OT - MA Gay Marriage Ruling

[BillFinn]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 6:48pm

What do you all think?

-----------------------------

We were arguing about it in my American History class and my teacher proceeded to tell us his point of view of course. Apparently to him, the reason for marriage is to procreate and gay people can live happily together but when it comes to getting sexual it becomes "disturbing". Hah, how can I respect his class now? jeez.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 6:51pm

there's an earlier thread on it if you're interested, title "3 CHEERS"

[JKB2]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 10:02pm

Someone who thinks the purpose of marriage is to procreate? So anyone who's too old to have kids, or infertile, or not planning to have kids, should be legally barred from getting married? Sounds like an idiot.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/20/03 at 10:10pm

That's funny. Today in my American history class we talked about this. The discussion took the full 83 minute period! Pretty boring, but we have a very opinionated class.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:37am

JKB2--BINGO!

And, unfortunately that isn't said enough as it completely dispels the anti-gay marriage argument.

I have faith and respect for Elizabeth Birch--LOVE her and glad she has been our "voice". I just wish she would include that on the news shows.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 8:08am

HUGE dicussions in our school as well, where a large percentage of the students are openly gay. They were cheering all day and making a big ta-do!, but when it came time for discussions, they had no clue what the court's ruling meant, they just knew it was a step up for their rights.

To me, Marriage is the government's recognition of a couple. The couple can then get tax write-offs and what-not.

I wouldn't care who loves who, who wants to marry who, yatta yatta yatta. I would only care that they love each other.

However, same-sex love is against my religion, so from a religious point of view, I am against it. Otherwise, I have no beef.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 9:09am

I think all the brouhaha about the "sanctity of straighty marriage must be preserved" is a bunch of merde. Boys, it's all about money -- American corporations are quaking in their boots at the thought of paying out insurance benefits, death benefits, pensions, and the like to domestic partners of the homosex persuasion. The smoke-and-mirrors of this whole thing is disgusting.

BUT...I also think this is going to be the civil rights issue of the first part of this century. All of the naysayers, i.e. Mit Romney, are going to go down in history like Jesse Helms when it's all said and done. Mark my words.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 9:15am

Here's an absolutely indispensible article that explains just what is so strong about the ruling and how it makes absolute judicial and legislative sense. Also has excellent refutations for the weak arguments that have been put up against the decision.
Link

[sheekala]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 9:19am

What a great article, thank you Namo!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 9:26am

My pleasure to point people to the article. I'm trying to memorize Silverglate's points because discussions of this topic get so heated that sometimes I'm flummoxed and stumbling for words. I don't think he left anything out, and his comparisons with other struggles are invaluable.

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:00pm

namo struggling for words, now surely that's one of the seven signs of the apocalypse?!?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:42pm

Sheekala, based upon your current photo (WOOF!),I would love to say "I do" to you.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 1:52pm

Let's face it, some of those people that do procreate shouldn't even be parents. I love the people who think they are so liberal and say they're fine with same sex couple wanting to wed, but then when they find out they want to adopt children their attitudes change. I know quite a few same sex couples who have adopted children and the chidren are very happy. I also know "normal" couples who have some of the most misbehaved children and all the parents do is fight with them.
It may take many years, and there will always be bigotry, but I cannot wait until peope can get over themselves and what they consider to be normal or acceptable, and finally be able to accept other people for their differences.

Same sex partnership is certainly not a life style I would choose, but I am certainly not going to pass harsh judgment (or any judgment for that matter) on those who do.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 2:01pm

there is clearly something wrong with any ruling that could conceivably allow the legal marriage of Dollypop to Finding Namo.

Other than that, the ruling is great. For the nation however, a word other than marriage should likely be decided upon to describe the legal union of a gay couple:)

[mamamia sammy]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 2:53pm

Very disturbing, indeed.

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 4:07pm

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 6:26pm

**laughs hysterically and throws a HUGE wedding party as the heads of Bush and every crazy-ass fundie explode** Is it okay if I show up to the funeral and laugh hysterically?????

[BillFinn]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 6:30pm

When I want to marry a man, I will marry a man. It's my "God-given constitutional right". I just feel sorry for the U.S. Government when I turn 18 because I will protest my @ss off for that right and I will get it. These little mind games they like to bestow on us are getting tiresome.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 9:49pm

and that is another thing that sickens me--the petty semantics of the word "Marriage"

Some are willing to give us every single right and protection that marriage provides as long as we don't dare use "their" word. Well, equal benefits and protection are the point--but taking it as a second class citizen (not being allowed the higher standard word) is unacceptable nonetheless.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 9:54pm

exactly.. the way I see it.. you have to crawl before you can walk. walk before you can ryn.. our community HAS been making leaps and strides. But I refuse to accept and live my life seen as a second class citizen.

FACT -- teh percentage of Americans AGAINST same sex marriage NOW is actually LESS then the percentage against interracial marriage when that was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 9:58pm

Exactly--because in matters of civil rights, "what the people wants" does not matter--or we wouldn't have

1. ended slavery
2. given women the right to vote
3. created all of the various laws protecting people on matters of race and ethnicity during the Civil Rights movement
etc etc etc.

AND the Bible was quoted to defend these atrocities.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 10:15pm

Walk before you can run? The right to marrying who you want is an innate right. This is all ridiculous. I demand the right to get married to whatever homosapien I want, and when the time comes, I will get it. I WILL get it. I will protest, I will bitch (which I do best), I will petition, and anything else in my power to make the government recognize that right.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/21/03 at 10:25pm

I meant in general........