This country is not a democracy, its a constitutional republic, which means the rights of minorities are protected and can't be voted out of existence. That's where "inalienable rights" comes in. See also, pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness shouldn't be impeded unless it has a serious impact on the well being of others. That's where "Your right to swing your fist stops just before my nose" comes in.
Thomas Jefferson said, "It matters not whether my neighbor worships one God or twenty; it neither breaks my leg or picks my pocket". If a gay person says that marriage to a partner is part of loving god's perfect plan for their life, who are you to say they're wrong? On religious grounds neither you or the government has any grounds judge one religious rite more valid than other. And if you look at marriage as a civil contract, again religion has no say, and the government has no particular reason to deny it to some American citizens and not to others.
Freedom of religion, the law of civil contracts, and the principals protecting the unpopular people in this country were established along time ago. The matter should never have been put to vote. It was a betrayal of fundamental American values.
This country is not a democracy, its a constitutional republic, which means the rights of minorities are protected and can't be voted out of existence. That's where "inalienable rights" comes in. See also, pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness shouldn't be impeded unless it has a serious impact on the well being of others. That's where "Your right to swing your fist stops just before my nose" comes in.
Thomas Jefferson said, "It matters not whether my neighbor worships one God or twenty; it neither breaks my leg or picks my pocket". If a gay person says that marriage to a partner is part of loving god's perfect plan for their life, who are you to say they're wrong? On religious grounds neither you or the government has any grounds judge one religious rite more valid than other. And if you look at marriage as a civil contract, again religion has no say, and the government has no particular reason to deny it to some American citizens and not to others.
Freedom of religion, the law of civil contracts, and the principals protecting the unpopular people in this country were established along time ago. The matter should never have been put to vote. It was a betrayal of fundamental American values.
you are an idiot. So you are saying that Gays should enter into straight relationships because YOUR religion says so. If you are a man, there is a way...that is part of how you are wired that determines how you feel and your capacity towards sexual/emotional love with a woman. If you are that same straight man, you trying to be with another man would be the equivalent of me trying to be with a woman. As far as "the voters resolved this" argument....civil rights should not be up for vote. It was a simple majority that passed Prop 8. A VERY simple majority. The founding principles of the constitution are to safeguard people from the tyranny of the majority. I am not against Christians...or Catholics or any other religion...because this is is NOT a religious issue. This is a legal issue. This country was founded on the ideals of religious freedom, which should protect US citizens from religious oppression….and that includes passing laws that are rooted in religion. It's called separation of church and state. Not only that but by gay marriage not being federally recognized(even IF the state recognizes the union), we lose out on over 1000 federal rights and protections from couples tax adjustments to receiving the pensions and social security of our partners.
I know it may offend many for me to rally at churches but you know what…I am fighting for my rights. This should not be a me versus religion argument, but when the Mormon churches fund misleading propaganda about how legalizing gay marriage will REQUIRE churches to marry gays(they are SPECIFICALLY protected against this in the California constitution) then I must make a stand. I am not fighting to simply get my way, I am fighting to be equally recognized under the law.
And civil unions are not enough. Due to the Defense of Marriage Act, states do not have to respect the civil unions of other states. This is a violation of the Full Faith and Credit Clause in the US Constitution. Not only that but even a same sex marriage or civil union does not give these couples the over 1000 benefits of marriage.
The big issue is that there are two meanings to marriage. There is the religious aspect of marriage(which is up to churches and religion), and more than that there is the civil contract of marriage which allows loved ones the GOVERNMENT benefits we want.
I don't care about your religion, or Mormon faith, but I do care about being able to file my taxes with my loved one, and being able to collect his pension or social security should he die. These are basic legal wants.
This is NOT a religious issue. This is a legal issue. This country was founded on the ideals of religious freedom, which should protect US citizens from religious oppression….and that includes passing laws that are rooted in religion. It's called separation of church and state. Accept it. MOVE ON. Worry about your own damned marriage, because there's a 50-50 chance it's going to fail and it's nobody's fault but your own. Not only that but by gay marriage not being federally recognized(even IF the state recognizes the union), we lose out on over 1000 federal rights and protections from couples tax adjustments to receiving the pensions and social security of our partners. Don't even start with the "sanctity of marriage" bullshit and how God, in the Bible, defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. There are MANY people in this country, gay and straight, who don't believe in God….or believe in a different God. Are their marriages less valid than yours because they don't share your beliefs, or are they simply acceptable by default if they're straight?
Thomas Jefferson said, "It matters not whether my neighbor worships one God or twenty; it neither breaks my leg or picks my pocket". If a gay person says that marriage to a partner is part of loving god's perfect plan for their life, who are you to say they're wrong? On religious grounds neither you or the government has any grounds judge one religious rite more valid than other. And if you look at marriage as a civil contract, again religion has no say, and the government has no particular reason to deny it to some American citizens and not to others.
Freedom of religion, the law of civil contracts, and the principals protecting the unpopular people in this country were established along time ago. The matter should never have been put to vote. It was a betrayal of fundamental American values.
Thomas Jefferson said, "It matters not whether my neighbor worships one God or twenty; it neither breaks my leg or picks my pocket". If a gay person says that marriage to a partner is part of loving god's perfect plan for their life, who are you to say they're wrong? On religious grounds neither you or the government has any grounds judge one religious rite more valid than other. And if you look at marriage as a civil contract, again religion has no say, and the government has no particular reason to deny it to some American citizens and not to others.
Freedom of religion, the law of civil contracts, and the principals protecting the unpopular people in this country were established along time ago. The matter should never have been put to vote. It was a betrayal of fundamental American values.
And civil unions are not enough. Due to the Defense of Marriage Act, states do not have to respect the civil unions of other states. This is a violation of the Full Faith and Credit Clause in the US Constitution. Not only that but even a same sex marriage or civil union does not give these couples the over 1000 benefits of marriage.
The big issue is that there are two meanings to marriage. There is the religious aspect of marriage(which is up to churches and religion), and more than that there is the civil contract of marriage which allows loved ones the GOVERNMENT benefits we want.
I don't care about your religion, or Mormon faith, but I do care about being able to file my taxes with my loved one, and being able to collect his pension or social security should he die. These are basic legal wants.