How do you feel about gay marriage?

Love is Love plain and simple. No details needed.

I remember a few years ago seeing something about voting for or against gay marriage, and I just thought that I would hate to have someone tell me I could not marry the person I loved, even though I am straight. Now that my brother has come out and is very happy to be gay, I support gay marriage 100%.

Ok, several corrections of common misconceptions and one BIG question in this post:

Regarding the Roman Catholic Church, I believe it was Backseat Boohoo(?) whose gradfather was excommunicated for marrying a Protestant who would not convert. It was probbly true in our grandparents' time, but the Catholic Church has changed its position regarding marrying members of another faith. Catholics are free to marry non-Catholics with little difficulty, PROVIDED they agree to raise any offspring from the union in the Catholic Church. It's not a great improvement, but beats excommunication.

Also, the Church has now scantified having sex simply for pleasure, and not only with the purposes of conceiving children. You're still not allowed to PREVENT conception, but it doesn't have to be the only reason to have sex, if medical conditions or something make conceiving unlikely. I believe couples who are physically incapable of having children can still get married in the Church, but it requires a special dispensation from the Vatican; I suppose, theoretically, miracles can happen if it's God's will or something. The Catholic Church can and will grant an annullment it, at any time, either member of the couple claims they never intended to have children.

I've been married 17 years (for now), but since I was married by a Justice of the Peace, my marriage is not sanctioned by the Church, and I've been living in sin for all these years. Well, in addition to my generally sinful existence. Plus, we never intended to have children, so my heterosexual marriage is not only not acknowledged by, but considered sinful, by the Catholic Church.

Actually, I answered my own BIG question by doing just a little research. I was confused regarding how consummation applies in gay marriages. I was under the impression that a marriage was not officially legal until it was consummated, and that the definition of "consummation" was still the first instance of post-marital sexual intercourse, legally defined as penile penetration of the vagina. Apparently, though, the legality of marriage is now based upon consent, not consummation. Sorry--I think PA, where I grew up--was pretty far behind the curve regarding sexual laws and definitions. HOPEFULLY it's changed by now, but if I remember correctly, when I was 21, anything EXCEPT the male penis penetrating the vagina, from a face-to-face position in which the man was 'on top,' was actually illegal.

I'm all for same sex marriage.

I'm all for it.
I believe you have the right to choose who you want to marry and it doesn't matter if that person is a man or a woman as long as you love him or her.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. - The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, July 1776


It is unconstitutional for homosexual marriage to be illegal and it is dispicable that in the year 2010 we still believe that we can inflict standards and customs of law based on religious pretexts from a God we have not proven nor disproven exists. I have never seen a valid or logical argument against gay marriage that wasn't based on a homophobic view point. And it's even more ridiculous that the Federal government does not trump state law and tell politicians (who we're finding out consist of a large number of closeted homosexuals) to get over themselves and allow marriage for everyone. To deny marriage because of orientation is absolutely ridiculous and will not impact the sanctity of heterosexual marriage. Having a hetero relationship does not make one a speshul snowflaque and having a homosexual relationship does not mean you are a threat to any one or anything. I suppose if the argument against it is driven by financial and consumerism concerns - guess what homosexuals can adopt children! Tada! New generations of consumers.

*walks away grumbling and shaking her head*

Good lord, I can't understand why this is even still an issue. Of course gays should be allowed to marry. They are human beings, they are in love, and isn't that all that is needed for a good marriage? They deserve all the legal and financial benefits that any other couple gets.

Is it really right to discriminate against any segment of our population? Let's get into the 21st century here, people.

Homophobia is the last socially acceptable prejudice. Society no longer accepts blatent racism or sexism (though they both still exist), but it tolerates homophobia.

Of course gay marriage should be legalized. Of course gays should be allowed to openly serve in the military. We should be far beyond this sort of prejudice.

im a christian and love jesus.. but love is love.. let them be.. go get married! go be happy! and love!

Completely for it!

I feel that if someone wants to do it, they should be allowed to do it. It's not my thing, but neither is strawberry pie. Just because I won't eat strawberry pie doesn't mean everyone else should avoid it.

There is both a state marriage and a marriage sanctioned by a church. Marriages under the state should be equal for all

All for it, no questions asked.

I'm totally for it. It is so hard to take the arguments against seriously when you look at how many hetero marriages are anything but what it is argued marriage "should" be.

so many for it votes, love it

Whatever makes people happy

I'm all for gay marriage.

Gay couples should have the right to be misrable just like the rest of us...