[Jack Caymen]

I voted in this poll a long time ago, but this is my first time writing a response. I see that many people have some heartfelt stories and some logical post that really make me have faith in people and others not so much. I live in Florida and when Prop 8 was up at the west coast over here on the east we also voted on our own gay maraige ban and it passed. It made me upset. I knew some of my friends that voted in favor. My own sister didn't vote cause she was confused by those awful campain commecials that showed Children singing and playing in a perfect word because the ban was passed. Churches were calling houses telling people which way to vote. THAT really pissed me off. Almost as much as waht happening in the aftermath. Myspce bulletins pooped up celebrating Florida for making the "right" decision. I was in shock that day and here is what I have to say:
I think once somebody is close to a gay individual only then can they really understand the issue. People look at gays like a separate category; there are gays and non-gays. What there really is is just one category: People. All people are brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters whether they are gay or not they love their significant other just as much as you love yours.

I'll probably get flamed for this hypothetical, but anyways...
Have you people ever thought of empathy? Putting yourself into the shoes of others? What if the tables were turned? What if you grew up in a gay community and you found yourself in love with a girl and you weren't accepted or given the right to marry the one you love?
I know the biggest debate right now is between gay marriage and civil unions, but I still thought this would be a decent response. Just know gays will be around whether they can get legally married or not so don't think by legalizing it you are condoning being gay if you are opposed to it. Nor should you think you would be increasing the amount of gays or on the flip side banning gay marriage would decrease the amount of gay citizens.
It really irks me to see intolerance to anything be it, race , religion, or sexual preference.
This response couldn't be complete with out this cleshe'- We all belong to the same race. The Human Race.

Also if you honestly, truly, believe legalizing gay marriage would lead to incest or beastiality then you are a f*** idiot :]

[sba sb3002]

I don't like going around saying that I support same-sex marriages, because I don't. I also don't support opposing same-sex marriages, though. I think it shouldnt've ever been made illegal in the first place. Let people marry whoever they want it's their life. Straight up.

[LegendaryLarry]

But were does it stop. If someone wants to marry thier first cousin, why not let them. What about multiple spouses? etc. Is gay marraige a social issue or a perversion that some this generation has accepted and wants to make legal? What makes this generation better than every other generation? Were not also talking gay marraige. Making this legal also makes many other benefits legal that usually regarded to the traditional family made legal to them using tax payer's money. If that is true, why not let the tax payer decide if gay marraige should be made legal? Why should the government decide for us?

[LuigiGBA]

LegendaryLarry wrote:

But were does it stop. If someone wants to marry thier first cousin, why not let them. What about multiple spouses? etc. Is gay marraige a social issue or a perversion that some this generation has accepted and wants to make legal? What makes this generation better than every other generation? Were not also talking gay marraige. Making this legal also makes many other benefits legal that usually regarded to the traditional family made legal to them using tax payer's money. If that is true, why not let the tax payer decide if gay marraige should be made legal? Why should the government decide for us?

Too tired to talk about all of your post but first cousin marriage is allowed in 24 states, not saying that that's right or healthy but it IS condoned. And your last statement is fairly idiotic in that our government is based on elected representatives, if gay marriage becomes allowed, it is BECAUSE the majority of taxpayers have elected officials that shall do so.

[Facepalm]

LegendaryLarry wrote:

But were does it stop. If someone wants to marry thier first cousin, why not let them. What about multiple spouses? etc. Is gay marraige a social issue or a perversion that some this generation has accepted and wants to make legal? What makes this generation better than every other generation? Were not also talking gay marraige. Making this legal also makes many other benefits legal that usually regarded to the traditional family made legal to them using tax payer's money. If that is true, why not let the tax payer decide if gay marraige should be made legal? Why should the government decide for us?

The reason why gay marriage is opposed is prejudice.
The reason why incestuous marriage is opposed is because it is a lifestyle choice that could lead to some very serious problems upon reproduction.

There is a reason why being gay has become much more acceptable over the centuries, and incest has become a much more immoral act since times where it was popular and actually encouraged.

[Asad]

The fact that same-sex marriage is outlawed in many parts of a country that stresses the separation of church and state is rather inconsistent considering that the idea that marriage is between a man and a woman stems from religion. If the USA truly wants to live up to its standard of being a secular society it must grant full marriage rights to all of its citizens except those who lead alternative lifestyles which are demonstrably harmful to society (incestuous, interspecies, etc.). That homosexuals naturally cannot propagate the species is not very harmful to society as surrogacy and artificial insemination are viable options today.

Live and let live.

[Zidane]

Facepalm wrote:

LegendaryLarry wrote:

But were does it stop. If someone wants to marry thier first cousin, why not let them. What about multiple spouses? etc. Is gay marraige a social issue or a perversion that some this generation has accepted and wants to make legal? What makes this generation better than every other generation? Were not also talking gay marraige. Making this legal also makes many other benefits legal that usually regarded to the traditional family made legal to them using tax payer's money. If that is true, why not let the tax payer decide if gay marraige should be made legal? Why should the government decide for us?

The reason why gay marriage is opposed is prejudice.
The reason why incestuous marriage is opposed is because it is a lifestyle choice that could lead to some very serious problems upon reproduction.

There is a reason why being gay has become much more acceptable over the centuries, and incest has become a much more immoral act since times where it was popular and actually encouraged.

The times they are a changin'.... No more incest. Hey! Sounds like a name of a game-get on it boys!

[RustyCage]

Well, I figure that if you're going to break free of some of the ignorance of society by embracing your own homosexuality, then you shouldn't need to huddle under another one of the umbrellas of ignorance to confirm it.

In other words, you don't have to get married to be united with your partner. Particularly considering that marriage in itself is typically a religious ceremony, and taken seriously mostly because of religion. And, of course, religions are notoriously homophobic. 2 + 2 = why bother with their nonsense? Just love who you love and be true to them.

[SEGAsbest]

RustyCage wrote:

Well, I figure that if you're going to break free of some of the ignorance of society by embracing your own homosexuality, then you shouldn't need to huddle under another one of the umbrellas of ignorance to confirm it.

In other words, you don't have to get married to be united with your partner. Particularly considering that marriage in itself is typically a religious ceremony, and taken seriously mostly because of religion. And, of course, religions are notoriously homophobic. 2 + 2 = why bother with their nonsense? Just love who you love and be true to them.

Taxes? Also, just as a general note to those of you who have been misinformed about it being a perversion of modern day society, homosexuality has existed since ancient rome and greece. Also marriage began as a contract (more so than a religious ceremony) as far back as recorded history goes, and before that who knows.

[glassjaw0814]

I believe that it is unfair that people can use the law to rob other people of particular freedoms. This IS America, right? The land of the free? Being a gay man myself, I've dealt with a lot of prejudice and hate - the sad thing is, all of it is misniformed. Gay people are human beings just like everyone else.

My personal feelings about marriage aside, I think that homosexual couples have every right to have their unions recognized by the government in some fashion - be it marriage, civil union, what have you.