MARRIAGE EQUALITY NATIONWIDE

[Lek]

I agree with Justice Warren.  This decision was aimed at interracial marriage.  There wasn't any same sex marriage at that time and marriage was defined as being between a man and a woman, so when he spoke of marriage, that is what he was referring to.

The decision wasn't what I was pointing at. The definition of marriage as a fundamental right, one that is guaranteed by the 14th amendment, is what I was pointing at. If you agree that even with his definition of marriage he was right, now you have to provide a reason that two men don't qualify for equal protection and due process under the law, and why this fundamental right becomes exclusionary.

I keep stating over and over that I believe equal rights should be given to all. That's why I suggested a legal civil union which applies to all Americans, straight or gay, who enter into that contract. Marriage would be a private matter. In that way, government would not be redefining an institution that is so important to so many citizens, yet it would confer equal status and benefits under the law to all who qualify. What is so terrible about that? Marriage came about long before any government was involved.

[SteelCurtain]

Lek, you still have yet to give a reason that your marriage has changed in any way from Friday.

I'm waiting on that, and I am going to take a page out of Rexbecca's book and become....tenacious.

Why is this important? You need to provide a reason why the government has any vested interest in creating an entirely new classification, when the current one works just fine, and isn't actually being changed in any way. Remember, before you react to this last clause, address my question above.

[Minimalist]

Let me see if I can help Lek out.  He's married and now if gays can get married he thinks that somehow makes him gay.


It's a little like when someone points out that Hitler was a vegetarian and all the vegetarians go apeshit because no one wants to be in any club that Hitler was a member of.

[Longhorn]

Lek, please make your case why same sex relationships are immoral without referring to religion.

[Mr.wizard]

The decision wasn't what I was pointing at. The definition of marriage as a fundamental right, one that is guaranteed by the 14th amendment, is what I was pointing at. If you agree that even with his definition of marriage he was right, now you have to provide a reason that two men don't qualify for equal protection and due process under the law, and why this fundamental right becomes exclusionary.

I keep stating over and over that I believe equal rights should be given to all.  That's why I suggested a legal civil union which applies to all Americans, straight or gay, who enter into that contract.  Marriage would be a private matter.  In that way, government would not be redefining an institution that is so important to so many citizens, yet it would confer equal status and benefits under the law to all who qualify.  What is so terrible about that?  Marriage came about long before any government was involved.

I don't understand what you are saying, what do you mean marriage would be a private matter? Marriage can be a private matter without government involvement, it just wont be recognized by the state or federal government so you or your spouse wouldn't be entitled to the legal benefits. The government is involved with marriage for legal reasons regarding taxes, beneficiaries, children, and property assets, which are huge reasons why gay couples where seeking legally recognized marriages. There is nothing sacred about marriage is nothing more than a legal contract, I don't know why you are worried about definitions. Also, why do you think anyone else's marriage will be changed at all now that gays can get married.

[Minimalist]

Marriage is a legal contract between two parties.  It cannot be private because the courts are the ultimate arbiter of contractual disputes.

Poor Lek and the rest really think there is some asinine 'god' overseeing things and it fucks up his perception of reality.

[Cato]

That's why I suggested a legal civil union which applies to all Americans, straight or gay, who enter into that contract.  Marriage would be a private matter.  

I would have defended this as a viable solution and is what should have been done 20 years ago, but the turbo-Christians that control the religious right would have none of it because of their adherence to a hatred stemming from OT prohibitions while ignoring a myriad of other OT laws. Instead, after consulting their WWJD bracelets, they decided to be true Christians and denigrate and demean a subset of our population based on a natural characteristic. The reason we got to where we are today is precisely because civil unions were still too distasteful for the bigots. They only have themselves to blame.

[Brian37]

The decision wasn't what I was pointing at. The definition of marriage as a fundamental right, one that is guaranteed by the 14th amendment, is what I was pointing at. If you agree that even with his definition of marriage he was right, now you have to provide a reason that two men don't qualify for equal protection and due process under the law, and why this fundamental right becomes exclusionary.

I keep stating over and over that I believe equal rights should be given to all.  That's why I suggested a legal civil union which applies to all Americans, straight or gay, who enter into that contract.  Marriage would be a private matter.  In that way, government would not be redefining an institution that is so important to so many citizens, yet it would confer equal status and benefits under the law to all who qualify.  What is so terrible about that?  Marriage came about long before any government was involved.

Nope, sorry, just because you have a religion, does not mean you get to define for everyone, in a secular pluralistic society, what laws WE have. This is merely watered down bigotry "separate but equal".

Now again, gays are not out to force you to get gay married so your idea of marriage is still in tact.

[robvalue]

Gays. Gays everywhere for the win!

I changed my Facebook profile picture using that flag filter thing I tried to copy it over here but I can't seem to figure out how to snag the image.

Be nice to gays. Because when you finally admit that you are gay, you'll want people to be nice to you too.

I think this decision has been a big part of my positive mood the last few days

[SteelCurtain]

I think this decision has been a big part of my positive mood the last few days

Mine too. I get lost in the wonderful videos of old couples getting married in places like Texas and Tennessee. Couples who thought they would never see this day. It's so beautiful, and makes me cry.





My second video weakness. I will cry almost immediately for:
1) Videos of servicemembers coming home and surprising their families
2) Videos of cute older gay couples finally getting married.