A happy day for gays everywhere!

[Chuck S]

Your wrong! The Bible defines it in Leviticus Chapter 20. It is very clear in the Greek, Hebrew, and modern day translations.

Along with eating shellfish, rabbit or pork or wearing fabric blends, too. All of which people do quite legally today.

 

[CelticBelle]

Can't you vote absentee by mail?

Im not positive yet. Its been a mess since i live away at college and am not registered in this county, then i feel it will get more jumbled after living in another state for 4 months. Im still going to look into it though. Thanks!

 

[amyhughes]

What I find interesting when people (Dr. Laura in particular) bring Leviticus into things is most of them are "Christians". Yet if you really and truly read the New Testament Jesus says to forget all commandments that came before him and follow his new covenant. Which is: Love Thy Neighbor; Do Unto Others as You Would Have Done Unto You. Interesting how they forget that one in times such as this.

I took Literature of the Bible in College and if there is one thing I came away from that course realizing it is this: The Bible is an utterly flawed piece of Literature. Going through translations, voting processes, and oral traditions things are bound to be garbled. I take it for what it is, a book. It's a book that at times like this gets dredged out to make a point and then safely tucked away again. I am a faith filled person, but I don't believe any higher power put me here to be a warrior for Leviticus.

I fully intend to Love my neighbors, my friends, and my family in that I would never propose to tell someone who to love, how to live, or who to marry unless it was hurting the common good. How can two members of the same sex marrying each other, or loving each other possibly be bad? I would think with the current state of our world we need a bit more love. And not to sound mushy or soft, but it's the truth. If two people love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together and are of age I see no reason, straight or gay, for them not to be together.

I am sad to see that in an election year, with so many other pertinent topics this is going to become a hot point. The economy, a war, national security, foreign diplomacy, a housing crisis, all of these will pale in comparison to this issue according to those on Capitol Hill who think their constituents want nothing more than to continue to live under a rock. "Oooohh, Look over here, this is a problem. Don't face the real issues in our country." It will be used as a diversion.

Gays should be allowed to marry no matter what state, county or city they live in. They are citizens and should be entitled to the same civil liberties as those straight members of the community. There is a difference between doing what is comfortable for some and what is right for all.

 

[zulemara]

Along with eating shellfish, rabbit or pork or wearing fabric blends, too. All of which people do quite legally today.

Wasn't the slipperly slope argument used with inter-racial marriages too?

I'd agree with Mindy here.

Even if you were to bring God into the conversation, who's God are we alking about? Yours? Mine? The folks down the street? The people on the other side of the world? The people with white skin? The ones with dark skin? The ones with red-skin? The ones that are straight? The ones that are gay? Not everybody has the same view of what God is. When you think about it, its really sad how many people are killed in the name of god.

I couldn't agree more.

People have to realize that most of us have two marriages: one proclaimed by our church/belief system/etc to be a "marriage" and one which is conferred by the state for legal reasons, which is the "civil marriage". They are distinct. That's why you need (in most cases) a marriage license issued by the state. In the case of my marriage, we were also given a certificate declaring our sacramental marriage in the church.

To all those that think that God is against same sex marriage, you are free to have your beliefs. No one is making your church acknowledge it as licit according to your beliefs. However, the state is free to define it's civil marriage as what it wants also. And in the case of a civil marriage, religion should not be brought into it. My church is against same sex marriage as defined by what we believe that God teaches, but I can't honestly be against same sex civil marriage if I truly believe in a free society.

That's exactly what I said in the college boards. Call it civil marriage, I don't care. In fact, the same would go for any heterosexual ceremonies performed in front of a judge. Civil marriage not spiritual marriage.

Whether the archaic laws are changed or not.....we are still your family....your neighbors.....your friends...your coworkers....

and your CAST MEMBERS...and no, we aren't going anywhere

I just do not believe that God meant for two men or two women to come together when He created the instituion of marriage. I believe that he reserved the institution of marriage for a man and a woman. Now am I being hurt by gay couples being married? No. It just goes against what I believe is right and what I am trying to teach my 8 year old son.

What pains me even more than the fact that you think it's ok to govern a country based on religious beliefs is that you're teaching intolerance to your poor 8 year old son. What if he was gay? Would you shone him and tell him he's wrong, immoral, and not deserving of the same civil benefits you and your wife have? You're telling him, me, and the rest of the gay community that even if they find the love of their life like everyone else, they do not have the right to see their partner on their deathbed because they are not family?

Pathetic

furthermore, this was posted in another thread on the topic:

Polls show that frequency of worship service attendance is a factor in the opposition to gay marriage. According to an August 2007 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 55% of Americans oppose gay marriage, with 36% favoring it. But those with a high frequency of church attendance oppose it by a substantially wider margin (73% in opposition vs. 21% in favor). Opposition among white evangelicals, regardless of frequency of church attendance, is even higher -- at 81%. A majority of black Protestants (64%) and Latino Catholics (52%)3 also oppose gay marriage, as do pluralities of white, non-Hispanic Catholics (49%) and white mainline Protestants (47%). Only among Americans without a religious affiliation does a majority (60%) express support.

However, a 2006 Pew survey found that sizable majorities of white mainline Protestants (66%), Catholics (63%) and those without a religious affiliation (78%) favor allowing homosexual couples to enter into civil unions that grant most of the legal rights of marriage without the title. The general public also supports civil unions (54% in favor vs. 42% in opposition). As with gay marriage, white evangelicals (66%), black Protestants (62%) and frequent church attenders (60%) stand out for their opposition to civil unions.4

I would encourage everyone to check out http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1815981
it is a good discussion that can open some eyes to the fact that we are normal in every way, we just love the same sex

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

No one is asking you to support a lifestyle/agenda.

All we are asking for is equality and for the life of me.....I truly can not understand how you can be against that.

Kevin

I agree with this statement whole heartedly. I have no idea why people are so nutso about this issue. Not only did my neighbors treat me badly I have people that I work with, am good friends with, that totally can not see my point of view on this issue. As though my cousin chose " the wrong path" in life. You are who you are. I just dont understand why people feel the need to be so judgemental. I think I better step away from this topic it is just to close to my heart. The boy I grew up with and man I came to love deserved to be happy and did not deserve to be treated badly or have a lack of healthcare because his partners healthcare didnt cover his medical expenses. On a lighter note. Go Cali show us the way!!

 

[Iggipolka]

Your wrong! The Bible defines it in Leviticus Chapter 20.

It's amazing to me how people can just pick and choose biblical passages to quote and supposedly follow when it suits their needs.

There's a whole bunch of passages about when it is appropriate to stone someone to death. I wonder if the people who quote the bible as a way of showing hatred for gays and lesbians to simply be allowed to live and love as everyone else does, follow these recommendations:

For cursing or blaspheming

And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him. Leviticus 24:16

For adultery (including urban rape victims who fail to scream loud enough)

If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city. Deuteronomy 22:23-24

For a woman who is not a virgin on her wedding night

If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her ... and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: And the damsel's father shall say ... these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. ... But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die. Deuteronomy 22:13-21

For disobeying parents, kill your son with stones.

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother ... Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city ... And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die. Deuteronomy 21:18-21

For breaking the Sabbath

They found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. ... And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones.... And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 15:32-56

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

Finally, if you are going to bring the Bible into it...what does it say is more important than all? "The greatest of these is Love." NOT "love between two people of opposite sex." Just love.

Peace.

I love how you put this. I had the opportunity this past week to have a talk with my 14 year old daughter about being lesbian/gay. Kids in school throw the term around friviously and I wanted to answer questions she had. I know my opinion may differ from others but it is my opinion and I'm entitled to it. I told her she shouldn't discriminate against anyone - and particularly against someone for the way God made them. It would be no different than discriminating against others for being female or male, black or white, or something else that makes us distinctly different. I don't believe God makes mistakes so the idea of gays not being part of God's plan seems silly. I must be a terribly simple person because this "issue" seems so ridiculous to me - why is there an issue at all if two people love each other? Who are WE to judge?? This is all reminiscent to the days of Rosa Parks - back then we thought the world was "going to hell in a handbasket" if we didn't segregate the blacks and whites and we were wrong then - haven't we learned ANYTHING from our past???

 

[CelticBelle]

This is all reminiscent to the days of Rosa Parks - back then we thought the world was "going to hell in a handbasket" if we didn't segregate the blacks and whites and we were wrong then - haven't we learned ANYTHING from our past???

I completely agree. Is discriminating based on sexual orientation any different than discriminating based on religion? Holocaust anyone? We are supposed to learn from mistakes of the past. Has anyone been to the museum of tolerance in LA? We would go in high school with the german club. Its a great museum about the holocaust and teaches tolerance on many different levels including race, gender, and sexual orientation. I dare someone the listen to a survivor of the holocaust and to still think that discriminating and denying rights on any level can be ok. Look what it leads to. Talk about a slippery slope. We can do more damage by being intolerant than allowing people that love each other be together.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

People have to realize that most of us have two marriages: one proclaimed by our church/belief system/etc to be a "marriage" and one which is conferred by the state for legal reasons, which is the "civil marriage". They are distinct. That's why you need (in most cases) a marriage license issued by the state. In the case of my marriage, we were also given a certificate declaring our sacramental marriage in the church.

To all those that think that God is against same sex marriage, you are free to have your beliefs. No one is making your church acknowledge it as licit according to your beliefs. However, the state is free to define it's civil marriage as what it wants also. And in the case of a civil marriage, religion should not be brought into it. My church is against same sex marriage as defined by what we believe that God teaches, but I can't honestly be against same sex civil marriage if I truly believe in a free society.

This is my Hangup when the laws were written God was a factor in most if not all of them. I understand with the Vast diverse religons of the USA now this is no longer the case. So is it easier to just rename a term ( Marriage) then to rewrite every Law pertaining to that Term. It should have been Cival Union for all when dealing with the State and Marriage when dealing with Church.

I do agree that EVERYONE has that same right as I do to a Cival Union . The problem is that was not the Term they used when God was a very large part of the decision making process.

I will end this with I have no problem at all with the Laws as they have have no affect on me or my Church but bring happynest to my fellow Man/Woman and everyone deserves that.

 

[wishspirit]

No one is asking you to support a lifestyle/agenda.

I'm always curious as to why people who use that phrase assume that they live a life, yet I am assumed to have a lifestyle/agenda.

I'm not asking you to support anything other than what I consider to be equal rights.

If you were to become ill....would you want YOUR lifestyle/agenda partner to be able to make crucial health care descisions for you? Me too.

If you were to pass away unexpectedly, would you want YOUR lifestyle/agenda partner to inherit the home you had built together? Me too.

Do you and YOUR lifestyle/agenda partner receive the financial benefits of filing joint income tax returns? I want that too.

You can replace the word partner with husband or wife but it doesnt change the fact that we want the same things.

And whether you support my lifestyle/agenda or not...it still goes on.

We've been together 7 years in September and built what I consider to be a beautiful life together. We live and work and play together. We take care of our aging parents. We pay taxes. We are part of the community.

I guess I need to ask...how will us having the same basic rights that you do, affect you?

Whether the archaic laws are changed or not.....we are still your family....your neighbors.....your friends...your coworkers....and we arent going anywhere.

All we are asking for is equality and for the life of me.....I truly can not understand how you can be against that.

Kevin

So true Kevin!

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Personally, I don't think same-sex marriages should be recognized by the government.

However, I also don't think traditional marriages should be recognized either.

Marriage, historically has been a religous ceremony. The acceptance of marriage as a legal union in my eyes is an endorsement of religion, one that should be avoided by our government.

If the government is interested in giving financial benefits to those who pledge to spend their lives together (or -- sigh -- until divorce, whichever comes first) - then civil unions are a perfectly fine alternative for all.

 

[saturday97]

I'm the daughter of two Dads. My Dad's partner of 25 years passed away of lung cancer (my friends like to call me Francesca, if you remember the character from the old Tracy Ullman show).

Everyone is entitled to their beliefs.

All I know is that, with or without the government's approval, they had the most "real" marriage of anyone in our family. Period. And to me that is more compelling evidence than anything else. You know true, authentic love when you see it. I based my marriage on the model they provided.

Love, respect, humanity, commitment, joy.

 

[abish19]

Thank you for this thread and for all of the spirited discussion.

This is definitely a topic that brings up strong feelings. I have lots of thoughts but many of them have already been shared.

This thread has really made me consider civil unions, gay marriage, and other alternative forms of marriage. I realized that, in at least two cases, my ancestors enjoyed alternative forms of marriage: my grandparents are first cousins, and my great-great-great-grandfather had three wives at the same time (I was descended from the 2nd).

Thanks again for the thoughtful and respectful comments.

 

[newarknut]

No one is asking you to support a lifestyle/agenda.

I'm always curious as to why people who use that phrase assume that they live a life, yet I am assumed to have a lifestyle/agenda.

I'm not asking you to support anything other than what I consider to be equal rights.

If you were to become ill....would you want YOUR lifestyle/agenda partner to be able to make crucial health care descisions for you? Me too.

If you were to pass away unexpectedly, would you want YOUR lifestyle/agenda partner to inherit the home you had built together? Me too.

Do you and YOUR lifestyle/agenda partner receive the financial benefits of filing joint income tax returns? I want that too.

You can replace the word partner with husband or wife but it doesnt change the fact that we want the same things.

And whether you support my lifestyle/agenda or not...it still goes on.

We've been together 7 years in September and built what I consider to be a beautiful life together. We live and work and play together. We take care of our aging parents. We pay taxes. We are part of the community.

I guess I need to ask...how will us having the same basic rights that you do, affect you?

Whether the archaic laws are changed or not.....we are still your family....your neighbors.....your friends...your coworkers....and we arent going anywhere.

All we are asking for is equality and for the life of me.....I truly can not understand how you can be against that.

Kevin

Remember, I come in peace.

We will probably just need to agree to disagree. I have a position on the subject that is different than yours. There are many legal ways to achieve your stated wishes without a marriage certificate. I certainly don't condemn your lifestyle. I don't agree with it, but, it's your choice. As I said, I'm a sinner saved by Grace. I'm not throwing stones.

I am a supporter of this site. I started supporting it before I knew anyone involved was gay. I will continue to support it and promote it. I'm well aware of Disney's acceptance of the gay lifestyle and it's political agenda. Me and my wife are nuts about Disney. My point is, we're all God's children. He is the only one in a position to judge. It's up to the rest of us to love and respect each other and to be a light in the world.

May God bless your day. Keep up the good work on the show. I thoroughly enjoy the podcasts. They really help keep me connected to the "happiest place on earth".

 

[DisneyKevin]

I understand that you feel that we will have to agree to just disagree and when we all have the same rights...I will be happy to go along with that.

Kevin

 

[3DisneyKids]

Sexuality is a choice?

Did you choose--at birth--what color eyes you would have? Or how large or small your nose would be?

This is really not meant to be a joke. This is seriously how I explain same sex couples to my kids.

My daughter's best friend has two moms. So at age 3, we had to have the conversation about different families. (And now one of those moms is my best friend. )

Now that the kids are a bit older (5, 6, and 8) and they ask WHY the two women chose to marry someone of the same gender (and we do use the term marry as it properly validates their relationship), we say that loving someone of the same sex is just like being born with blue eyes vs. brown. Some people are born with blue, others with brown. But all of the eyes serve the same function regardless of color. Blue eyes aren't better at seeing. Neither are heterosexual relationships better and being a couple than homosexual ones. All are just loving couples. So of course we should have equal rights.

 

[The Disney Fanatic]

What pains me even more than the fact that you think it's ok to govern a country based on religious beliefs is that you're teaching intolerance to your poor 8 year old son. What if he was gay? Would you shone him and tell him he's wrong, immoral, and not deserving of the same civil benefits you and your wife have? You're telling him, me, and the rest of the gay community that even if they find the love of their life like everyone else, they do not have the right to see their partner on their deathbed because they are not family?

Pathetic

furthermore, this was posted in another thread on the topic:

Listen...I didn't get on here bashing anybody or calling anyone names like pathetic. There are a whole lot of adjectives that I could use to describe your point of view but I'll keep them to myself. I'm teaching my son to love all people and to repect all people. That does not mean that he has to like or accept a way a person lives. If that is intolerance so be it! Since when do we as free Americans have to tolerate everthing that is placed in front of us. At this point let's just agree to disagree. I LOVE ALL HOMOSEXUAL AND LESBIAN PEOPLE! I mean that with all my heart. I just do not accept people of the same sex being in a sexual realtionship point blank.

P.S. And yes I do think that some biblical principles should be used to govern our country and if the truth be told you do too. I'm sure you don't believe that we should allow people to go around robbing, stealing and killing (biblical principles). I pray that we never see the day that we turn our backs on God just to try to justify our way of living, right or wrong.

Take it easy! I hope to see you guys in Disney World real soon! Kevin...I love what you are doing on the Pod Cast but I have to disagree with you on another note.... My family and I ate at O'Hanas in December and WE LOVED IT. I tried to call you guys to give a live report but I lost the number.

 

[wishspirit]

Take it easy! I hope to see you guys in Disney World real soon! Kevin...I love what you are doing on the Pod Cast but I have to disagree with you on another note.... My family and I ate at O'Hanas in December and WE LOVED IT. I tried to call you guys to give a live report but I lost the number.

Oh no, now your bringing up a worse debate.

'Ohana!

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

Sexuality is a choice?

Did you choose--at birth--what color eyes you would have? Or how large or small your nose would be?

This is really not meant to be a joke. This is seriously how I explain same sex couples to my kids.

That is EXACTLY how I started the discusssion with my teenager last week! I explained to her that she didn't get to pick out what color hair she had or what color her skin was and no matter what her sexuality she born with, we would love her the exact same way - just like if she was born with red hair instead of blond. The differences we are born with should be celebrated, not tear us apart.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

P.S. And yes I do think that some biblical principles should be used to govern our country and if the truth be told you do too. I'm sure you don't believe that we should allow people to go around robbing, stealing and killing (biblical principles). I pray that we never see the day that we turn our backs on God just to try to justify our way of living, right or wrong.

What you're saying here is that robbing, stealing, and killing are biblical principles, and with this I fully agree. I know it's not what you meant to say, but strangely, you presented the truth without meaning to. And yes, if we were to get into a full biblical debate (which we won't, as this is not the place), both of us can use quotations from scripture to support both sides of the argument. This is what believers and nonbelievers have been doing for centuries, and will continue to do. So let's not.

But I do want to impress upon you that "Christians" are not the only ones that hold these principles (the ones you really meant, which is to do unto others as we would have them do unto us) dear. They have been held dear ever since our genus started living in social groups, long before any written word has ever been put down. It's called (in our times) humanism. So please, don't tell me that only by being bound to a strangely-written and mostly unintelligible tome can humans hold the social values of loving our fellow man. That is the purest form of bullcrap, IMO. And to use a book that NOBODY can fully understand to run the country? It is to laugh.