Gay Marriage is as bad as...

[Sarah Valentine]

The thing that really creeps me out about that link is that a woman was able to marry her grandson. Ewww.

[christopher]

I also think that gays should have the right to get married and have the same rights and benefits that straight couples have. They can't screw marriage up anymore than we do already. Not allowing them to do that just isn't right.

[Arcade Man D]

I also think that gays should have the right to get married and have the same rights and benefits that straight couples have. They can't screw marriage up anymore than we do already. Not allowing them to do that just isn't right.

Add responsibilities to that as well, though.

If I marry my girlfriend, and we later end up realizing we had been better off as friends, we have to go through a divorce proceeding, which isn't even possible for amicable divorces in some states (NY only just introduced no-fault divorce). If my friend and his boyfriend have a commitment ceremony (since I live in NY, which doesn't have gay marriage within the state), there's no legal proceeding to end it, just a simple decision.

And I agree, allowing two men or two women who love each other deeply to get married in the eyes of the law (they can already be married in the eyes of God in some churches, or whichever other deity a religion that allows gay marriage ceremonies worships) won't do anything to actually harm the sanctity of marriage, not when straight people are responsible for most of the damage (I'm looking at you, Miss Jennifer "I'm gonna be hitched for under a day" Lopez).


The only caveat is one that some people don't realize would be required by the US Constitution anyway, though, and that's that the government cannot coerce, in any way, churches to perform marriage ceremonies that they don't agree with. I have a few friends who can never be married by most Catholic priests because they have been married prior and were divorced, not had an annulment, and I wouldn't expect to have an Eastern Orthodox priest perform my ceremony because neither myself nor my girlfriend is Eastern Orthodox. If a church doesn't want to acknowledge gay marriage, they shouldn't be forced to perform them, because it is a religion's right to decide whom they will perform marriage ceremonies for.

[Racket_Man]

The only caveat is one that some people don't realize would be required by the US Constitution anyway, though, and that's that the government cannot coerce, in any way, churches to perform marriage ceremonies that they don't agree with. I have a few friends who can never be married by most Catholic priests because they have been married prior and were divorced, not had an annulment, and I wouldn't expect to have an Eastern Orthodox priest perform my ceremony because neither myself nor my girlfriend is Eastern Orthodox. If a church doesn't want to acknowledge gay marriage, they shouldn't be forced to perform them, because it is a religion's right to decide whom they will perform marriage ceremonies for.

and that is any church's right ie. not performing marriage cerimony's for certain people and "under/in the eyes of God". and I have no problem with that.

but lots of people go down to the local goverment courthouse and get married by a Justice of the Peace or a sitting Judge or whoever is "authorized" and licensed by the goverment to perform and "leagalize" a marriage, sign the appropreiate paperwork and file it properly.

if you get hitched in a church, the church/religion and whatever diety is "involved " and the marriage is recognized by that church/religion/sect. as long as the joiner/priest/whatever is legally able to perform a marriage. you still have to file the correct goverment papers.

the only real difference is one is a "civil" or government sponcored cerimony (even if you are married by a religious person at the courthouse) and the other is "under/in the eyes of a "diety" cerimony. Heck even the standard/traditional vows are nearly the same.

gay marriage destroying the santicity of MARRIGAE??????? HUH????? we straight people have done enough to do that ourselves.

[Ipecac Drano]

Whenever someone says, "Next thing you know, they'll be able to marry their _____!", I ask them if they're having trouble telling the difference between an adult human being and whatever they're making a comparison toward.

[fireheart17]

I see no problem with churches refusing gay couples-really, in terms of anti-discrimination laws at least in Australia, it's a bit of a grey area, but ideally churches may be able to apply for exemptions (similar to how women-only gyms exist and I'll leave it at that)

Regardless, I have seen most ceremonies take place anywhere but an actual CHURCH-only one of the ceremonies I've actually witnessed out of about maybe half a dozen was in a church and that was because the bride's side of the family was Catholic (my dad is the groom's cousin I think...). All the other weddings I've attended have been as follows:

-One of dad's distant cousins: Botanic Gardens.
-Uncle's second marriage: grounds of a lovely German restaurant. (we used the actual resturant for the reception since it was a small wedding)
-Cousin's wedding: hotel chapel-she booked out a good chunk of the floor in question for the wedding: two ballrooms, a bar and the chapel, plus an extra smaller room where she could have photos.

WEddings I've heard of but not actually seen:

Girl I went to school with: had photos taken out at a winery/hotel not too far from my work, actual wedding ceremony was done in the backyard. (a lot of weddings have actually occurred there as it's a nice place)

My point is that there's no requirement LEGALLY, to have a wedding in a church. Spiritually yes, legally no.

The older/younger age gap-both parties need to agree and so does a judge and I believe the parents? do as well.

Marrying inanimate objects-umm....o.o....

Really, if you take the spiritual side out of the argument, there is no other reason why gays cannot get married. The argument I often use is "So gay marriage erodes the sanctity of marriage, yet divorce doesn't?" (With that argument, the only time a divorce ideally would be granted no questions asked, is due to domestic abuse or one of the couple was the victim of a crime caused by his/her partner i.e. partner committed fraud and conned her etc.)

[tropicsgoddess]

The only thing I see as the sanctity of marriage are the vows made that two consenting adults make to each other (to have and to hold for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us part) and promise to uphold those vows to each other but also to < insert diety> and those who witness them making those vows to each other.