Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Inevitable?

Seems To Be Gaining Momentum Among Voters, Pols, Judges Alike; Formidable Obstacles Remain

(CBS)  Vermont this week became the fourth state to allow same-sex marriage when its legislature overturned a veto by its governor.

In legalizing same-sex marriage, Vermont joins its neighbors, Massachusetts and Connecticut, which are also traditionally liberal states.

New Hampshire and New Jersey permit civil unions. California, Oregon and Washington allow domestic partnerships, which extend many of the benefits of marriage.

And now, reports CBS News correspondent Priya David, same-sex marriage advocates say it's even gaining traction in the nation's heartland.

Iowa's state supreme court last week declared unconstitutional a law denying marriage for same-sex couples.

Mary Evans and Stephanie McFarland are celebrating.

"Iowa, and Iowans," says Evans, "have always come down on the side of fairness. Justice is alive and well in Iowa."

New York-based advocacy group Lambda Legal filed the Iowa lawsuit.

"It's very important for people across the country,' says Lambda's Kevin Cathcart, "to realize this is not something that only happens on the East Coast or the West Coast, but that actually gay people actually have and deserve equal rights across the country."

A recent CBS News poll found that 33 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage, up from 22 percent back in 2004.

Younger people increasingly support it: Forty-one percent of those under 45, compared to just 18 percent of those over 65 years of age.

So, will same sex marriage ever be recognized by all 50 states?

"Even if public opinion keeps moving in the direction, it's sort of slowing-moving," says Joe Matthews of the New America Foundation. "It's not something that's going to happen in a couple of years. It's gonna take 10 years or 20 years before you see broad recognition of same-sex marriage."

Still, David points out, many people believe marriage is strictly between a man and a woman.

"It's really clear," asserts Maggie Gallagher, of the National Organization for Marriage, "that, if you leave it up to the American people, they would say, to make a marriage, you need a husband and a wife, and we don't want politicians messing with it."

The day when the whole country embraces same-sex marriage may indeed be may be a long way off, David observes: Twenty-nine states have voted for a constitutional ban. And Californians recently voted to eliminate same sex marriages, though that vote is being contested in the courts.

[GM2009]

Posted by CTMiche
" Revelations tells us that humans are damn to destroy themselves and how, in conjunction with Satan, it will be done. Fools are we."

Is that the same bible that teaches us God says we should kill anyone, even our own children if they are disobedient or lack faith or worship the wrong god?

[GM2009]

"It's really clear," asserts Maggie Gallagher, of the National Organization for Marriage, "that, if you leave it up to the American people, they would say, to make a marriage, you need a husband and a wife, and we don't want politicians messing with it."

So who's to say one or the other member of a same-sex relationship is not a husband/wife? Maggie Gallagher? Her God?

[CTMiche]

Truely amazing in this day and age that people would still use the bible as a weapon and justification to pass judgement on someone else. 42 years ago it was illegal for interracial marriages, they used bible quotes, irrational logic and it all boiled down to those Holyer than thou pointing fingers and feeling superior using the bible to mask their own ignorance.

Today no one would dare publically use the bible to condem inter racial marriages, and it will be the same in the future for gay marriages; it just seems to take people a very long time to learn from it's mistakes and apparently from it's own history.

I love the biology lessons from a few people who comment on procreation, but then wouldn't that invalidate any marriage to a woman past menopause? Careful now, there are many infertile couples out there. The sole purpose of marriage is not to procreate like mindless bunnies until the earth can't support the populations resource needs, another lesson learned from science.

Biology and biologist have identified more than 450 species of animals which have a percentage of homosexuality present in their numbers. Biologist also believe close to 1,500 species in the wild have a % of homosexuality in their numbers. Research the topic I'm not hear to educate those who wish to throw around "Biology" without adequately understanding the scientific implications. Homosexuality is not a disease, we don't choose homosexuality, it's just part of the person that I am proud to be.

My gay commitment of 15 years to the same man has out lasted 2 of my brothers marriages, and most of my friends marriages. NOM is a glorified but somewhat less violent version of the KKK. Either your like us, or you are not entitled to the same rights. (Notice an similarities??) Quotes about marriages being lessened because I call him my husband, had me laughing so hard at the sheer ignorance of the statement. My neighbors are getting a divorce, she says it's the affair he had with another woman, should I think it was because I married Steven? Too funny.

Their new ad "I'm a doctor and I have to choose between my job and my faith." Just one question Doctor did you take the same hypcratic oath the rest of medical doctors took or were you out that day? I don't have the choice of who I want to work on in health care I have to offer the same level of care to each and every patient, if you're not willing to do that, give up medicine before you're sued for everything you have. Can you imagine, sorry I don't treat muslims, or black people, man that would set the media event into a frenzy wouldn't it?

A money making Banquet Hall owned by a church lost it's tax exempt status because it wouldn't offer it's service to lesbians. Good ! The church itself is still non-taxable, but the hall, fine! We took as a nation the signs out of the windows that read "Whites Only", if you allow prejudice back on the books, then why should we go back to the days of not letting Jewish people join country clubs, and blacks could use the service entrance but weren't allowed at the counters. Geesh people, get a grip.

Birth Control re-defined marriage, women having the right to vote redefined marriage, divorce redefines marraige (go to a church to be married and take vows in front of God, but when it goes bad you run to a lawyer, and most divorces are never anulled in the church, how scared was that)?

[godswordisreal]

First rule when dealing with the issue of gay marriage: Never trust the comments of anyone who is connected with media or entertainment; those who must depend on society as a whole in order to make a living, whether it is through advertisement or through sales. They would sacrifice their own mothers/fathers for a dollar. Truth is not their forte.

Next: As long as there are people who believe in evolution vs. creation, or those who do not believe in God, or Christianity, we, the people (as a whole), will never make the connection between why our world continues to deteriate. Many will never make the connection between what God says will destroy us. Many will never make the connection in what God considers to be in direct conflict with his reasoning to create woman, which was/is to accommodate man in procreation and continue with his original invention of the human species. Life will never rise out of feces. And if it did, it would stink to the high heavens. Revelations tells us that humans are damn to destroy themselves and how, in conjunction with Satan, it will be done. Fools are we.

[knowjohn]

"When MILLIONS of polygamists stand up and say they want the right to marry multiple people....then I will stand up for their rights too. "

Polygamy will not work in our current society. Polygamy is only practical when one or the other sex is subservient. For example, when women are considered like property. In our current equal rights society, where men and women are equal, polygamy would make a real mess.

Consider, if you allow polygamy, to be fair both men and woman must be able to have multiple husbands/wives. So, say Joe marries Sally and Sue. Why can't Sue be married to Joe and Tom? Then Tom can also marry Sally and Cindy. Then Cindy can marry Steve who is also married to Dave. Then later, Dave can marry Joe. Before you know it we are all married to each other or married to someone who is married to someone.... My head spins, but you get the point? We don't have families, we have Snow Flakes and a lot of in-laws!

Traditional Polygamy means 1 man and multiple wives, but, one man per woman. This dog won't hunt in equality today...

[honestabe8]

j_mcdonald: well, that explains that hunka-hunka-hunka i heard over the back 40 the other night. must have been the helicopter blades

[tyrany1]

Jun 13, 2007 ... The Pentagon has confirmed its military leaders had investigated the use of ... Gay explosion: The US Army secretly researched a 'gay bomb

[j_mcdonald-2009]

Didn't you hear? They drop them from black helicopters manned by aliens impersonating Elvis. EVERY right-wing nutjob knows that. What have you been listening to, the liberal media?

[honestabe8]

Gay inducing bomb?

[tyrany1]

If it were normal to be gay, why did the govenment invent such a thing as a Gay inducing Bomb?
Does this sound like they agree with being gay?

If they agree with being gay, Why cant you be open in the millitary?

Why does Obama deny being gay, if it is ok to be gay?

Just wondering if the gay marige act is just to document who is gay, to be rounded up later.

Dont hate me for asking.

[tyrany1]

To be acknowledged by the government is only for monetary gains only, God will never be with you in these matters.


But you go ahead with your agenda.

[Sharkdog2000]

Of course it's inevitable. Most of what conservatives fight for are losing battles in the long run. You might be able to slow it down, but progress & change are always inevitable!

[oftencensord]

1) You don't need religion to get married ( We don't need the US Government to be married ! is it marriage without " holy matrimony " or merely an agreement of property rights )
2) I don't think that legislation would force existing religions to organize same-sex marriage, so your point about "tearing down all the existing religions" is void.
( anti discrimination laws vs religious laws, are the secular courts going to uphold the right of a church to exclude someone? )
3) It is not asked to religions to tolerate sinful acts. There are laws and they must be followed. Otherwise, how do you suggest religions could not tolerate the sinful acts you are mentioning ?
gays ? allow churches to arrest them and hang them ? ( No we are not to judge, merely supposed to pray for their souls )
abortion ? allow churches to burn hospitals ( a gift from modern medical science to end the creation of a life, I doubt Jesus or Mohammad, or any religious leader would endorse this )
divorce ? ban divorce ? kill the people who divorce ? ( a legal instrument created by the US Government to quickly end and undermine marriages, no doubt it has worked very very well )
alcoholism ? back to prohibition ? ( US Government cashes in on taxes from booze and tobacco, next pot...! it is a symptom of futility and despair from a lack of spiritual guidance and neglect )
etc ...

Niemoller, a german protestant preacher, wrote very clever words about tolerance.
Posted by abbe91 at 5:26 AM : Apr 10, 2009

[honestabe8]

I'm talking about the homosexual movement, which is only about 2% of the population, being able to influence the judges and the rest of the population into agreeing with them. We can't let that happen.
Posted by dmhphils

If the rest of the population agrees with them, how are you going to stop it?

[honestabe8]

dmhphils: not everyone believes that mankind is flawed and in need of a savior. if you want to believe it, go for it.

[honestabe8]

"Any relationship that opposes the biological advancement of the human species is abnormal." - historyrepeats

How does this oppose the biological advancement of the human species? Were these people likely to get married and have children if it weren't for this legalization? I suppose a lot of this depends on whether someone believes that orientation is a choice

[abbe91]

"If gays want to be married let them create their own "fairy religion" that will be protected under the law, it would be an amusing novelty... And stop trying to tear down all the existing religions who consider their acts as sinful decadence. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, Druids,etc, all have the right to follow their beliefs and customs, the Government has NO authority in trying to force ( legislate ) any of them to accept or tolerate sinful acts.... gays, abortion, theft, divorce, drug use, alcoholism, violence, obscenities, pornography ... all these have activists promoting their tolerance and acceptance in the laws.
Posted by oftencensord at 5:04 AM : Apr 10, 2009"

1) You don't need religion to get married
2) I don't think that legislation would force existing religions to organize same-sex marriage, so your point about "tearing down all the existing religions" is void.
3) It is not asked to religions to tolerate sinful acts. There are laws and they must be followed. Otherwise, how do you suggest religions could not tolerate the sinful acts you are mentioning ?
gays ? allow churches to arrest them and hang them ?
abortion ? allow churches to burn hospitals
divorce ? ban divorce ? kill the people who divorce ?
alcoholism ? back to prohibition ?
etc ...

Niemoller, a german protestant preacher, wrote very clever words about tolerance.

[abbe91]

" I'm talking about the homosexual movement, which is only about 2% of the population, being able to influence the judges and the rest of the population into agreeing with them. We can't let that happen.
Posted by dmhphils at 4:39 AM : Apr 10, 2009 "

Then you are wrong again since 33 % of the population supports same sex marriage, not 2 %.

[oftencensord]

If gays want to be married let them create their own "fairy religion" that will be protected under the law, it would be an amusing novelty... And stop trying to tear down all the existing religions who consider their acts as sinful decadence. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, Druids,etc, all have the right to follow their beliefs and customs, the Government has NO authority in trying to force ( legislate ) any of them to accept or tolerate sinful acts.... gays, abortion, theft, divorce, drug use, alcoholism, violence, obscenities, pornography ... all these have activists promoting their tolerance and acceptance in the laws.

[abbe91]

"This is absolutely true! We cannot allow 2% of the population of the U.S. to determine the course of our nation.
Posted by dmhphils at 12:22 AM : Apr 10, 2009 "

It takes a majority to pass a bill and a 2/3 majority to override a veto. Not 2 %