Same-sex marriage

Well put. If I havn't said so already, welcome to TW.

 

Welcome! We need more passengers on the death train!! Seriously, I think many of the posts have been read out of context. It's hard to follow threads with so many posts. I don't think even people of faith begrudge gays having equal rights. The issue to me is whether I and my wife have the same type or relationship as a gay couple. I don't think so, even if it were just based on the physiological difference. I understand that gays may be upset that I can't see them as my exact equal from a sexual perspective, but I just cannot, no matter how hard I try. I think gays want more than equal rights - as I have stated earlier I think equal gay rights is a red herring - gays want me to embrace them as my equal in each and every respect. I am physiologically and sexually different from a gay man and don't understand why if gays have all the rights I do that they insist on being listed after the same word in the dictionary and "defined" in the same way I am. That seems to me more a pursuit of forcing me to submit, rather than allowing others rights.

 

I would never hate someone in my family that was gay. I couldn't. Not even sure I could hate them if they were sent away to prison for a crime. You should reach out to your family and forgive. It is an incredibly empowering thing. But as much as I would love one of my daughters if she "became gay", I would never call her union with another woman a marriage.

 

In not one post on this site have I ever said or even inferred I was better than anyone. I said I was different, not better.

 

Funny how the "gay family member" subject came up just as I was thinking about it. My youngest brother is gay and I can't think of another person that would give you his time, attention or the shirt off his back quicker than he would. He still is shunned by some members of my family and it's better if I just stay away from them. Still, my brother knows my position on this subject and he respects it. I love him because he is my brother but he also knows that I think his lifestyle is wrong. We don't argue about it and we can tell each other anything. It's funny how we tolerate each others lifestyles so well without it getting in the way. He knows what I believe and he respects it and I hope more than anything that he is happy. He will also be the first to tell you that gay marriage is not at it's core what this argument is about. Tolerance is the only choice I have because to be intolerant I would have to deny him the choice to sleep with another man. It's none of my buisiness what he does with another guy but he still knows that I have the right to believe it's wrong. And we get along just fine thank you very much!

 

Crikey! I have stated over and over again that gays should have equal rights! Read my posts! I am against calling it marriage and I will never think its right! Are you so blinded by your own assumptions that you keep ignoring this?!?!?

 

My parents split up when I was about 15 I think. Strangely, my mom was at a religious retreat when she figured out she was a lesbian. Since the divorce, both of my parents have re-married. My father was a deacon before the divorce, and then he decided to become a priest as my mother was the only thing holding him back up until then. It sure is fun to explain to people that I have 3 moms and my dad's a priest.

I often wonder how someone like Dick Cheney deals with having a lesbian in his family. He's part of a party that a significant portion of condemns a member of his family. That must be a helluva thing to have to rationalize at night.

Thanks for the welcome!

Out of curiosity, what is it that makes a same-sex union different than a heterosexual union to you? Is it simply the sex, or does that type of emotional bond between two men/women come into play? It just seems to me that if it's simply the sexual acts that make the difference, that's an awfully small thing to object to. Especially considering that you never have to be made of aware of their happening.

You said that "gays want me to embrace them as my equal in each and every respect." Does that mean you don't believe they are equal in each and every respect? You say you want them to have equal rights, which I am definitely grateful for, but it doesn't sound like you think they're equal. If I'm misunderstanding you, I apologize.

Thanks!

 

Has a decision been reached yet?

 

Equal, but different. Just as you and I are equal, but different. And yes, it may seem like a small thing, but I am offended to have my relationship with my wife characterized as the same as a gay union. As for Cheney, I wouldn't stereotype the Republican party as significantly condemning his daughter. They may object and disagree with same-sex unions, but it doesn't extend to hate and condemnation.

 

If my wanting a sexual or other relationship between a man and a woman to be called something different than that between two gays, tell me how that equates to me saying they are beneath me? You are not content with letting gays have equal rights, you want to take away the right of heterosexuals to have their own identity. You are, sir, a Moral Nihilist.

 

Gay people should have the same right to be miserable as straight people. I dont feel it should be done in a church but then again I really dont give a Sh!t.

 

I don't think it is different. we are all born with this, being gay or straight. We are all delt different cards but we are all human. and all humans should have equal rights to the same thing. gay straight black white yellow brown. We are all entitled to our "opinion" as long as it does not fringe on someones equal rights. and humans equal rights is the right to have marriage. You can not have equal rights if you have to call it something different. Its not equal

 

This debate has finally become pointless. You keep telling me what I am saying when I don't! You say I want to be identified exclusively by the word marriage. Agreed. So how the hell do you go from there to your stating that I "[am]... saying that they cannot love someone as you do, ergo they are lesser than you"?????? That is not what I said, nor is it what I meant. It is simply you drawing your own assumptions and conclusions again.

 

Moral Nihilist = nothing is moral or immoral. Yes, this is precisely what I see as you.