Same-Sex Marriage: Yea or Nay? And Explain!

[Goath]

In honor of two ballot issues today in the United States, I wondered where you folk stood on the issue of same-sex marriage. Because I get the sense many of the most common posters here are libertarians (at least economically) I wondered if your "leave me alone, government!" streak continued to letting gays tie the note.

Does calling the union "marriage" make you less likely to support it? To those of you who might be LGBT, do you think the unions must be called marriages to convey the same weight in society?

For those who don't know, today in the US the people of the State of Maine are being asked to support gay marriages, while the people of Washington are being asked to support a domestic partnership law that conveys the same rights and privileges of marriage but doesn't legally call them "marriages".

EDIT: if you're on either said- tell us why!

[Dyakovo]

Yea

[Neo Art]

equality in the law, first and foremost. Equality in name a lesser, but still important goal.

I PREFER universal marriage. I will "settle" for universal equality of rights.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

On the basis of the two very safe assumptions that gay marriages won't become mandatory for everybody(I love my best friend like a brother but I'm not marrying the bastard) and religious institutions and their clergy will not be forced to marry couples their religion prohibits them from marrying(which nobody has ever suggested except for gay marriage opponents), I can't think of any valid reason why anyone would be against gender equality in marriage.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

America doesn't have same-sex marriage, yet?

[Goath]

equality in the law, first and foremost. Equality in name a lesser, but still important goal.

I PREFER universal marriage. I will "settle" for universal equality of rights.

that's always been my opinion, too. the rights conveyed are more important intrinsically than the name is.

[Tezdrian]

Yea!

[Lunatic Goofballs]

America doesn't have same-sex marriage, yet?

Some parts do.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

America doesn't have same-sex marriage, yet?

Some parts do.

I suppose that's a start.....

[The Aryan Third Reich]

Disgusting and revolting!!!!!!!

[Farnhamia]

equality in the law, first and foremost. Equality in name a lesser, but still important goal.

I PREFER universal marriage. I will "settle" for universal equality of rights.

I agree with Neo here, but I am increasingly ... annoyed at the people who throw "civil unions" to us like a scrap from the table, it being understood that they have the "real" marriages while we have whatever they allow us to have. It makes me crazy. But to quote King Lear, "Let me not be mad. I must not be mad."

[Farnhamia]

Disgusting and revolting!!!!!!!

Why, pray tell?

[Grave_n_idle]

"Equal marriage" shouldn't even be a discussion we're still having.

The ONLY way in which it would be acceptable for the US to have laws that discriminate on which person can marry which person, is if we ALL just woke up from a centuries long daze and said "Jesus! We don't actually let people marry each other, because of something like sexual orientation? We better fix that quick-sharp".

I'm pretty sure we didn't all just wake up, though - so there's no excuse.

[Grave_n_idle]

Disgusting and revolting!!!!!!!

The "Aryan Third Reich" things marriage equality is disgusting and revolting? Ooh, that's a blow.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Disgusting and revolting!!!!!!!

Why?

[Flameswroth]

inb4 sarcastic comment referencing the frequency with which this topic is discussed on NSG.

Based on a similar line of thought to my opposition of marijuana legalization, I also oppose gay marriage. This is not a strong opposition, as I realize they will not be forcing me to marry a dude and be gay, and as such if it is legalized I shan't be marching in the streets in protest. But if you put a paper in front of me asking to vote yes or no, I would vote no.

[Farnhamia]

inb4 sarcastic comment referencing the frequency with which this topic is discussed on NSG.

Based on a similar line of thought to my opposition of marijuana legalization, I also oppose gay marriage. This is not a strong opposition, as I realize they will not be forcing me to marry a dude and be gay, and as such if it is legalized I shan't be marching in the streets in protest. But if you put a paper in front of me asking to vote yes or no, I would vote no.

I've forgotten why you feel that way. I'm sure you've said it but it has been a while since we've had one of these threads.

[Grave_n_idle]

inb4 sarcastic comment referencing the frequency with which this topic is discussed on NSG.

Based on a similar line of thought to my opposition of marijuana legalization, I also oppose gay marriage. This is not a strong opposition, as I realize they will not be forcing me to marry a dude and be gay, and as such if it is legalized I shan't be marching in the streets in protest. But if you put a paper in front of me asking to vote yes or no, I would vote no.

So - you don't have strong reasons to deny people equality, but you'll do it anyway?

[Lunatic Goofballs]

America doesn't have same-sex marriage, yet?

Some parts do.

I suppose that's a start.....

An important start because of the way the Constitution is written. Individual rights aren't a state-by-state thing. They haven't been for almost 150 years. Individual rights are all or nothing. But unfortunately,striking down or repealing unconstitutional laws is often a much longer process than making them.

[Bottle]

I would love to see "marriage" removed from the legal realm entirely. I'd like to be able to have a legal civil union with my hetero life mate, without having to use the term "marriage" to describe our union. I don't like marriage or much of what it stands for, and I'd rather not dirty my relationship with that term.

[Zeppy]

America doesn't have same-sex marriage, yet?

Neither does your country. (UK I believe?)

[Goath]

inb4 sarcastic comment referencing the frequency with which this topic is discussed on NSG.

Based on a similar line of thought to my opposition of marijuana legalization, I also oppose gay marriage. This is not a strong opposition, as I realize they will not be forcing me to marry a dude and be gay, and as such if it is legalized I shan't be marching in the streets in protest. But if you put a paper in front of me asking to vote yes or no, I would vote no.

Why?

[Zeppy]

Chea.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

America doesn't have same-sex marriage, yet?

Neither does your country. (UK I believe?)

Yes it does.
Civil Partnerships = Marriage

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I have nothing against same sex marriages or civil partnerships. In fact, gender equality is the key to achieving good human rights records. Respect should be given to them.