Monday, September 29, 2008

Gay Rights

12 comments:

Amanda E. said...

This seems like a blank slate (no prompt), so I guess I'll just go for it! I'm sure it's not at all surprising that I'm for rights for everyone, and that includes rights for gay people. I can't imagine a good, universal argument (morals aren't universal, obviously) for denying a group of people who are in our country legally, paying taxes, and generally being productive members of society rights like job protection and marriage. I have heard arguments like, "next comes animals!!" and that is just ridiculous. Last I checked, animals couldn't consent to marriage, so I think we're safe from having to buy large bushels of oats on someone's registry or watching where we walk at their reception.

I can't think of much more to say because it just seems so obvious to me. My cousin, who "married" (had a civil commitment ceremony) his husband nearly 20 years ago has no affect on my marriage, and I don't think that gay marriage in general has any negative affect on my marriage either. I think there should be *more* committed, stable, healthy couples in the world, not less.

Anonymous said...

I would never support any president who didn't believe in gay rights. I think people are born gay and it is not a decision. And to the republicans against gay marriage who say, "Well I have a ton of gay friends and I still accept them but gay marriage is still wrong", I would like to know if they have ever asked that gay friend of theirs how it all happened? People do not choose whether they want to like someone of the same sex. That's the way God made them! Many religions disown any members of their family if they are homosexual. Now why would any one choose to be shunned from their family and friends?

They are regular people too and and deserve to be married and given all the same rights that everyone else is!

Anonymous said...

I dont understand why so many people are against gay marriage. It has no effect on anyone else besides the two people trying to get married. A gay married couple is still taxed the same and giving the same benefits as heterosexual couple.
And I doubt they are any well known republicans with gay friends. I would like to meet some of them. If a republican had a gay friend but at the same time said gay marriage is wrong they sure as hell arent friends anymore.

Anonymous said...

I feel being gay is a right and if someone wants to be gay then thats there decision. It's not anybodys place to tell them what they can and can't do. I mean i could care less if someone is gay. It's a choice and i'm not gonna tell someone that they can't do something if they really want to be doing.

Anonymous said...

Out of curiosity, why would anyone CHOOSE to be gay? In Iran, for instance, being gay is a crime punishable by hanging. Someone would choose sexual proclivities that would result in their hanging, when just "choosing" to remain straight would not?

It would be utterly baffling logic if I wasn't sure it was just an excuse to discriminate. If someone *chooses* something, then you can frame it as a matter of judgment, which is always the basis of punishing crimes in our society.

We choose to steal, rape and kill, so we can punish those crimes. When the people are found to be mentally retarded or insane, we consider them not in the right frame of mind to make that choice, and the punishment is not nearly as severe, if there's any at all.

If we also choose to be gay, and if we agree being gay is somewhat as bad as those things, then we can also punish that behavior. It's the precursor to re-criminalizing homosexuality.

Anonymous said...

I'm all about gay rights. How can you force someone to be interested in the opposite sex, when they are not? Just because majority of the society precieves it to be "not right"? I don't think being gay is a choosen factor, but I do think what is choosen is being open about it.
My parents were married for 14 years and ended up getting a divorce about 12 years ago... After the divorce I found out my dad is gay. He felt that he was not living the life that he was happy with. I think society is a little more open to gays/lesbians now-a-days vs. years ago - but it definitely has opportunity to improve! It's sad to think that my dad tried to live the life that he thought was "right" instead of trying to be the normal person. Think of the stress it caused him etc... i'm glad he chose to marry first and have kids - bc of course I would not be here today...

Anonymous said...

Gay rights is the same thing today as it was years ago with women’s right and African American rights. I don’t see them as a harm to society. The majority are law abiding tax paying citizens who deserve the same right as I do to marry whom I choose. I hear a lot of arguments stating that its against Gods will or God created a Adam and a Eve.
I would truly like to hear a valid argument why Gay rights are so unmoral. Who are you to tell someone who to love. Gays deserve the same benefits that I deserve. We shouldn’t treat others as if their love is too inferior to even marry.
For those who say it will taint the sanctity of marriage, look at the divorce rate among Americans today and tell me that it its to sacred to have same sex marriages.

Anonymous said...

To answer your question Benjamin, I don't believe there is anyone who CHOOSES to be gay. That misconseption is common among many who CHOOSE not to accept certain lifestyles that they feel are different from their own. It may be that the simple minunderstanding (or unwillingness to understand) of this concept is the basis behind much of what anti-homosexuals believe in.

Why there are so many people who feel that it is their duty to dedicate time out of their lives to ensure that homosexuals do not have the same rights as them is beyond me. Is there someone who can explain to me what it is about the homosexual lifestyle that is so threatening to the non-homosexual lifestyle and why anyone would feel the need to go out of their way to ensure that others cannot enjoy the same freedoms as they do?

Anonymous said...

I think the issue of gay rights is something that is a very controversial topic in our society. My favorite argument people use is that it demeans or devalues marriage. Being someone who is divorced and has many gay friends I would just like to say that those of us who are heterosexual haven't seemed to do that great of a job upholding the sanctity of marriage.

I believe strongly that with each generation the opposition to gay rights weakens amongst our population. As time goes by hopefully gays will have all the same rights as heterosexuals. I strongly believe that it will only better our culture and society.

FroggieFlip said...

In response to what you all said…Wow! You all had very valid points. Before I started reading all the comments, I really didn’t care one way or another if the gays had their rights to marry and so forth. Now, I would have to say that I think they deserve to have the right to marry just as much as those who are not gay. It would only be fair.

I do not think that people choose to be gay, just like I do not think that the people that are not gay cannot really choose what type of person they would like to be attracted to. It is just a process that just happens, where one person is attracted to another and if it evolves into more than just an attraction, then why not go about acting on it? So it looks like I finally took a stand for this issue. GO GAY RIGHTS! lol

Anonymous said...

Honestly, Why shouldn't homosexuals have the same rights as the rest of us? Gays are not trying to hurt anyone by fighting for their rights, all they are doing is fighting to be equal and happy. What does it hurt if gays are allowed to marry? NOTHING! They deserve to be happy and live their lives the way that they want to, the way that every heterosexual has the choice to live in happiness.

Just because homosexuals are attracted to the same sex, (which i believe they have no choice or control over) does not mean that they are bad people. People just need to focus on their own happiness and stop worrying about how anyone else chooses to live. I'm ALL for gay rights, because I believe that everyone should have the choice to live in happiness!

Anonymous said...

What is the big deal about gay rights? What does it hurt if gays are allowed to get married? It does not affect anybody elses lives. Its only fair that gay people should be allowed to marry and be happy like anybody else. I am not gay, but I do not discriminate against anyone who is. It is their personal lifestyle and way of being. Don't stop whats right.