Why is gay marriage such a big issue?

[Miss Jasmine]

This is an issue I constantly scratch my head over. It's especially perplexing to me since I am a Christian. I don't think that my beliefs or anyone else's beliefs should dictate how people live their lives. It's THIER lives, not mine. I can manage my life in whatever way I see fit, but my rights end there. How would a Christian feel if he or she were told how he or she should worship, or told that he or she COULD NOT worship. I believe thhat marriage is the same type of right as practicing your religion.

 

[scubamouse]

i referenced this on a similar thread last week. it's a big issue because it gets conservatives out voting and being against it doesn't tick off the extreme right base. things like divorce and adultery which are equal Biblical sins don't get any traction. Why? Because those hit the base. Sadly, divorce rates are probably a much bigger social issue than gay marriage,

Pragmatically, I'm for gay civil unions. Actually I'm for the gov't getting out of the business of marrying people period. Let them issue civil union licenses and leave it to Churches, Mosques, Synagogues et al to marry people.

And all you have to do is go back to the 1960s and in some states it was against the law to marry out of your race. Someone here might know but isn't there some reference in the Bible to not marrying out of your faith or race? I thought there was.

 

[umaangel00]

It's funny how some people think others are "backward and narrow minded" simply because their beliefs/opinions differ from their own.

I do not feel "backward and narrow minded" but I do not believe in gay marriage. Michigan had this on the ballot and I'm glad it was defeated. I believe (as does the majority of voters here) that marriage is between one man and one woman.

I also live in Michigan and I voted this down as well. Marriage is between a man and a woman. We were made to be with the opposite sex. Not the same sex. I also do not believe you were born to be a certain way. We AGAIN were obviously made to be with the opposite sex. I believe you make a desicion whether or not to be gay or straight. Also, homosexuals do have the same rights as everyone else, they can marry someone from the opposite sex.

What is stopping a lesibian couple from finding a male gay couple and marrying each other so they can have all the same rights? Nothing! Maybe just a little inconveince. But that is it.

 

[umaangel00]

i referenced this on a similar thread last week. it's a big issue because it gets conservatives out voting and being against it doesn't tick off the extreme right base. things like divorce and adultery which are equal Biblical sins don't get any traction. Why? Because those hit the base. Sadly, divorce rates are probably a much bigger social issue than gay marriage,

Pragmatically, I'm for gay civil unions. Actually I'm for the gov't getting out of the business of marrying people period. Let them issue civil union licenses and leave it to Churches, Mosques, Synagogues et al to marry people.

And all you have to do is go back to the 1960s and in some states it was against the law to marry out of your race. Someone here might know but isn't there some reference in the Bible to not marrying out of your faith or race? I thought there was.

If that is in the Bible then it's in the Old Testament. No one lives by that anymore. We all live by the New Testament. Thank you!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

You can read it right here on the DIS. People think that everyone needs to live the way they believe. Why do I have to live by your beliefs? Why should you live by mine? Here in the US,we think we're so progressive. That just isn't so.

There are a sizable number of people who think that others should live by what they believe. But I think that there are a lot of people like me. And this was something that I was faced with many years ago as a hig school student. I found out that a teacher was lesbian (students were housesitting when she was on vacation and snooped and found a diary) and I did some serious thinking then about her lifestyle and my thoughts on it (I was raised with very conservative parents and it was the first gay person that I'd known--or at least that I knew was gay). It was a non-issue for me at the time, after thinking about it for a little while. I wasn't going to let the knowledge that she was lesbian color my views of her. Period. It was eye opening for me.

In the almost 30 years since that I haven't changed my views. I don't base my views of people on whether they are gay or straight just like I don't base it on the color of their skin or their religion. I welcome diversity--it would be such a boring world if we were all alike.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

As to the civil union vs a marriage, if I have a right to a marriage, someone who is gay should have a right to the same thing. With the high divorce rate it's not as if the hetrosexuals are always getting it right.

 

[RickinNYC]

If that is in the Bible then it's in the Old Testament. No one lives by that anymore. We all live by the New Testament. Thank you!

You might want to talk to the entire Jewish population throughout the entire world about that.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

If that is in the Bible then it's in the Old Testament. No one lives by that anymore. We all live by the New Testament. Thank you!

Oh really, where in the NT does it say to throw out the entire OT????? Funny, a lot of the things I read in the OT do not disclaim "UNTIL JESUS COMES". If the OT doesn't matter then why is it still included in the Holy Bible?

Also I do believe that Judaism is still alive and kicking.

 

[chris1gill]

I also live in Michigan and I voted this down as well. Marriage is between a man and a woman. We were made to be with the opposite sex.

What is stopping a lesibian couple from finding a male gay couple and marrying each other so they can have all the same rights? Nothing! Maybe just a little inconveince. But that is it.

Yeh, but who said that marriage was between a man and a woman? Where in our Constitution is that written? Where in the Solar System is that written? Who made that rule? Conservative Religious groups support that philosohy... but that is all it is, it's somebody's philosophy infringing on other's lives. It's completely unconstitutional.

As for your suggestion in the last paragraph, that is just insulting....

 

[scubamouse]

If that is in the Bible then it's in the Old Testament. No one lives by that anymore. We all live by the New Testament. Thank you!

Apparently you haven't been paying attention to how often Leviticus come up. And let's not even get started on ID and creationsism

 

[Puffy2]

I believe (as does the majority of voters here) that marriage is between one man and one woman.

You are accurate in your statement of "I believe" - so , what you "believe" is supposed to apply to the other nearly 3 million people in this country- not because it "picks your pocket" or "breaks your bone" (as Thomas Jefferson indicated that laws should only be made when they do) - but because it is in accordance with YOUR beliefs?

I"m not picking on you personally, but the mentality that only certain people in this country are worthy enough to enter into a committed relationship with the adult person that they love (with all the legal protections under the law) simply because of one groups "beliefs".

I "believe" that divorce is a sin - should it be illegal? Should it be a crime to "marry again"? I "believe" that gluttony is a in - should fat people be locked away or barred from restaurants or prohibted from eating fatty foods? I "believe" that adultry is a sin - should we imprison all the cheaters? Fine them? I "believe" that vaniety is a sin - should we outlaw beauty pagents?

 

[RickinNYC]

Call me finger pointing, biased, etc... but I think anyone that feels that I am not entitled to the same rights as a heterosexual couple, i.e. marriage, civil union, whatever you want to call it, is homophobic, self righteous and biased. And yes, narrowminded and backwards etc... as well.

I've been a committed, 15 years relationship with the same man. A hell of a lot longer than quite a few folks who would otherwise deny me the right to marry him.

Not gonna bother with this topic from this point forward.

 

[umaangel00]

Oh really, where in the NT does it say to throw out the entire OT????? Funny, a lot of the things I read in the OT do not disclaim "UNTIL JESUS COMES". If the OT doesn't matter then why is it still included in the Holy Bible?

SO we can know how it USED TO BE! It's funny, you don't want me to press my views on you but you are all pushing your views on everyone that views this as sinful by saying we should just let it happen and butt out.

Funny how when I say it's wrong I get yelled at stating that I am pushing my views on everyone . But when you all say it's right I don't get angry and say you are pushing your views on me and people who think like me. You all need a reality check.

 

[RickinNYC]

What is stopping a lesibian couple from finding a male gay couple and marrying each other so they can have all the same rights? Nothing! Maybe just a little inconveince. But that is it.

So you encourage loveless marriage? Disgusting.

Sorry, couldn't not comment on this.

 

[umaangel00]

Yeh, but who said that marriage was between a man and a woman? Where in our Constitution is that written? Where in the Solar System is that written? Who made that rule? Conservative Religious groups support that philosohy... but that is all it is, it's somebody's philosophy infringing on other's lives. It's completely unconstitutional.

As for your suggestion in the last paragraph, that is just insulting....

And your philosophy is infringing on my views and my rights as well.

And my suggestion is not insulting, it's common sense!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I "believe" that divorce is a sin - should it be illegal? Should it be a crime to "marry again"? I "believe" that gluttony is a in - should fat people be locked away or barred from restaurants or prohibted from eating fatty foods? I "believe" that adultry is a sin - should we imprison all the cheaters? Fine them? I "believe" that vaniety is a sin - should we outlaw beauty pagents?

These are great questions, but they are ALWAYS ignored.

 

[Puffy2]

I just feel people who belong to a specfic church should be allowed to follow the guidelines of their church. And if they don't like the churches guide lines, then they can find another one that meets their needs. Does any of that make sense?

Of course it makes sense. I haven't seen where a gay couple has insisted that any pastor marry them. This argument is for civil unions under the law - if churches want to host the service in their church, fine. If they don't, fine.

 

[umaangel00]

You are accurate in your statement of "I believe" - so , what you "believe" is supposed to apply to the other nearly 3 million people in this country- not because it "picks your pocket" or "breaks your bone" (as Thomas Jefferson indicated that laws should only be made when they do) - but because it is in accordance with YOUR beliefs?

I"m not picking on you personally, but the mentality that only certain people in this country are worthy enough to enter into a committed relationship with the adult person that they love (with all the legal protections under the law) simply because of one groups "beliefs".

I "believe" that divorce is a sin - should it be illegal? Should it be a crime to "marry again"? I "believe" that gluttony is a in - should fat people be locked away or barred from restaurants or prohibted from eating fatty foods? I "believe" that adultry is a sin - should we imprison all the cheaters? Fine them? I "believe" that vaniety is a sin - should we outlaw beauty pagents?

Yes it her belief. But you are trying to push your belief that it should be legal on us who think it shouldn't. So how come you are not wrong and we are?

 

[umaangel00]

So you encourage loveless marriage? Disgusting.

Sorry, couldn't not comment on this.

Yes I am if it will get the gay community to shut up and get what they want.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

And your philosophy is infringing on my views and my rights as well.

And my suggestion is not insulting, it's common sense!

How is it infringing on your rights? You wouldn't be forced to marry someone of the same gender.

Yes I am if it will get the gay community to shut up and get what they want.

Wow how nice. Can't ya just feel the love??