Gay Marriage - Where's the fury?

[themorrigan]

Disclaimer: I am either acquainted with, or friends with, several Christians. I am perfectly aware that both sides of the fence have irrational fanatics. If you feel offended by anything I say, please don't hesitate to bring it to me and we can talk about it

Comments

[themorrigan]

christian heterosexuals are painted as the common group who seem to express this sentiment, but I'm not making assumptions here

Neither am I. I do understand that more groups than just Christians have an issue with homosexuality. But it is the Christian faction that seems the most vocal - and generally the most derisive as well.

[bellabrigida]

That being said, my personal philosophy has always been that I don't particularly care what you do with whom in your own bedroom, as long as you don't force your opinions or beliefs on me. I realize, however, that I'm not typical in this regard. :-)

THAT being said... I don't care. But I think the logic is the exact same thing.

They don't care what you do in your bedroom. As long as you're not shoving it in their faces, making out in front of them and nearly having sex in the streets while yelling, "We're Here, We're Queer!", I don't think it's a very big problem.

In their mind, I guess, you're *forcing* your beliefs on them if you are saying that gay marriage should be legal.

[themorrigan]

They don't care what you do in your bedroom. As long as you're not shoving it in their faces, making out in front of them and nearly having sex in the streets while yelling, "We're Here, We're Queer!", I don't think it's a very big problem.

I'm going to opt to disagree with you until a few conditions are satisfied. Sexual orientation being on the list of hate crimes is also an issue in this election year. Our current president does not believe that hate crimes should include sexual orientation. If it were unnecessary, sure. But I think it is. If a heterosexual couple can be affectionate in public, so should a homosexual couple. Basic rights and liberties. There are state laws out there that are specifically designed to be able to prosecute a homosexual couple, even if the sex is in their bedroom.

In their mind, I guess, you're *forcing* your beliefs on them if you are saying that gay marriage should be legal.Which might carry some weight, if the Constitution and the ideals upon which this country was built weren't explicit in the

[bellabrigida]

I'm saying that there's a number of people who don't want gay marriage because they believe that it's people shoving sexuality down their throats.

These are the same people that do all sorts of things in thier bedroom, but get upset if you make out in public. That's what I was trying to get at. Any display of sexuality (gay OR straight) is offensive to them.

I'm just playing devil's advocate. I don't agree with it at all, but I think that's where they're coming from. If they don't have to see it, then they can pretend that it doesn't exist and it doesn't bother them.

[themorrigan]

Perhaps. That seems a bit simplistic, however, when considering the implications of banning or permiting homosexual marriage. As things currently stand, there are approximately one thousand federal benefits that are granted to married couples. Denying those benefits to a couple, simply because they are of the same gender, is a civil rights issue. It is also an issue of violating the First Ammendment, particularly the establishment clause.

The biggest problem I have with the "avoiding the shoving it down their throats" theory is in the hypocritical nature by which it is presented. By continuing to legislate the beliefs and/or values of one religion - even if there are beliefs/values that cross pollinate in other religions - those beliefs and values are consequently being shoved down my throat.

[bellabrigida]

The biggest problem I have with the "avoiding the shoving it down their throats" theory is in the hypocritical nature by which it is presented. By continuing to legislate the beliefs and/or values of one religion

That's not even a religious belief or issue. It's an issue of palatability.

There's plenty of people, atheist or otherwise who think that any display of public affections is, "Disgusting". Of those people, there's plenty who'd like to make PDA illegal.

When a teenager, I actually had some older folks come over to me and yell at me in public for kissing my boyfriend. "That's disgusting! What would children think? What would your parents think!?!"

It may be simplistic, b ut some issues aren't that complicated. Some people find certain things gross and depending on how disgusting it is to them, they'd like to see it outlawed(look at the current FCC investigations for example).

[themorrigan]

It may be simplistic, b ut some issues aren't that complicated. Some people find certain things gross and depending on how disgusting it is to them, they'd like to see it outlawed(look at the current FCC investigations for example).

Sure. But the overall issue is much more complex than palatability. Particularly since that is not the basis of the arguments against homosexuality or gay marriage.