Where does everyone stand on “Same Sex Marriage”?

With the ongoing push from the left to legalize same sex marriage, and the continued uphill battle from the right to prevent that from happening; where do the rest of us actually stand?

My own personal view is somewhat similar to the Universal Life Church ecclesiastical proclamation which reads;

All adult persons with love for one another have a religious and constitutional right under the 1st amendment of the United States, to the union of marriage regardless of sex.



Such is invoked under natural, primal, and religious law. Given this understanding, we hold that it is a denial of religious rights by the United States government to restrain our ministers from their constitutional right to perform the ritual of the Sacrament of Marriage to consenting adults, be they any sex.



With all of the hate, war and injustice in the world; we owe it to the gay population, which has been subject to some of the worst forms of hate crime and discrimination throughout World History, to settle our religious and social differences by granting equal rights to all American citizens.

Furthermore, it appears that each level of Government should be held accountable for laws that endorse one law abiding religious organization over another �" referencing the proclamation of our own church organization which states, “We hold that it is a denial of religious rights by the United States government to restrain our ministers from their constitutional right to perform the ritual of the Sacrament of Marriage to consenting adults.”

Where do we stand in asking for a redress of grievances? Or do we not care about the protections of the First Amendment?





I DO.

I DO!



Is this a call for action?

i found out a little while ago that i was gay. as a Gnostic i will probably still try women but i want to marry those who are gay/lesbian. God Is Bi-why can't we be?

I DO!

If asked, I would perform a same sex union today. I feel it is the right of all to enter into marriage, and regardless of what repercussions may come of my actions, I will still perform a same sex ceremony.

Hell yes, It's not up to the gov't who can get married or not. Gov't has no right in this matter. Gay marriage, abortion, etc, are all smoke and mirrors. They barage us with this crap so we don't see real issues!!!!!!!!!!!! We live under the thumb of the murderinesst political power known to man. The blood that's on thier hands is simply hienous. The last shall be first, the first shall be last.

I do

Life is not meant to be lived the same by everyone. If we wanted food vouchers, uniforms, anglos and marrying other anglos I would move to....Texas or China

I would, and I did!!! My partner and I have been together for over 8 years and I have nevr been happier. I performed a ceremony in June '08 in Illinois even though it's not legal in Illinois. It's also not legal in New Mexico where we live but we are much more "married" than most heteros we know.....God's Peace, love and justice will prevail.....To`na Wanagi

Marriage

Have any of you ever bothered to understand what marriage is? Most people assume they know what marriage is. But do you really???? What is it?
If you bother to try to find out where marriage comes from, where is started, who originated it, you will NOT find it in the bible. That's right. You will NOT find what people call marriage today, in the bible.
What you WILL find in the bible is the demand for responsibility toward a woman whom a man has burdened with a child. Responsibility. This responsibility often included dowries. The formalization of this "relationship" was actually a legal contract and had absolutely nothing to do with love or rights. It was all about practicality, responsibility, and proliferation. Not that love was forbidden, it just was not a prerequisit. And the only reason there were any records kept, was for the sake of keeping up with the gene pool. Likewise, biblical divorce was a legal matter involving status. I don't believe it had anything to do with equal rights. Polygamy was also practiced and not forbidden. The concept: have as many as you want, but you become responsible for them!
Study the marriage customs of other cultures. Most of them are pre-arranged by family for economic, political or otherwise practical reasons. Not some romatic notion of love.
Love cannot be legislated. It cannot be made legal or illegal. It cannot be controled. It cannot be forbidden.
It is the universal law of Romeo & Juliet, as so beautifully portrayed by Billy Shakes. (William Shakespeare)
So when thinking in terms of equality, marriage, Prop 8, Prop 22, Prop 2, and so on and so on.... What are people REALLY asking for?
Marriage today in the USA is twofold. It consists of a religious ceremony of your choice conducted by a state-recognized religious officiator, and a local "LICENSE" which is a recorded legal contract protected by your state's vast array of laws concerning the rights, privileges, and limitations of said "marriage".
What are you asking for?
Just as love cannot be legislated, neither can acceptance or dignity. These must be earned from within ones self. It is your own concept of who you are that legitimizes your being.
Modern marriage is a christian fabrication. It is tyrannical. It is dogmatic. It is saturated with religious demands and unrealistic notions of holiness. Marriage as you and I know it today is a very new "tradition".
You are all fighting for something that you don't even know what it truly is!!!
If you are in love and want to celebrate that with a ceremony, you do not need anyone's permission or a license. If you want to commit to a legal contract, then get a lawyer. File some papers. And FORGET trying to call it marriage!!!!
Marriage belongs to the christians - LET THEM HAVE IT!!!!
If you are building a relationship with another person that is not in the christian code of ethics, then stop trying to be so sentimental and recognize that what you want is NOT a christian concept!!! Let it go and call it something else! Again, you cannot legislate morality or faith! No one can take away your god, or your right to interpret god. A girl should not fight for the right to join the Boy Scouts!!! Leave them alone! If you want to be part of a club that is co-ed, find one that operates that way, or start your own. But leave the Boy Scouts to their own ways.... There's no crime being commited.
Let it go brothers and sisters! Let them have what is theirs. Alternative lifestyles, by definition, do not fit the christian law.
You don't want them forcing you to accept their beliefs, so STOP forcing them to accept you!!!!!! Let it go and move on. Why must you have a label for your relationship. They can pass a law, but it will not guarantee that everybody will accept you.
If you want legal protection, get that lawyer. Spell it out. Make copies. And let it go.
Just be. Good people cannot deny acceptance to other good people.
Look at how far society has come in the USA in just the past 20 years.
Look at interacial couples. Gay couples. Children of these relationships. The world is being filled with good, responsible families of every sort. No one can deny this. Yet still there are prejudices. And no one can make a law to stop that.
This is how I see it. Consider it.... before you start demanding to be accepted by something that isn't what it seems to be anyway...
And YES, My opinion is that we should be able to perform ceremonies of any sort. Heteros are joined in "legal", "holy" matrimony every day and the officiator knows full well that certain unions are a mistake. Why isn't that legislated too?! Because its absurd. We are free to be as blind and stupid as we want to be. Laws cannot change society. Only WE can change. I say freedom!!! Leave everybody alone.
What we all truly want is to be accepted. Laws cannot accomplish that.

I'm straight, but who cares? If we are all equal in the eyes of deity, we should have the same rights. I specialize in Pagan, Wiccan, and Hindu-style ceremonies, but I'll do anything... did one marriage in a Baptist fashion. Again, the marriage is to honor the couple and their relationship to deity and community, not you and yours.

Dr. St. Moss
Asheville NC

I'm straight, and until about 5 years ago, had never even heard of gay or would have ever imagined that such a thing existed. (Yes, I did grow up in extreme isolation from society, I was 27 years old before I had contact with people outside of my 264 member family; I guess I grew up in what people would call a "cult community"). My first confrontation with "gay" as anything other than "joyful" occurred when I escaped from my family's weird lifestyle after I had realized that it was not normal for a family to live with all of it's multi generations without contact with non family members. Once free from them, I committed the unspeakable sin of getting a job (I'm a female, working jobs is forbidden) and made an attempt to try to live in the world. Life outside the family was desperately confusing: no one in the world dressed like we did, talked like we did, or acted like we did. I find myself constantly having to explain why I speak and ancient style of English, why I wear the clothes I wear, why I don't drive, why I don't know how to do "normal" things like crossing a sidewalk or knowing when some one is speaking to me and I should speak back (talking at all is very rare for me) or how to do math and count money. Getting my job at Macy's was frustrating, but I am a good learner and quickly picked up on the "clues" in people around me.

Well, my job at Macy's confronted me with this alternate meaning of "being gay", when one co worker whispered to me "He's gay." while pointing over to another co worker. Baffled at how this depressed looking man could have any joy in his heart at all, I pointed out that he was the farthest thing from happy. We both remained puzzled over each others words for a few weeks, until our boss came in one day and said he had to leave early to pickup his boyfriend. The concept of him having a boyfriend totally threw me for a loop, and my co worker explained "he's gay". I was deeply confused about why she kept calling these clearly non-joyful people "gay" and it occurred to her that I had no idea what she was saying to me. Explanation time, and ah-huh! I was not aware of the new alternate meaning of the word "gay" before, but once I understood that there was a second meaning, her calling people "gay" suddenly made sense to me.

So, while I admit I do not understand the concept of how any one could be attracted to a person of the same gender, I do know that this is America where one has the freedom to live whatever lifestyle you choose, so if they are not harming those around them and they are not preventing the rights of freedom from others, who am I to tell them what lifestyle they should live?




Yes. They should also have the right to refuse to do so if it falls against their religious beliefs.

No minister should be forced to marry a couple (straight or gay) that they do not feel comfortable marrying, like wise no minister should be forced NOT to marry a couple for any reason either.

As for myself, personally, I'm more of a preacher type. I preach, I teach, I share my views openly with anyone who'll listen. I'm also a minister (by the true definition of the word) I minister to the sick and poor (meaning I help them physically by providing food and shelter for them). I did not become ordained so that I could marry, bury, or baptize people, I became ordained so that I could get out there and actually make a difference by helping those in need of help. So in my case this question does not really apply, because I see no future in which I will be marrying people to one another.

My standing on this important and delicate matter is, well, unconventional(I.M.O.). As an acknowledged and open bi-sexual man, yes, I do believe that same-sex marriage should be legal. I also believe that it is the gay communities' constitutional right. However, I have an large problem where so-called "christian" same-sex marriage is concerned.
Like it or not, the christian bible is extremely clear concerning its standing on homosexuality. According to it, same-sex relationships are sinful and an abomination towards Jehovah. If you want proof of this claim, all you need to do is get an good concordance of the Holy Bible (I recommend "Strong's") and look it up. One the most misinterpreted and misquoted verses in all of scripture actually addresses the subject; "doth not nature itself show thee that it is an shame for man to have long hair?". Not specific enough? Well, than look up Rom. 1:18-32, 1 Tim. 1:1-11, Lev. 18:22(this one is about as clear as it gets!), or 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
I know that I'm ruffling an lot of feathers here. I know that I'm challenging an lot of peoples beliefs and convictions as well. I'm sorry, but it can't be helped. But guess what? Biblical Christianity is in no way shape or form an religion for everyone, nor is it for people who want to "feel good" about "reality"(so-called and defined in the Holy Bible).
With that said, I can at the same time think of several more tolerant religious perspectives that might cater to the needs of the homosexual community. For me, it was Ritual Magick and Buddhism (which I recommend). One more thing I'd like to point out to avoid any misunderstandings: as soon as I manage to acquire my "official" credentials and register with the state of Kansas, I will indeed be officiating an marriage between two lesbian friends of mine. Just thought I'd throw that one out there to avoid getting labeled "intolerant".
Sorry for getting off-track there. This is just such an delicate issue that if we ignore the fine print, we risk defiling not only biblical christianity, but also the entire gay community, as well as every last seperation of church and state law in effect today. We need to be careful, certain individuals in the gay community need to show an little more respect for the core tenants of the christian church, the christians need to read their bibles more closely, and yes! We need to legalize same-marriage, if for no other reason than to keep one from getting thrown in jail for assisting in the happiest day of two betrothed souls' lives.

Absolutely... EVERYONE has the right to a legal as well as loving relationship....

Dear Rev. Kenneth Steele,

First of all...Welcome to the forum!!!
Your opinion is your opinion, and you have the right to it. You have said what you feel with great care and respect for all members. Please don't feel uneasy for sharing and expressing yourself as you have not challenged anyone. There are those who's opinion may differ from yours, and others who may be unsure all together. There are those who will agree, and those who may not even care. All is acceptable here, just so long as respect for everyone and their beliefs are maintained, just as you have done with your post.
I am Christian but I do not follow any religion. As the name implies, I am a follower of Christ, not a follower of man. I have a few friends who are gay, and they are aware of how I feel on the subject of same sex marriages. I will not marry same sex partners, but I do not prohibit others from doing as they wish. In fact, in this case, I support it. My buisness on this earth is not to judge, as that is our Fathers domain alone. My buisness on this earth is to simply love. All people are people, and according to my belief, all are loved greatly, and equally by God. Who am I to say differently. To do so, goes completely opposite of the two greatest commandments:

" Thou shalt love thy lord God, with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment.
And the second is like namely this,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. There are none other commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:30-31.

Keep up the good work dear Brother!!

God's blessings,

Rev. Campbell.

Yes, and my reasons are pretty similar to many who also voted yes.

Yes.

I am similar to Rev. Campbell above.

I personally won't preform Homosexual marriages, but I do support them.

I take the view that their sexual practices are not what their meant to be, but I know "Straight" people who follow the same practices. I also will leave it to God to judge...

Marriage is important... Keeps people together. I don't support promiscuous relations either. I can't see how people can really compare a Homosexual dedicated to their partner with a promiscuous Heterosexual. In my eyes, the second is to bring more trouble, complication, dangers and sin.

Also if one wants to give love and dedication to another, even if the same sex, who are we to stop them? We would rather split those families and cause chaos?

Connecticut Democratic Senator Christopher J. Dodd announced that he has changed his stance on homosexual Marriage, and is now supporting the legalization of same sex marriage.

In 2008, the Senator opposed homosexual Marriage in support of Civil Unions, however with a struggle for reelection next year and continued criticism by Democrats who support equal rights; the Senator has now turned over a new leaf.

On Father's Day, the Senator posted a blog on his website announcing his decision to favor homosexual Marriage. He mentioned his two daughters who have grown up in a state and society in which same sex couples are common, many of whom married when Connecticut legalized Same Sex Marriage.

He wrote:

“To my daughters, these couples are married simply because they love each other and want to build a life together.
That’s what we’ve taught them. The things that make those families
different from their own pale in comparison to the commitments that
bind those couples together.
And, really, that’s what marriage should be. It’s about rights and responsibilities and, most of all, love.
I believe that, when my daughters grow up, barriers to marriage
equality for same-sex couples will seem as archaic, and as unfair, as
the laws we once had against inter-racial marriage.
And I want them to know that, even if he was a little late, their dad came down on the right side of history.”

Well said Senator. Not only did you recognize the hypocrisy of the discrimination that gays go through in life, but you displayed your values for family by choosing to support same sex couples and their families.

I agree, no one should be forced to to do anything that makes them uncomfortable and people who are good to go should have the right to excercise their rights. America was based on freedoms and I can agree or disagree but when the rubber hits the road what you choose to do is your right and no one has the right to take that away.....