What is your opinion on gay rights?

This website is composed of pretty smart people, I’ll speak for everyone and say we love the gayness and can’t wait for it to be equal.

I cant think of a good reason gay people shouldn’t have rights.
They’re people right?

Why does it matter to this question if I have a college degree?
I do, but even grade schoolers understand that you’re supposed to treat people with respect.

Good luck on your assignment.

I fully support gay rights. I have 3 university degrees——a Masters degree and two Bachelor degrees.

I believe in human rights, and contrary to the belief of some, gay people are human too. No college education for me; logic can be found in those without a degree as well.

I think that consenting adults should be allowed to get married. Be they male, female, transgender, straight, homosexual, pansexual, white, black, asian, Christian, atheist, Muslim…

And no, I don’t have a college degree.

I think LGBT people should have the same rights as everyone else. And for the record, I don’t have a university degree because I am 17.

I think all people, no matter the sexuality, should have the same rights – two degrees: a masters and a BA. I also believe people w/o degrees should have the same rights as people w/degrees ~.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir LMAO, You just earned another degree. :D

I have an AA and BA.
I agree with all the above.

Definately should not have fewer / different rights from anyone else—and yes I have a bachelors degree.

It all comes down to LOVE. Of course. equal rights. BME…bachelor music ed

@Pandora ha, yay! this must mean i have to have another baby – that’s how it goes in my life, usually

I have rights. I like em. I want more. College grad.

In the political arena, all citizens should have the same rights. Exemptions for any class of people is not right.

@Captain_Fantasy – It’s not important or anything. I am actually trying to find something, which I will explain later once I get enough replys.

For the record, I am not trying to make a point about having a college degree and acceptance of human rights, there is some relation, but it is a bit different.

Thanks so far guys :P

@Simone_De_Beauvoir- BA Degree in Wisenheimer.

Equality for all sounds pretty sweet, and I don’t think too many people disagree with me on that point. The sticking point for some is whether we should expand everyone’s rights in order to accommodate the fact that certain rights and privileges are withheld from gay couples de facto.

Under most forms of modern law, gay people have the same rights. In the United States, there is nothing a straight person can do which a gay person cannot. That is, a straight and gay person is equally able to marry a person of the opposite gender, and not able to marry a person of the same gender. Sounds like equality, right? Not quite. There are many rights and privileges that a gay person might as well not have, because their sexual preference renders those rights and privileges unusable. There are equal in law, but in the common sense they are unequal.

So, should we expand the rights of all people do enter into contracts equally with people of the same gender as people of the opposite gender? Sure. Why the fuck not? Get over it already.

Alas, I have no degree. That might change someday, but we’ll see…

They should have equal rights, if not more rights than the people who deny them said rights.

That made absolutely no sense!

No degree.

We should all have equal rights and protections.

Hayy…

It is completely asinine that this great country of ours does not support equal rights for all citizens gay or straight and without any reservations what so ever!

College degree and then some.

I believe in human rights, regardless of sexual orientation.

Just an AA.

At this rate, I don’t think any one would ever speak out against gays in this topic, haha.

Regardless, It’s nice to hear the opinions from both sides of those who have and those who do not have a degree :)

I honestly cannot understand why there should be any difference between people will different sexual orientations when it comes to rights as defined by the constitution. I have no strong feelings either way when it comes to marriage “rights.” If it makes someone happy in this sad old world, then I am all for it.

I have two undergraduate degrees and a master’s degree ( since you asked ). : )

“Gay families under attack, what do we do, we fight back!”

“Gay, Straight, Black, White, marriage is a civil right!”

“What do we want? Marriage Equality! When do we want it? NOW!”

“Hey hey ho ho homophobia’s got to go…”

Ra Ra Sis Boom Ba…I have a degree.

Milo here; I am homeschooled and in favor of equal rights for all, felines being more equal than other groups.

In favor of equal rights. College degree.

just the idea of a man around the house. finally get some shit done.

I’m gay and sometimes I get the response that gay people are trying to steal rights or somehow horde certain rights for themselves, but of course that is ridiculous. It’s not about competing, it’s about equality.

This time next year I’ll have two BAs.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir
@VohuManah

Love your answers.

Sexual orientation has no strict uniform effect on people. There is no reason homosexuals should generally be treated differently just because they’re gay. There’s no reason homosexuals should think they should generally be treated differently just because they’re gay. I’m not sure the official prejudice towards gay marriage in the US is based so much on actual prejudice or taxes or something, but it’s ridiculous anyway you look at it.

High-school dropout

What does ‘certain’ rights mean? If you are tralking about marriage they should have all the rights that come with being in a civil union, whether it is gay or straight, it shouldn’t matter.

The should have full, equal rights. Working on my degree. (Felt this way before I was working on my degree.)

Only makes sense, IMO, that everyone should have the same rights.

I have a B.S.

Im against gay marriage. Im also against straight marriage.
I dont understand why the government has anything to do with marriage. Why do I have to ask the government permission to marry my girlfriend?
I believe that all people should be looked at as individuals, all with equal rights, so no one is discriminated against.As a single person, with no kids, I am taxed out of my ass because of this. Where are my equal rights? Its another great example of the government getting involved in giving a certain group “more rights,” while taking away rights from others.

@chris6137 More rights while taking away rights from others? Le sigh. And hahaha.

Of course gay people should have the same rights as straight people. So sad that this is a question in 2010.

BS and 6 lil’ credits away from an M.Ed. woot!

We’re here, We’re queer, get used to it. Let people be. As long as they don’t affect you, who cares who other people want to have sex with

I don’t support gay rights(not because I don’t like homosexuals, or think its bad for them to marry, but because of other implications…) and I don’t have a degree

@WolfFang What do you think the other implications are?

I’m not gay or anything, but I support gay rights.

I mean, why the hell not? there are tons of legal benefits and such…it’s important for them to have it in a legal sense. They may not get a real marriage from the Catholic church (can’t be changed) but they should be able to have a union that’s legal and recognized.

I mean, even if I DIDN’T like gays and I thought it was immoral…well, I’d still be for gay marriage. Why? Because it doesn’t affect me. Two gays being together doesn’t affect me or my relationship. So why not just let them? It’s clearly not a detriment to society.

I basically hold the opinion: “If you don’t support gay marriage, then don’t get one and shut up.”

@WolfFang So…you like gay people? And you want them to marry? But you think they will force your children to have sex with sheep while screaming for Satan? Implications – the implication is that you wouldn’t have someone talk about you in this way so please don’t talk about us.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir

hahaha…too funny.
My boyfriend told me he was watching an interview on TV (news channel) about “why don’t you like gay marriage” and one man answered “BECAUSE IT CAUSES MORE ABORTIONS”

…Huh? hahaha

@seekingwolf What, that doesn’t make sense to you? It also causes communism.

I’ve never heard even a remotely compelling argument against equal rights for gays. It’s absolutely insane that they don’t have the same rights, benefits, etc. as heterosexuals. Most of the opposition’s reasoning is based on religious beliefs, which is nuts, considering how church and state are supposed to have nothing to do with each other in this country.

No college degree, just a certificate in my trade.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir

It does?! :O Oh noez, no gay rights then! We must protect the sanctity of our country and children! Communism = evil

:D

@seekingwolf Now we’re talking.

Gays enjoy the same rights as straights. Giving them more rights would be unfair.

@Nullo Do they? Better call off the orgs then – they’re wasting their time with this marriage thing…

“with liberty an justice for ALL”, I am pro-gay marriage, pro-gay adoption, and I believe that there should be NO laws that discriminate based upon race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
(I have a couple degrees)

@Simone_De_Beauvoir i think the OP specifically said no argumentation on the thread so… u can PM me if u really want to discuss

I think they should be afforded the same rights as anyone else.
except for Simone De Beauvoir
...she should be my slave
at least for the party :P

@Simone_De_Beauvoir As I believe I’ve said before, anyone can marry anybody else of the opposite sex that they want. provided, of course, that the other person wants to be married. :D

@SeventhSense you wish!
@Nullo I am sorry I can’t say this in any nice way – do you understand that is ridiculous? Or are you just being witty, in your opinion?

@Nullo Why the hell would a gay person marry a straight person? Gays aren’t allowed to marry each other – which means that don’t have the same rights.

@Likeradar don’t want to fill the thread up with discussions maybe that’s a lost cause now , but more along the lines of moral social implications. Such implications would most likely take years to come into affect. Gay marriage may or may not open up a pandora box into other issues.

leaving thread – trigger topic/can’t tolerate homophobia

@WolfFang And I suppose allowing black people and women to vote opened up a pandora box too, didn’t it? Hahahaha.

Sorry, guys. I know it’s pointless, but I’m feisty tonight.

brb popcorn

settling in… getting a beer…

@DrasticDreamer yeah i suppose it did…

@WolfFang Oh, wow. I can only say I hope you’re joking.

(done hijacking thread now. Sorry.)

In the U.K. we have the Equality Act Regulations and although same sex marriage isn’t legal, gay couples can enter into what is known as a civil partnership. In my opinion these measures towards equal rights do not go far enough, which is clear from the attitudes of certain members of the general public and MPs. A Conservative MP recently caused outrage in the run up to the election by commenting that owners of Bed and Breakfast facilities (small hotels) should have the right to turn away gay couples. Please don’t vote Conservative.

I have a BA Hons in Drama and Theatre Arts.

@DrasticDreamer haha yeah, don’t trip I was kidding

People should be able to marry whoever the hell they want. End of story.

I have an AS and will soon have a BA and, hopefully, JD.

I’m a pretty big fan of extending the same rights to gay people as to everyone else.

I have a BA: international relations & history. (FWIW, I work for a bicycle company, so it’s questionable whether I’m using said degree)

Oh ya we need to give our scholarly cred: BA in Fine Art minor in Education. Certified Teacher..
Master in slave training

Wait whats going on? I left for a little to attend to some business. Lmao!

@yoshiboshi How is the experiment panning out?

It’s not right to deny a couple in love the right to be married because you may not agree with their type of relationship.
I’m in college studying Psychology; no degree yet.

That distinguishing gay rights from other people’s rights is discrimination. We should all have the same fucking rights. The end.

Oh yeah! Of course!

I wanted to dispel the stereotype I chose (and yes this was school project) that those with out college degrees/an education are closed minded. This is only the beginning of my research though. I figured that asking about gay rights is probably one easy way, but no absolute one, thus making this experiment only a general view.

Basically, if a person with OUT a college degree can say that they believe in gay rights, than they are one step further from being closed minded, and hence make the stereotype against those with out degrees weaken . Also, if a person WITH a degree can say that they do not accept gay rights, than this also weakens the stereotype.

Man, based on my research all I had to do was look up Westboro Baptist Church. Lotsa lawyers…. Lots of closed minds. Yikes those people are scary (shivers)

Anyway, would anyone mind if I included some of the things they said in my report? I won’t put any names or anything, it will all be anonymous. But if you do not want me to use your text please let me know and I won’t.

Thank you all for your words! I for one support the rights of any human being who does no harm to another. LGBT’s, in general, have done nothing but spread love and knowledge. I have seen some very smart people who LGBT, more so than those who are not. We need more SMART people! Not hateful ones!

Also any opinions on my report are appreciated :P I’ll accept kind criticisms!

It’s America, every citizen should have equal rights. Period.

Bachelor’s degree.

@yoshiboshi No hate here, just my opinion. And yeah I for one have no qualms if you quote me.

You can absolutely use anything written here by me, anywhere. I would say though that you should consider doing a survey in the real world; one that is not anonymous and includes personal details of participants. You have no way of guaranteeing that the opinions or information stated here are true, or the true demographic of those answering. It is not a reliable source. If you don’t have time to conduct a proper survey, look for some existing research or literature that backs up your point. Good luck.

@jeanmay , yeah, this is mostly done out of desperation due to lack of time. This project needs to be complete by tomorrow night…. so….. I need something fast! :D I really wanted to do that though, survey people in the real world, and I probably still can tomorrow, but I admit, it would be a little scary to do, but than again, I will probably be surprised!

No college degree here- I think all gay people should be allowed to marry. “Sanctity” of marriage can apply to gay people too.

Currently in college…

I think that anyone should be able to marry anything they want as long as it can consent and their relationship doesn’t directly hurt anyone else. I don’t think it should be any business of anyone else as long as these criteria are met.

I believe Gay people should have the same rights as everyone else. All right including marriage and anti-discrimination laws and adoption among others.

Yes I have a college degree.

@yoshiboshi Just make sure you attribute everyone that you quote in your paper as per the Fluther Terms & Conditions.

I think gay people should have the same rights as everyone else, including marriage and adoption.

I have two Masters level degrees and am working towards a PhD.

If you intend to use this as data, please be sure you realize Fluther is unlikely to be representative of any population other than Flutherites, and that you further bias the answers by asking for a public reply.

I have no degree, come from the Bible belt in the South, grew up with the intolerance of being a different race (multiples anyway) and I can speak for my hundreds of family members on behalf of the ones without a degree.

1. They would not understand Fluther, much less participate

2. I was once told my lesbian cousin couldn’t spend the night circa 2004 because my stepmother was afraid she would bring AIDS into the house (!)

3. My family (bless their narrow minded hearts) would all be so afraid of the “Wrath of God” that they would never support me if I decided to come out in their town. You can go ahead and count about 100 heads on that one.

4. I sadly will have to wait until my sick father passes away to announce to the world I am bisexual. Otherwise, it will surely kill him trying to repent for my sins.

5. The guilt these people carry – surely a result of the Baptist teachings – scares them from approving or supporting anything that isn’t “God’s way”. I guarantee that most of them would have preferred to forgo the Civil Rights movement if they thought God didn’t want Blacks to have equal rights.

This is why I moved to Florida. Enough said.

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE! From the girl who dropped out of high school and then college.

I strongly support full rights for gays, including marriage and adoption.

0º

Human rights are for all people. Gays are no less human than any other humans.
I suppose full respect and rights for all.

I have a B.Sc., an MA and a PhD.

Those who oppose equal rights for all do not deserve the right to marry, vote or travel more than two miles from home without supervision.

I must say I am jealous of all the people with degrees, I am working towards mine, but I want it now lol

I forgot to say…I don’t have my degree yet but I’m currently in school working on it.

B.S. In Neuroscience! w00t

To me it’s simple. There are short people and tall people. That’s normal. Both should have the same rights. There are homosexual and heterosexual people. That’s normal. Both should have the same rights.

Gay couples adopting children might want to keep in mind that opposite sex role models are part of their kids’ lives. So lesbians raising a boy might prefer a male kindergarten teacher.

Although a few people seem to have jumped on @Nullo for saying that gay and straight people have equal rights. I’d like to defend him a bit, since my first post followed a similar logical path.

In law (in most countries you’d ever admit to being gay in), gay and straight people do have equal rights. What some people take issue with is the concept that gay people deserve a special set of rights because of their unique situation. To most, this wording of the concept sounds like a special interest group seeking a special legal concession to themselves.

We are best served not by arguing about “gay rights” (which seems one sided) or “equal rights” (which is already enshrined in law), but about an expansion of basic human rights which would allow gay people to exercise analogous freedoms to those that straight people can.

@Smashley

I don’t understand why people think that “gay rights” is about obtaining additional rights that straight people don’t and shouldn’t have. That’s not the point at all. We all know this question was referring to gay marriage and one of the main objectives of “gay rights” is to allow gay people the right to marry someone they love. They do not have that right in many states (and countries). I don’t understand why gay people getting to marry someone they love is “special” and “extra”. Since gay people cannot marry, we do not have equal rights.

The only issue is whether or not you consider marriage a “right”.

@mattbrowne Lesbian couples probably have men in their lives. Male couples probably have women in their lives. I don’t think they need to push to introduce more of the child’s gender into his life. He’ll probably have grandparents, aunts and uncles, family friends, etc. from which he will model himself after. On top of that, he’ll make friends in school, and meet lots of different genders throughout his life. It would be unhealthy to keep the boy out of social situations, but chances are that couples who adopt, especially gay couples, wouldn’t. I bet most want the best for their children and would be sure to enrich them with all sorts of diversity. Gender, cultural, racial, wealth, class, etc. But it wouldn’t be intentional. It’s not like they’d say, “Johnny hasn’t been around any women in a few weeks, we better make some more girl friends.”

@DominicX

I was referring to equality under the law. Both my posts acknowledge that in the common sense there isn’t equality. After my first post, I decided to defend @Nullo because he was right, but just had a cheeky way of saying it that seemed to piss a few people off.

The term “gay rights” is sticky at this point in history. This isn’t like gender based or ethnic based discrimination. There is no law that prevents gay people from voting, running for office, owning property or even marrying (providing the person they marry is of the opposite gender). There is legal equality, it just isn’t useful equality, which is why it offends so many people’s conceptions of fairness.

Women’s rights movements and civil rights movements sought to correct very obvious inequalities in law. The push for gay people to marry is a little different because it doesn’t seek equality, it seeks fairness. The resistance to this push (when it’s not about hate and bigotry) usually has to do with the fact that it requires an adjustment to standing law and tradition. From this viewpoint, it is gay people attempting to change a long standing law and tradition, when there is no obvious legal inequality. Fairness will win out in the end, but I just wanted to point out that whenever a situation like this is approached, you will always find some conservatives desperately fighting the change.

@Smashley I find it offensive that heterosexuals can’t marry someone of the same-gender (at least in most states). It seems contrary to the constitution and takes away their right to choose which social contracts they want to enter into.

@liminal – That is the logical extension of “equal rights” is it not? Sexuality is a strange form of label that people attribute to themselves on their own terms. Yes, people should be able to marry whomever they wish (with consent of course) regardless of what they claim their sexuality to be.

@Smashley it is a logical extension of human rights. The phrase “equal rights” is just politics. The issue is freedom to marry.

I do hear the point you are making (and understand you don’t necessarily agree) and understand that some people adhere to that reasoning. Yet, to me, fighting against the logic of the phrase feels like a smoke screen (that sometimes covers up hate and bigotry) and avoids the issue, which as you say, is being able to marry whoever you wish.

@liminal

Probably true. I really don’t care what consenting adults do, but I do like the mental exercise of parsing phrasing and viewpoints other than my own. Thanks for the input.

The government’s responsibility is to make sure it doesn’t refuse the gay couple what it gives the hetro couple. That is the word “right is about. So, the right to visit the spouse in the hospital, for example. Inheritance, ...etc. It has nothing to do with what a religion believes about being gay or whether it would marry them or not. There is the Unitarian? church that marries gays. And why any couple would want to be married by any religion ofr part of it that considers it a sin, I don’t know.

@yoshiboshi – There is a slight problem with your thesis. Or at least with the data you’re gathering and how to evaluate the statistics.

The problem is that your equating a persons view on gay rights with being openminded. This is entering your own personal view about the subject as a measuring tool. In otherwords openmindedness is a subjective concept. To people that feel gay marriage should be legal, anyone that disagrees with them are considered closedminded. But the same thing can be said in reverse, people that are for gay marriage are closedminded about the arguments against it.

Your thesis is about whether educated people are more openminded. The answer really depends on what topics are being discussed.

@ubersiren – A grandfather is a different kind of role model. And an uncle the kid would only see once a year doesn’t make much of a difference. Therefore I pointed out the example of a kindergarten teacher.

In fact some time ago I heard about a study conducted in Germany that there are measurable effects on all kids in elementary school having female teachers only versus having both female and male teachers. Unfortunately only very few men seem interested taking this job.

Most of those who allege that gay people are seeking additional rights that straight people do not have are either homophobic or ill informed.

I’m gay. I have the right to marry a woman. I’d like the right to marry a man. I think that means I need an expansion of my rights.
I don’t think the people here who have said that gay marriage is an expansion of rights are wrong.
They just have a literal view of what the law allows.
Let me marry men. Or actually just one man.

The right to marry the person of your choice is not a new idea.
Just because your preference is for someone of the same sex does not make it a new right, just a variation of a long standing principle.

@breedmitch Well, that makes a bit of a problem. I’d like to marry both of my girlfriends, not just one.

Off to Utah with ya.

@Draconess25
Well now you’re just getting greedy..or masochistic…two women jeez..

@SeventhSense Well, I can’t decide between them! And I am a masochist.

@Draconess25: Do they have any say in this matter

@gailcalled What do you mean?

@Draconess25: Well, I can’t decide between them!.Why aren’t they part of the decision? (Are you three women or a man and two women or any other permutation I have left out?)

Removed by me, because what I said looked more rude than I thought it would. (Wasn’t that bad, but it included a reference to dragons that could be seen as prejudice.)

@gailcalled Well, all 3 of us are going out, if that’s what you mean. They know about each other.

@zophu Then it was probably for the better. Dammit, now I’m curious!

@zophu
What a tease…

i believe that all human should have the same rights as any one else on this earth. i think it is a shame that gay, bisexual, and transexual individuals have to fight for these rights as though it is a sin. i am all down for the gays, bis, and trans of the world..

Noone is addressing the point of contention.

@flo which is?

@liminal I’m just pointing out that both sides are just stating what they want, never mentioning or tackling the other side’s point/s, just like a lawyer would bring up and tackle to show the weakness of the other sides point/s.

@flo Well I kinda addressed that in my post.

I’m not a nobody :(
LOL

@PattyAtHome I wasn’t ignoring your commment. I’m just thinking that it is somethig that can be said about anything. Just replace the “gay marriage” in your comment, by something else. It really doesn’t really specifically tackle the gay marriage issue.

@flo That’s true, but the OP said the point of this question is regarding an experiment to determine whether someone is more openminded if they’re more educated. I think that to answer that question you have to make a decision that one viewpoint is more openminded than the other. I think that’s a fallacious argument.

Also, just to point something else out. The question asked by the OP wasn’t even about gay marriage specifically, he asked how you feel about gay rights. There are a lot of other issues concerning gay rights besides just the issue of gay marriage.

@PattyAtHome you are right about the OP was about gay rights in general. The only reason I mentioned gay marrige was because of the “certain rights” in the first parag. BTW, you answered to my second posting here. I only mentioned marriage because that is one of the major things people have an issue about. Which is clergy persons should not have to be obliged to marry same sex marriage. That is why I wrote, people are not addressing the bone of contention/s.

The “open minded” thing, that is really a tricky term, isn’t it? It really doesn’t mean anything. I can’t go anywhere with that at all. Con artists need their victims to be “open minded” enough. So, it is not a helpful term at all.

@PattyAtHome above, “Which is, clergy persons should not have to be obliged to marry same sex marriage”, I meant ”...same sex couples”, although I am sure it is understood.

The OP is says “What is your opinion on gay rights? Simply put. Do you think gays should not have certain rights or do you think they should have just as much rights as those who are straight?” I think it is the follow up posting that has to do with openmindedness and being educated.” (I wish there was a date next to the postings).

Anyway I was making a note that the term “close minded” is just a label, kind of name calling. I was hoping to see a discussion of the subtance of gay rights, that would produce a resolution of the issue sooner. Something that could make people think:
-“Why couldn’t somebody have said that, or why couldn’t someone have put it that way” or
“Why couldn’t someone have given me that fact.” I could have seen the light a long time ago”, kind of thing.

@flo good luck on finding such a clear cut resolution to such a question.
People that think gay marriage should be a right, will think “this is so clear, how come everyone can’t just understand it.”
People that think are totally against gay marriage also, will think “this is so clear, how come everyone can’t just understand it.”

And then to make matters just that much more complicated, there are people on both sides of the debate, who are divided across different lines about whether gay marriage is an equal right or an expansion of an existing right they already have to marry someone of the opposite sex. (they do actually already have that right, it just isn’t very useful if your in love with someone of the same sex). Those people also think, “this is so clear, how come everyone can’t just understand it.”

There are just too many factors in peoples lives; beliefs, backgrounds, and values that make the answer to this question crystal clear for so many people. That crystal clear answer just doesn’t happen to be the same for everyone, but all those people will view those on the other side of the debate as being closed minded and unable to open their mind to that crystal clear opinion.

Pretty much every one of those opinions have been expressed in this thread already.

@PattyAtHome Yes it is complex. So, the best thing would be not to waste any time calling each other “closed minded” wouldn’t you say?

By the way would you respond to my:

1)“Con artists need their victims to be “open minded” enough. So, it is not a helpful term at all.
2)”... clergy persons should not have to be obliged to marry same sex… That is why I wrote, people are not addressing the bone of contention/s.”

BTW,

When I wrote: -“Why couldn’t somebody have said that, or why couldn’t someone have put it that way” or
“Why couldn’t someone have given me that fact.” I could have seen the light a long time…”. , I’m talking about individuals having that kind of experience, not in one shot the whole thing is resolved.

Yes of course they should have the same rights. As long as 2 people love each other what does it matter their genders or sex.

No I don’t have a college degree

AAAAAaaaaaaaRRRRRRrrrrrrrGGGGGggggggggggggggggg….........
@flo – I typed a brilliant reply for you and then hit a wrong key or something and the browser window closed on me. :(

So anyway, yeah that was my point exactly. open-minded and closed-minded are really meaningless expressions. Simply put, people just don’t always agree on things, and there is always some reason both sides want to hold to their own views.

I really wish I hadn’t just lost my comment because it was really good regarding the other part of your questions, but it’ll have to wait till another day now.

@PattyAtHome I look forward to tomorrow. Would you get other people to participate as well? My point is why are people not busy busting this myth, providing that solution in order to help the cause? Why is it just us, (other than @dutchbrossis) continuing this thread?

I support absolute equality without regard to sexual orientation. I’m also opposed to the polygamy laws; my late wife had two loving partners, but only one relationship could be recognized under law. Same-sex unions were legalized in our state three months after her death, but the polygamy law would still block us from official recognition of our de facto status.

4 degrees: Bachelors and Masters in Mechanical Engineering, BA and MA in History, PhD candidate in History.

I do agree with polygamy laws…not so much in the “moral” sense (I do believe in monogamy for myself but if others want to have open, honest relationships with other people all at once…I don’t care) but see, marriage means a lot of things…legal rights, health proxies, etc. I think it would be VERY complicated and a lot of legal trouble if people could be married to multiple people. I can’t imagine the lawsuits :(

You are making a mistake that a lot of folks make. You do not have to modify the word right. It exists for all human beings. You unnecessarily change the conversation when you add a modifier, like “gay” rights, etc. Don’t do that, and all will be well. Three degrees.

I am of the all or nothing school. Either marriage is between two people in any combination or we need to get rid of marriage as a legal institution. We have been, legally, able to marry anyone we want as long as they are of opposite sex, All people are asking is to get rid of the last restriction to marriage.

I think marriage as opposed to promiscuity is an excellent choice. Marriage promote stability in both parties, gives children a stable environment in which to grow, and provides significant medical, legal, and financial benefits.

I would object to marriage between more than two people for the same reason. The marriage is likely to be unstable, and could end up where two of the partners subjugate the third. I frankly don’t care if people choose to life in group marriage situations, I just don’t think that it should be the business of government.

I have one b.s. and probably enough credits for another one but never saw the need to make it official.

If a group wants to marry each other, they should form a corporations and share the legal benefits and obligations. Otherwise, marriage as a legal institution should be between two people, only.

I think that anyone, regardless of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or ability, should be allowed the same civil rights of any other person. I am straight, I have a college degree, and I am a Christian. I think that no one has any right to deny any other person any civil rights,