it. I wish it would go up to that level. I think it needs to .

The point is that we are dealing with modern day discrimination. Are you really okay with that?

On another note, President Obama is "for gay rights but against gay marriage".

Faceless_time:

Gay's have plenty of rights, the only right they don't have is the right to marry.

Ha.
Ha ha ha.
That's dry laughter, as there really isn't anything funny about that.

Marriage includes over 1100 legal benefits that gay couples can't have because they can't marry.

So the fact that they don't have the "one right" to marry (which is total bull, btw), leads to another 1100+ rights they can't have do the that "one right" that you don't find so important.

(One of those rights being healthcare, btw.)

Has anyone else heard the story of the kindergartener being expelled from school because his parents were lesbians?

If not here's the link and a little blurb if you don't feel like clicking it

Quote

This month, a preschooler at the Sacred Heart of Jesus catholic school in Boulder, Colo., was expelled from school and told he was not allowed to return for kindergarten because he is being raised by two mothers who identify as lesbians. Unsurprisingly and unfortunately, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput held up the school's expulsion, saying, "Sexual intimacy outside marriage is wrong... and marriage can only occur between a man and a woman."

Anyone have any opinions on this? I think some acceptance for homosexuality is way passed due, and people need to get a grip. It should be against the law for something like that to happen. It's like expelling someone from a Catholic school because thier parents are Muslim. It's completely ridiculous, as always.

Chris Martin:

Anyone have any opinions on this? I think some acceptance for homosexuality is way passed due, and people need to get a grip. It should be against the law for something like that to happen. It's like expelling someone from a Catholic school because thier parents are Muslim. It's completely ridiculous, as always.

I think it's wrong.

However, private schools have the right to do things like that because they're funded by private donors and the government laws against discrimination in a public school just don't apply there.

I hate it. It's wrong and sick and disgusting and such a warped view of what people who are supposed to be full of Christ's love should be doing.

But they have that right.

Chris Martin:

Has anyone else heard the story of the kindergartener being expelled from school because his parents were lesbians?

If not here's the link and a little blurb if you don't feel like clicking it

Anyone have any opinions on this? I think some acceptance for homosexuality is way passed due, and people need to get a grip. It should be against the law for something like that to happen. It's like expelling someone from a Catholic school because thier parents are Muslim. It's completely ridiculous, as always.

That's wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. What their parent's sexual orientation is has nothing to do with the fact that they're going to that school to learn.

Jewel Nicole:

That's wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. What their parent's sexual orientation is has nothing to do with the fact that they're going to that school to learn.

Yes, but as Dru stated, it is a privaetly funded school therefore they can get away with that sort of thing because perhaps the other parents cried foul and didn't want the child there.

You never know.

Of course it doesn't excuse the action. I'm just stating why something like that is allowed to happen. At a private school parents pay a lot of money and if the majority don't want their children [for some reason] associating with a child who isn't in a 'normal'situation, they can pressure the school board into removing the situation, basically.

And Sing:

Yes, but as Dru stated, it is a privaetly funded school therefore they can get away with that sort of thing because perhaps the other parents cried foul and didn't want the child there.

You never know.

Of course it doesn't excuse the action. I'm just stating why something like that is allowed to happen. At a private school parents pay a lot of money and if the majority don't want their children [for some reason] associating with a child who isn't in a 'normal'situation, they can pressure the school board into removing the situation, basically.

Oh, I know it's allowed to happen. I just don't think it should, you know?

Jewel Nicole:

Oh, I know it's allowed to happen. I just don't think it should, you know?

Agreed 100%.

I mean...they're not teaching the parents...only the child...

Chris Martin:

Has anyone else heard the story of the kindergartener being expelled from school because his parents were lesbians?

If not here's the link and a little blurb if you don't feel like clicking it

Anyone have any opinions on this? I think some acceptance for homosexuality is way passed due, and people need to get a grip. It should be against the law for something like that to happen. It's like expelling someone from a Catholic school because thier parents are Muslim. It's completely ridiculous, as always.

But why would you try to enroll your kid in a Catholic school if you were Muslim?

kafka.:

But why would you try to enroll your kid in a Catholic school if you were Muslim?

It happens. If there are No Muslim schools in ones area, and one doesn't want to send them to a private single-sex school...or doesn't want to send them to a government school...a Catholic school is your next best bet. At least in Australia.

[That was grammatically incorrect...but I'm tired...and edited my statement...meh, you get the gist.]

kafka.:

But why would you try to enroll your kid in a Catholic school if you were Muslim?

Actually, when I went to my Catholic high school, a lot of the girls there were muslim. Like full on muslim. And our teachers were so snippy with us: "Those muslim girls respect their religion so much more than you girls do." And we were like "betch, please." You know.

Sardonic Grin:

Actually, when I went to my Catholic high school, a lot of the girls there were muslim. Like full on muslim. And our teachers were so snippy with us: "Those muslim girls respect their religion so much more than you girls do." And we were like "betch, please." You know.

You didn't really answer kafka's question why they would enroll their kids at a Catholic school, though.

I gave my view above.

kafka.:

But why would you try to enroll your kid in a Catholic school if you were Muslim?

Because they may be providing a better education than the other options in the area.