How forumites have evolved (or not) on equal marriage

[afleitch]

I though I’d do this exercise to put things into perspective. Most of the early threads were populated by posters long since gone or descended into arguments where Dibble fended off Brambilla so you have to fast forward a few years to get sensible discussions. These are selective because I don't have all day.

Argh!  What the hell is so immoral about to grown, consenting adults getting married?!  Stop believing in "how it was meant to be" and more on what people want to do with their own lives.  All I see when I see gay marriages happen is happy people.

How about all the legal rights/benifits/etc that goes with marriage without using the word?

People just got used to the idea.  If a vietnamese woman and her black husband and their little half-breed children moved in next door, would you freak?  I'm guessing not.  My bet is that it will ultimately be the mundane (rather than fiery speeches and court decisions) that bring about acceptance of gay marriage as well.  Just a thought.

Only an intolerant would care to find out the gender of persons being married.

One day I won't have to come on here and defend my right to live a decent life…The vast majority of homophobes, from my own experience, are that way to detract attention from their own failings. The people who talk about gays violating the 'sanctity of marriage' are the same people who have probably been divorced more times than Henry VIII.

Same-sex marriage. The right of two consenting adults to marry each other and only each other should be a fundamental human right.

Gay marriage now-People's lives are at stake!  

I have to admit it is a bit repulsive to my repressed little self, but I would not care of it was legal.

If it was natural and meant to be men could have children with men. That can't happen, it's not natural.

my answer is definitely yes.

I'm yet to see a credible argument against it.

Yes

Marriage is a religious institution that has existed for thousands of years - before the existence of the US government, before the drafting of the constitution, before european settlers even arrived in the US. To legislate a new definition of marriage destroys the concept of the separation of church and state.

Most of the gay people I've known live a totally different lifestyle where anything goes. I am for Civil Unions for those who truly are in a longterm committed relationship, but those are few and far between. I worry about them gaming the system to take advantage of the tax benefits you get when you are married. I could "marry" by best friend while we were living together so we could get the benefits and then divorce him once we really found a girl.

But for the most part, we can instate civil unions, but most of this cry is political. Most gay people don't want to get married and sleep with about any guy that has a nice dick.

[afleitch]

Blast from the past. I am a bit afraid to delve deep into my posting history on this or a many other subjects.

You're fine

gay marriage? support

Even if you didn't, people need to be less defensive about their past selves. When I waded through my own posts I wanted to take the 2004 version of me and slap him.

[afleitch]

I've deleted Holmes' quote. It was satirical on second checking but the wonders of the search machine didn't quite catch that! I apologise for any offense.

[afleitch]

Let me put it this way: If you went to one of my shows circa 2003, how many people present do you think would be against gay marriage, even if they supported civil unions? It'd probably be about equal to supporters of the Iraq War (that is essentially no one.)

Nobody cares.  Only you could turn gay marriage into a stupid discussion on one of your shows.

You were actually awful all those years ago. I'd forgotten.

I'm not saying that all traditional marriages are good.  But starting off with a bad, sinful marriage won't be good for the child.

On DADT

I just have to say absolutely not on this one--I am a hard core conservative, "anti-gay" person…

And on which forumite was the most…

anti gay rights? - Myself

It was once a badge of honour back in the day

[afleitch]

So basically, marriage is a religious institution which government has no rights to give or take away, civil unions and having people who are gay be equal in everything else? Yes, they have that power and it should have been like that all along.

That just doesn't cut it now. Can you understand that? Tens of millions of Americans married with a registrar; no god, no prayer and at times no faith. 60-70% of marriages in Scotland are not religious. So marriage isn't a religious institution; it's religious for some but it's not a religious institution. Most legislative references to marriage say nothing about religion at all, but they do talk of tax, inheritance etc.

If you want to apply a religious test to marriage then you can argue for that. But it means telling tens of millions of Americans that they are not 'married.'

[afleitch]

So basically, marriage is a religious institution which government has no rights to give or take away, civil unions and having people who are gay be equal in everything else? Yes, they have that power and it should have been like that all along.

That just doesn't cut it now. Can you understand that? Tens of millions of Americans married with a registrar; no god, no prayer and at times no faith. 60-70% of marriages in Scotland are not religious. So marriage isn't a religious institution; it's religious for some but it's not a religious institution. Most legislative references to marriage say nothing about religion at all, but they do talk of tax, inheritance etc.

If you want to apply a religious test to marriage then you can argue for that. But it means telling tens of millions of Americans that they are not 'married.'

They're not married though, they're all in civil unions.

No, quite clearly according to the law they are married.

[afleitch]

A special shout out goes to usefulidiot who went from being pro gay and pro gay marriage to worrying about a 'homosexual agenda' and not wishing to take part in his daughters life if she grew up and announced she was gay. That was just so heartbreaking I felt it wasn't fair to quote it.

[afleitch]

lolz, considering i came out in 08.  there's a lot more to lol about this post though.

I'm guessing Alfie stopped posting because he realizes he can't win...

thank you statesrights.

My main question is, why do homosexuals want marriage?
Marriage was founded as a union holy in the sight of God...it has only been lately that the government has taken it.

If I were gay, I would be pushing for more rights to civil unions...marriage should be the last thing they want.

Sigh...world confuses.  Fire bad. Tree pretty.

I'm personally disgusted you called me 'Alfie'

[afleitch]

lolz, considering i came out in 08.  there's a lot more to lol about this post though.

I'm guessing Alfie stopped posting because he realizes he can't win...

thank you statesrights.

My main question is, why do homosexuals want marriage?
Marriage was founded as a union holy in the sight of God...it has only been lately that the government has taken it.

If I were gay, I would be pushing for more rights to civil unions...marriage should be the last thing they want.

Sigh...world confuses.  Fire bad. Tree pretty.

I'm personally disgusted you called me 'Alfie'

There's an alfie!  Go further back in that thread!

Oh yeah