Topic : Gay Marriage Debate

I personally believe that it is discriminatory to deny gay couples the right to marry.  Those that oppose often argue that it will somehow devalue traditional marriages.  That logic I don't understand.  If two people are in a committed, loving relationship and would like to join together in marriage, how can that be bad? 

 

I know that some religions feel that being gay is a sin.  I strongly disagree with that but any church that feels as such should not be forced to marry gay couples.

 

I wonder if some of the opposition to gay marriage has to do with money.  If gay marriages were legal then the federal government would have to extend Social Security benefits.  Corporations would need to provide more benefits for these couples as well.  Hmmm, I wonder???? 

Every one certainly has the right to their own opinions and I am one who believes that we are to love all people and believe that God loves all people but it does not mean that we have to agree with everything that a person does. I personally do believe that it is a sin to live in this life style as it is completely clear in the Bible (which any one who really reads it and believes that it is the word of God will actually be able to see it in black and white) but only God knows the heart and He knows what we know and understand therefore it is He who will be standing in the judgement seat, not any one of us. Now, I will be one to stick up for marriage as being husband and wife because I believe the Word of God and as I read it, no where does it ever say that this life style is right but ALWAYS refers to husband and wives. It is quite clear. Now, don't any one get so heated up here, as this is about opinions and I do have a very good friend who is gay and yep, he knows exactly how I feel and I let him know that I will always be his friend and as I have done since we have been teen agers is always hold him up in prayers, even before he became gay. I also know people who were in the gay life style and were convicted of it and turned from it. We are all only accountable to our selves and in the end it will be the Lord Him self to give the last judgement and there is a difference between judging and sticking up for what we believe in, For most people, it is not about discriminating against the person as a whole but against the life style that was condemned by God in the old testament as well as spoken against in the New Testament, but it is up to us as each individual to intreprett these things as God leads us but remember, God is not the only one after our hearts, satan himself is out there to do so as well so each one no matter our life styles need to know in our hearts that we are right. I personally would never marry a gay couple as it would stand against my beliefs and convictions but it doesn't mean I will have nothing to do with them or be there for them. It is ok to agree to disagree and still be friends. In fact, there is a ministry at the prevous church that I attended for many years geared towards gays and their families and I have developed many good friends through this and though these are people who are no longer in the life style, there are some who are that attends at times, and I have absolutely no problem being their friend as I still come in contact with many from that particualr church. ans I have have people froma ll walks of life in my home so for me, it has absolutely nothing to do with discriminating against a person but I don't have to agree with everything they do.

I believe that it is discriminatory on the part of our government to deny gays the right to marry.  If a church/religion believes that it is a sin, that is their right. But just as no church should be forced to perform/support gay marriages, a church should not have to refuse based upon law.  Not allowing gay marriages based upon religious reasons goes against the principles of  the Separation of Church and State.  We are very fortunate to be able to worship in the way we choose.  It would be wrong to force my religious beliefs on an individual and I certainly would not want another's forced upon me.

 

I wonder if instead of the government issuing marriage licenses, civil union licenses were issued by the government and houses of worship could then perform marriages that reflect their faith and beliefs?

 

I guess the way I look at it, one of my children may end of being gay when they grow up.  I would hate to have my child denied the benefits and joys of marriage that I have experienced. 

 

Now that the recent bill was passed here, it is legal for gay couples to marry anywhere in Canada. The law allows any minister to follow their own heart about this issue. No one is forced to perform a marriage they don't believe in but, fortunately, there are a great many ministers who are pleased to marry a happy couple. 

  

I've always believed in equity when it comes to the right of consenting adults marrying and as a happily married heterosexual, I don't see the sanctity of my wonderful marriage being sullied by any two happily married adults no matter their sexual preferences.  

  

Currently, a friend of mine is helping out a senior couple who have been separated by illness. They are a couple who have been together for over 30 years but, because they are both women and from a time when there was a stigma against gay relationships, they have always claimed to be "just friends". Sadly, one member of the couple became ill and had to be placed in a full care nursing home and it was then that her partner realized she would have to "come out". As a married couple, they would be able to automatically be placed in the same facility with the healthy partner helping with care but as "friends", the partner doesn't qualify to live there. My friend is helping them establish their relationship in order to ensure they can continue to be together well into old age.  

  

  

As far as the bible and homosexuality, I'm amazed that anyone could read the book of Ruth without realizing that she and Naomi were involved in a loving relationship. In the first book of Samuel, the relationship between David and Jonathan also appears to be a loving one.  

I believe that marriage as a sanctioned contract between two people started as a means to protect innocent, dependent, defenseless children. I also believe that it is this particular reason why gay marriages are not looked upon as necessary by the legal system. There can be no hope of progeny from a gay union, unless something "creative" is done by one of the partners. In which case we have legislation set up for support of the children. I will be castigated for this opinion, but I think the whole question does boil down to the inheritance of money should one partner die. Gays would like to share the same privileges as married couples do in this regard. Again, I believe the laws were set up for the protection of children, not to ensure one or the other spouse has an income the rest of their life should the other die. Right now, one gay partner can leave their estate to the other, but it is probated just as an elderly parent's would be, before going to the grown children. I see no reason to clog our courts with more divorce suits, etc. There are plenty of heteros out there who see no reason to go through with a ceremony and legally binding contract unless children are planned, and their commitments to each other are just as binding.

I think that as time goes on gay marriage will become a necessity for the protection of children.  Consider this...a married couple can legally adopt and be considered parents equally.  That is not the case with gay couples in many states.  One person becomes the parent in the eyes of the law.  Now what happens when after 10 years the couple splits and the parent without legal rights is barred from seeing that child.  That not only harms the parent but also in many cases the child.  Another scenario would be Social Security, if something were to happen to me, my children would receive the SS benefits that I accrued but if in the case of gay couples, only one parent can be legal so the child will not receive benefits that the other parent accrued. 

  

Other reasons could be medical decisions, right now your spouse is the one who can make decisions for you in the event that you cannot.  If you are in intensive care, only immediate family may visit.  Now I know many hospitals bend the rules for gay couples but just say the family is opposed to the relationship, the person that should be with you and should make decisions can be barred from even seeing you.   

  

Just wanted to point out that there are reasons other than financial for wanting to get married.  I know when I got married it wasn't about money, it was about love and wanting to spend the rest of my life with my partner. 

Who are any of you to decide who can marry and who shouldn't be able to.  Since when is it any of your concern.  If they can take care of their children then they should be able to marry.  People worry about the safety of the children...then stop imbeciles from ridiculing these people.  I'm by no means gay but I have no right to say who can marry and who doesn't.  I think, for an abundance of people, religion has a lot to do with this debate.  If that is the case then let God handle them when they are judged.  Until then people should stay the hell out of their lives.

A gay priest is to marry her long-term partner in Britian's first same-sex wedding this December.

Rev Debbie Gaston, 46, and Elaine Cook, 53, will join two other gay couples in a ceremony at Brighton's town hall. 

  

 

It will take place at one second past midnight on December 21, the first day when gay weddings are legal. 

The Civil Partnerships Bill comes into force on December 5 but, as with civil marriages, there is a 15-day period before couples can tie the knot. 

Ms Gaston, of the Metropolitan Community Church, is delighted to be tying the knot with her partner of 16 years, who has two adult children from a previous heterosexual marriage. 

She says that they both see this bill as a "huge step" in terms of equality, but there is still some way to go. 

"Until I can have a legal ceremony in the eyes of God I will not feel completely fulfilled," she said. 

The other couples, who will marry at the same time are Gino Meriano and his partner Mike Ullett, who run a wedding planner agency. 

The others are Roger Lewis, who works for Sussex Police, and his partner Keith Willmott-Goodall.  

All participants come from Brighton, where the council has been a supporter of civil partnerships since they were first mooted. 

  

  

It's a great example to many people who quarry over religion and homosexuality being deemed wrong in the 'eyes of god'. I for one think these people are full of crap, but i guess everyones entitled to their opinion. Is it just me, or does anybody else think a lot of group turn to religion to prevent something happening they are scared of? coincidence? mmm. (Before anyone says anything, i know the religious debate is a lot deeper and more indepth, but i thought a little light hearted sarcasm would be a refreshing take!) :) 

  

G x 

Well, to each their own but any one who reads and believes in the teachings of the New Teastament (which is basically the teachings of Christ and the guide to how we should live our lives today) will clearly see that it teaches against the homosexual life style. The scriptures are there for us to read and to interprett as we apply them to our lives and I personally believe that the day of judgement is coming for all people and how we live and our relationship with the Lord Jesus himself will be the basis of that judgement. I personally believe that the gay life style is wrong in the eyes of the Lord but I am not here to judge but I will continue to teach what I believe, and encourage people to pray sincerely and to seek God's will and plan for their lives, for we are only accountable to our selves . We are living in a "whatever goes" society but the the thing of it is, I don't believe that is how God planned it, He wants us to follow His plan and not the worlds plan so the only thing I have to say on this subject is to know the word of God and His will and know with your whole being that the choices you have made is righteous in the sight of the Lord, for that day is coming when the Truth will be revealed. Our God is a loving and compassionate God but at the same time, His Ways are the truth and remember that the Bible also says that not every one who calls Lord Lord will make it, so seeking his word and ways as wellas praying and living for him is the best thing to do and the way we are to live is written int he New Testament. Now, I do believe in the Old Testament as well and believe that God has always been here and will always be here and the events recorded in the old teastament really did happen, And we need to also remember that the old testament was written before Christ and the way they did things were completeley different casue they didn't have the savior of the World at that time, but the teachings of God I believe is the truth and even the old testament taught against the homosexual life style, The people were condememd for it but of coursre this is my interpretation and my belief and as I said at the beginning, to each their own, we have the freedom of choice to love our loves the way we choose and God himself will not take that freedom away from us but regardless of the choices we make, his Word is Truth and He shall prevail and in the end we will either be told well done or not.................