Without referencing religion/bible/god... why shouldn’t gay marriage be legal in the US?
449464
This is a very good question and I don't believe that it can be asked too many times. The more we all think about prejudice and hatred, the quicker it will go away. I also like that you put in the stipulation that there be no reference to religion. In a country that was founded on the principles of freedom and equality, the use of religion as a way to shoot down a political issue just flabergasts me. This is 100% a legal issue and not a religious one. Gays and lesbians know that they cannot force a church to accept them if it doesn't want to. However, they should be able to force the government to accept them. Why else do they all pay those taxes if not for a little acceptance and protection now and again?\n\nThe issue of gay marriage as is brought up most frequently can really be boiled down to the question of does the government offer legal protection to all of its citizens regardless of race, religion, creed, or anything else. The fact that gay marriage has not been put into effect is evidence that, no, the American government does not offer this protection to all of its citizens. This is a travesty. \n\nI will admit that for religious people in America, the word "marriage" does have some very high emotional weight attached to it and this is a big part of the problem. The word "marriage" should be stricken from all legal and official documents and state proceedings to avoid any confusion about the issue. If marriage were really only reserved as a ceremony to be done in a church or other place of worship particular to the participants wishes, and (let's call it this for now) legal partnerships were to be reserverd for the legal and governmental arenas, then this whole issue could be resolved with a little less spit and venom. \n\nThere is no rational reason that anyone can give for discriminating against another human being. Please do this test; the next time you find yourself saying anything negative about a group of people (gay or otherwise) please replace the word Jewish or black into the blank and see if you are still comfortable saying it. If not, then it may be time to reasses your value system and beliefs into one that is more tolerant and loving towards all humanity. \n\nLove and Peace!
192672
Yeah it does but most people are scared of changing tradition or thinking outside the box. Gay marriage shouldn't be a matter of morality. It's a matter of rights. Gays have a right to pursuit of happiness like the rest of us. I don't think it's right that the government should say who and who can't be married. That just opens the doors for them to step into other issues that they should stay out of.
737155
I'm not Christian and I don't look to the bible for approval. \n\nFirst love, well love is love, your the one adding gender and sexuality to the equation. Whether it's between a man and woman or a man and a man, love is the most beautiful thing this world has to offer.\n\nSome of the best parents I've known were gay who had adopted children whose real parents didn't want them and giving them a home and a family. Just because they aren't adding to an already overpopulated planet doesn't mean that they aren't contributing, quite the opposite actually. \n\nNow to address marriage, well that's you crazy fundamentalists denying gays rights. Not our fault.
1014923
The sacred union of marriage is between a man and a woman.  That is how it is supposed to be.  It is completely unnatural for two people of the same sex to get married.  I will never view a homosexual "marriage" as a real marriage.  It is a total insult to me and all of the other people out there  who are in a true and natural marriage!  How dare two people who have chosen to ignore God's Word and engage in a totally unnatural relationship compare their relationship to the relationship that I have with my husband by getting "married" ?  PLEASE!!!
452020
Because polygamy is WRONG.  Marriage is about commitment between two people, not three, four, or five.  And there's nothing wrong with homosexuality.  I think they have as much a right to get married as anybody else, as long as its only to ONE person!
536589
I think it should  not be illegal. Why should it be illegal? Is there any good answer? The government and the churches claim that it would be against the sanctaty of marriage. Can marriage be anymore damaged than what it is today? Should marriage be sanctified at a drive up window? Should marriage be desolved because they decide that they are not compatable. Should a woman divorce her husband so that the state will give her more public assistance. Should marriage be desolved so that a couple can keep their SSI benifits? Should a marriage be desolved so that a woman can keep her children? All of these and more are the downfall of marriage, not that the two involved are man/man. Should a man's male spouse loose everything they have both worked for because he is not legaly married to him? How can the sanctity of marriage be anymore damaged than it is already? My mother was married three times. My sister was married three times. My brother was married twice. Is there any sanctaty in that? It's all trying to be controled by a bunch of homo-phobics, and a bunch of self serving politicians. And I'm sure that the insurance companies have their paws in the till somewhere too. What matters is that if two people love each other and want to make it a permanent connection, then who has the right to stand in their way? And what gives the government the right to say anything anyway? Marriage is a church matter, and the constitution clearly states that the church shall not interfere with the operation of the government and the government shall not interfere with the operation of the church. The government should only have the power to refuse Gay marriage if the marriage is performed by a judge. Church marriages sould only be controlled by the church.
261354
Marriage is not only a religious rite.  Marriage is also a civil proceeding, even where it is done in a church.  (And very often it is not done in a church -- it is done in a hotel, or city hall, and presided over by a judge or clerk, and no religious figures are involved.)  The license comes from the state not the church, and all the legal benefits of marriage come form the state, not the church.  \n\nChurchs are and should be free to define marraige in the church however they want. (And some churches do approve same sex marraige, by the way.)  \n\nThe government, however, should not be free to discriminate against people simply because of their sexual orientation.  And if the principles of freedom and equality enshrined in the Constitution and so bragged about by Americans were actually enforced, the state would not be permitted to bar same sex marriages.  And the world would be a little fairer.
485873
Canada may have passed that law when they had Liberal leadership. I have heard that a new law is already in the works by the Conservatives to change that law.\n\nBut back to the US\n\nWe cannot have an amendment to the Constitution legalizing the marriage of homosexuals. It goes against the Bible!!!\nEver heard of Saddam and Gomorrah???
838322
The law should be upheld as it stands... Church and state SHOULD STAY separated. The constitution clearly states that ALL men are created equal... Not STRAIGHT men are created equal. I think EVERYONE should get a chance to marry the person of their choosing and it's prejudice to say they can't. It's unfair. What if the world were based on homosexual relationships and the heterosexuals weren't allowed to marry? They would feel the SAME way about it. People who believe that marriage is only a union for heterosexuals are extreme bigots and shouldn't be allowed to have a say in it.
1076858
I agree with you.  I consider myself a Christian, and I say this with as much respect as possible: it doesn't really matter what God's opinion is on the subject because the Constitution guarantees everyone's right to religious freedom.  That includes Jews, Muslims, Baptists, Atheists, and yes, GAY PEOPLE.  I live my life according to God's law, but that does not give me the right to tell someone else how to live.
1077657
Civil marriage (i.e. the license you get when you get married) is not religious in any way, shape or form. It is in its very nature controlled by the government and government thus has the right and responsibility to define it. I don't think it should do so in a way that blatantly discriminates against a group like homosexuals, but it is most certainly within the government's prerogative to define marriage. If you find a church that agrees to, you can have a wedding ceremony to whomever or whatever you like, but only the government can decide if the government is going to recognize it.
845605
Alright... Where to start... For those of you out there that are against gay marriage... first of all, i must ask, what happened to the freedom that we hold so dear in our country? Didn't people come to this country to get away from small minded people that wanted to impose their beliefs onto other people? Although it does seem to be a trend in this country, what's different has to be wrong. It happened with racial segragation, it happened with women voting, it's happened time and time again, and now the new topic of bigotry and hatred is gay marriage. \n\nMany comedians have looked at a perfect oportunity with jokes such as, "don't they have the right to be as unhappy as straight married couples?"\n\nOk and this is specifically for you Rae... so you come from a "religious" background. So what does that mean? you were brought up in a closed minded church with people telling you what to think and what to believe? what is your reason for being against gay marriage? first of all, the adam and eve adam and steve phrase is way overdone and frankly just pisses me off because it's a prime example of the narrow-mindedness of christians.\n\nI was brought up in a church, so i suppose i have a christian background. But did you completely forget the new testament. Jesus gave a revalation to Paul that said all things are lawful but not all expediant. So this is my point. Even from a christian standpoint, you are allowed to do whatever it is that you want, but you have to pay the consequences.\n\nThat's the final verdict that the bible has to offer. Also from a christian standpoint, no sin is worse than any others right? so even if homosexuality is a sin, then why does it have to be such a point of contention for christians. It's no different than the evengelical preacher that gets a "hummer" from a transvestite, it's no different than a preacher that stand in front of a church and preaches the gospel and looks at porn(not that i'm saying porn is evil or anything), it's no different than a "goody-goody christian" that follows all the rules... but tells a little white lie here and there. according to the Bible a sin is a sin is a sin right? so why harp on this one? I'm not saying it's wrong, i'm saying why do the christians have to harp on the one "sin" they think is so bad...\n\nIt's all just hypocrisy. preach one thing, but live another.\n\nand as Littlefireyballofhate said, why is it that those with the most closed minds, have to have the biggest mouths? Just because it's something different, "OH" it has to be wrong?\n\npeople with such a narrow viewpoint of the world simply disgust me... The whole point, the foundation of America was for a land where there could be freedom of relgion, or from religion if that was your choice, freedom of expression, and freedom to do and say the things that you choose to be right. So what right does anyone have to shove their opinion down someone elses throat? you don't like it, get over it, and shut the hell up!\n\nThe bottom line is, whether or not your personal belief is that homosexuality is wrong or bad, even if this country proves to have more closeminded people than we expected, you will never be able to get rid of homosexuality, nor should it be "gotten rid of". If that's what makes someone happy, then for god's sake, let them be happy. Rae, you are happy in your life as a "straight" christian correct? so what, your beliefs say that what they are doing is wrong, let me remind again, freedom... that's what it all comes down to.\n\nClosed minded people just want to take away their freedom to express their love, and frankly if they do, what's next? you can't say or do the things you want? when does it stop. This country's foundation is freedom so why would you want to rob some of its citizens of the right to freedom which is held so de
490449
I'm not gay, and i think they should. People should be allowed to marry who they want. The only reason people are trying to ban it is because of religious beliefs (i.e. conservative christians) getting in the way of non-biased desicions that could legalize it.
546504
God has every right in everything. He has a place in the government, in schools , etc . because look at what this country is coming to with all these people wanting God out of the picture. America needs God and as for the question, God did not intend on Man to be with Man or Females to be with Female. It is wrong according to the bible. DOesnt mean I dont have gay friends. I just keep my opinion to myself around them. Just like the ones who dont believe in GOd being in the pledge need to deal with it. Because the people that started this country had the right way of doing it. NOw everyone wants to mess it up. Lets see how far we get without God. This Country is already showing the effects. I cant believe half the things people say about Bush, gay marriage, etc.. its crazy
904948
"t seems to me that people who don't believe in God, should have no problem with that kind of behavior."\n\nThis sounds like you're saying that if God didn't tell you "no, no, dear child, don't have sex with animals" that you'd think it was fine and dandy.\n\nThis is so patently stew-pid an argument, you must be a loyal watcher of Fox "News" channel.\n\n\nEDIT FOR ADDITION:  Awww, aren't you cute?  OK then.  Expanding the definition of marriage to include single-sex couples would both be a benefit to the individuals involved AND to society.  There is ample evidence that people who live in stable, committed couples are healthier, happier, and wealthier than those who are single. Gay marriage is a good idea because it will benefit not only the gay couple but their families, friends, neighbors, and taxpayers whose burdens to care for the gay partners singly would be greater.\n\nSex with animals would NOT benefit society. And I dare say it wouldn't benefit the animal part of that practice.\n\nBeastiality and gay marriage present very different issues. Each should be evaluated on its own, not treated as if one is a necessary extension of the other.\n\nAnd there's this wonderful thing called ethics, which is a way to determine if something is right or wrong *without divine authority*.  It works quite well.
746033
The dictionary is out-dated!\nThe bible was written as a historical account of that time\nby men who had their own ideas of how life should be.\nIf we did not have the bible to quote from, then what would\nour arguments against gays and lesbians be?\nOr for that matter - anyone that does not fit into the \ncategories that the bible denounces.\nYes, it is time that the laws on marriage are changed.\n\nNo one likes to be punished (biblical or otherwise)\nfor their decisions and mistakes!
741097
The bible is also a series of books, written and rewritten by PEOPLE, millennia ago, and has no bearing on modern society except for that which we choose to implement.  I believe in the right to be happy, and I also believe that other peoples' relationships do not affect me in any way, shape or form, and so I (and the government especially) have no right to discourage or look down upon homosexuality.  It's about PREFERENCE and FREEDOM.  \n\nBarring same-sex marriage creates second-class citizenship, which is exactly what we as a nation have been fighting against:  Emancipation, done.  Women's suffrage, done.  The next civil rights battle is to grant the same rights to all people regardless of sexual preference, and hopefully it shall also be done.  To limit the rights of same-sex couples would be the undoing of the PRINCIPLES behind granting citizenship to former slaves and allowing women the right to indiscrimination.  If this were to happen, then America no longer stands for freedom; I'm moving out.