as a writer you find it frustrating that you cannot find the words? as a loyal herald reader i find it frustrating to have to read columns as poorly written as this one.

Actually it’s not a bad idea to give everyone civil unions and then the religious people can go get married separately. Finally we can have separation of church and state.

Why not allow equality of all citizens under the law by letting two women marry one man or a 13 year old marry a 35 year old if we are going to redefine marriage? At least there’s historical precedent for that.

Amen Laura!

“the issue is not the acceptance of homosexuality”

Good, since while the Mormons and Christians don’t want homosexuals to marry, the Islamic fundies want to murder all homosexuals.

Maybe some protests at the mosques would be in order?

Alcoholism has been linked to genetics. We don’t discriminate against an alcoholic but we do not condone the behavior associated with the disease. Similarly, we can have every sympathy and provide every right to homosexuals, but we do not have to condone aberrant behavior. We recognize the wrong in discriminating against someone of color because there is nothing they can do about their color. A homosexual can do something about their behavior, in the same manner as an alcoholic, therefore it is not discrimination but simply and intolerance for perversion.

What is ironic about this issue is that exit polls showed that the large African American turnout that was critical to the passage of prop 8. It is hard for me to understand how a group that has been treated as second class citizens for so long could turn around and do the same thing to another group of people.

“Any man or woman who has ever cheated on a spouse, or engaged in sexual activity outside of marriage, shall have their legal union revoked. Any man or woman who has been divorced shall be further banned from entering another marriage union. Any man or woman who has ever laid an abusive hand on their spouse shall have their legal union revoked.

While we’re at it, let’s just go ahead and add to the above any spouse that doesn’t commit fully to a fulfilling and loving marriage, signs up for a reality show, or is just an overall awful person. If the gays can’t get married, then why should Linda Hogan?”

It is too bad that you are kidding here…this was probably the best ideas in the entire article.

Laura - Thank you for stating EXACTLY what needs to be said. People need to stop being hippocrits and realize that if they want to “protect the sanctity of marriage” then they better start by looking at their own lives. I am sick of people saying marriage is sacred and between a man and a woman when men and women CLEARLY break the sanctity of marriage in many of the ways that you mentioned in this article. I agree that “marriage” should be thrown away. In a time when divorce rates are skyrocketing, public figures are cheating or abusing, and marriage is being done for all the wrong reasons, no one should argue that this “sacred” marriage thing should only apply to the people who can’t seem to uphold it! Thank you so much! I couldn’t have said it better myself. I can only hope that one day people stop being hippocrits and bigots for long enough to see that we are ALL equal, and in this country, we ALL deserve to be treated the SAME! -Leann Bedrosian

The civil rights movement and gay rights movement are different, and you will lose your argument if you continue to equate them.

There were never “gay only” drinking fountains, “gay only” schools, “gay only” seats on the bus; blacks were truly treated as second class citizens, even as animals in some cases.

Sorry gays, you are seeking equality, but you will have to find a stronger argument. Piggy-backing the Martin Luther King won’t work, so don’t even try it.

It’s called democracy, get used to it or gtfo.

No church should ever have to perform a ceremony that’s not acceptable in their belief system. I don’t want them to preside over my wedding.

BUT, my government owes me equal rights, and since it is in the business of issuing marriage licenses, these should be issued without discrimination.

I think our government has it wrong on “marriage”. I think all unions should be “civil unions” (between any two adults, gay or straight) in the eyes of the government. That would give everyone equal rights. As far as marriage, let that be up to a person’s religious or spiritual life and beliefs. I think that passing bans on same sex unions is a hateful waste of time.

I know Proposition 8 affects the most people and was considered the most likely to pass, but let’s not forget the gay marriage bans that passed in Florida and Arizona. Or perhaps even more pernicious, the adoption ban in Arkansas. These battles need to be fought too!

I’m with you, Laura. And you’re right about the civil unions, they are totally (separate but) equal.

Yeah, but if everyone gets a civil union instead of a wedding, then I can’t go get hammered drunk at their civil union reception!

THEN what am I gonna do??!?!

The California Teacher’s union publicly announced they came out against prop 8.

I too was amazed that everyone was preaching about taking a step towards equality by electing a black president, only to have California cling to archaic discriminatory ideas against gay marriage.

I watched some of the Yes on 8 ads on YouTube. I laughed at first, because I thought they were humorous parodies of the actually arguments people were using against gay marriage. Then I realized, they were serious. “Gay marriage will confuse the children!” Who are they kidding? First and foremost, I doubt that children will make a big deal out of gay marriage (or gay relationship, really), unless their parents shove unfounded preconceptions about homosexuality into their heads. That being said, I’m not entirely sure why we would explain gay marriage to children anyway. I don’t remember learning anything about marriage as a youngster. There’s no need to exhaust the topic though. You don’t explain the difference between little boys and little girls, then go into gender identity disorder, sex change operations, transvestitism, intersex individuals, and gender cultural variations. You stick to the basics as you do with everything else. Every possible social arrangement for families need not be addressed in school.

I find it hard to believe that anyone can argue about the “sanctity” of an institution that ends in divorce 50% of the time and that 20% of people who enter into marriage don’t fully expect to last very long. Some people were concerned that legalizing gay marriage would allow homosexuals to sue churches for preaching against a homosexual lifestyle. I can’t sue anyone over saying something negative about my lifestyle anymore than I could sue the National Socialist Movement during their demonstration on the Capitol for saying I should go back to Africa. Freedom of speech will still prevail, for better or for worse. I’ve heard the incredibly misled comment that legalizing gay marriage would lead to others to argue for the legalization of polygamy, pedophilia, beastiality, and the like. I can’t speak for polygamy, but as far as the others are concerned, gay marriage does not involve the kinds of abuse and manipulation that is common to the other examples provided. Grooming a child to engage in sexual activity they don’t understand is not like two consenting adults agreeing to enter an economic and social contract with one another. Not only that, but gay marriage has been legal in Scandinavia, and they didn’t have that effect take place. It’s nothing more than a scare tactic.

Nonetheless, I’m sure that gay marriage will be legal soon enough. Homosexuality is slowly becoming more commonplace with gay characters surfacing in popular culture and everyday citizens becoming more comfortable with coming out. I give it a decade or two.

1. Marriage is between a man and a woman.
2. You ought to justify homosexuality — that’s where this argument begins. 2a. You might try that by providing your readers with an explanation why homosexuality is not a mental disorder. 2b. Because until you can do that, you’re argument can’t really be taken seriously. 2c. Because homosexuality is a perversion of love, hence the lack of physical (or arguably emotional) complementarity. 2d. You might also want to explore gay culture and note the niche behavior they exhibit (peacocking, dramatics, queer voices) then question whether or not these are people who desperately want to belong somewhere, have an identity.

We should tolerate other people’s personal decisions given that these decisions don’t affect others negatively. So I embrace homosexuality just like I embrace people experimenting with drugs — it’s all personal choice that we must respect.

BUT YOU, NOR SHOULD ANYONE ELSE, PATRONIZE US FOR NOT BELIEVING THAT MARRIAGE SHOULD SUDDENLY INCLUDE HOMOSEXUALS.

Marriage is the crux of life in that it is the only exemplary context to bring a new generation into the world. Don’t yell at us for not helping to pervert that beautiful term.

“If we have any desire to uphold and maintain the fragile and vital lessons of equality developed in the civil rights movement, to maintain our promise of the equality of all citizens under the law, then Proposition 8 needs to be struck down.”

I know accepting the LGBT community is important but do you even know what the civil rights movement was? It was not only about the integration of race, but if you actually do your research it’s about parents gathering together to get rights for their children who have special needs. I would much rather spend my time, energy, and money in upholding true respect for those who, unfortunately due to societies preconceptions, are regarded to as not having a voice. Answer me this: Can members of the LGBT community go to college and not be seen as not “normal” functioning? Can members of the LGBT community engage in conversations with strangers on the city bus or on the streets? Can a member of the LGBT community walk into a store and not have all eyes on him/her? If you answered yes to even one of these questions, stop whining and enjoy the fact that you have your unalienable rights where there are others who do not.

“I fully and wholly believe in the rights of the states, but I believe much more in the rights of human beings.”

If you truly believed in the rights of human beings wouldn’t you be out there promoting pro-life choices? To go a little bit less controversial, if you truly believed in the rights of humans wouldn’t you be par taking in the many marches and strikes against a number of local facilities? An even less controversial question, if you truly believed in the rights of human beings wouldn’t you join the peace corps and give up some of your basic, no necessary, daily life functions to give there same rights to others?

“I cannot tell myself or anyone else that I live in a country that respects its citizens. Get a grip California.”

Well then get packing!

Way to go on a rant rather than actually contribute anything useful to the discussion. Californians have the right to define marriage any way they choose, and they have yet again voted in overwhelming fashion to adhere to the traditional definition of marriage. In 2000, voters passed Proposition 22, a ballot initiative which defined marriage as between one woman and one man. In 2004, the mayor of San Francisco ignored the will of the people and started granting gay marriage licenses. In May, 2008, four activist judges again ignored the will of the people (over 61% voted in favor of Proposition 22) and struck down the ballot initiative as unconstitutional. Over the past few years, Californians have witnessed a very small group of activist judges and elected officials “legislating from the bench,” in direct contradiction to their desires. Californians have NEVER voted in favor of gay marriage. What a relief that Californians have finally passed this constitutional amendment, hopefully putting an end to the unethical behavior of a select few.

Laura, it’s not wise to stoke the flames of hate further by being prejudiced yourself. In 2006 quite a few states passed referendums to ban gay marriage, including Wisconsin. All measures were passed by a landslide.

Apparently the LGBT community is in no position to defend gay rights. You don’t don’t have enough support. And if you don’t want to lose the rights you still have then I’d suggest you adopt a more effective strategy to gain support for the gay agenda besides alienating the people whose votes you need to make positive change happen.

Well written, and I agree with much that you say, I’m sure many people do. Let’s say that the California Judge overturned Proposition 8. What does that say about the voice of voters, the people who make up the population of California? They have no voice anymore? As unfair and unconstitutional this decision might be, I feel as overturning it will slowly devalue the significance of voting in the first place.

i love you

First of all, there is nothing wrong with being anti-homosexual. It doesn’t make you a bigot, or any other flavor of the week leftist hate speech word. The argument of trying to compare alleged homosexual discrimination with that of the blacks is so flawed that I don’t even know where to begin. The fact of the matter is that homosexuality is wrong, plain and simple. Relationships are based on the hope that those involved will reproduce to keep the human species going. That obviously can’t happen with gays. I could write for hours and continue to provide facts that would allow me win this argument, but I’ve done it so many times with this paper that it is just old. The bottom line: homosexuality is wrong, unnatural, and is essentially human species mutation. Those who are don’t deserve equal rights or benefits because they aren’t humans like the rest of us, they are essentially mutants.

So people who don’t share your views on relationships are mutants? I don’t think you’re a mutant, even though I don’t agree with you.