Do... gay unions...really affect our daily lives?

Question

Or is this smoke and mirrors at the expense of real issues that really do matter to the American people?

Answer 1

They affected my life on two separate days: one day when male friends got married and another day when female friends got married. My husband and I were invited to the weddings and we had a wonderful time at both events, watching good friends share their love and commitment with their family and loved ones.

Beyond that, I can't say gay unions have made a whit of difference in my daily life other than giving me one more reason to be glad I live in Massachusetts where my gay friends have the legal option to marry.

As for smoke and mirrors, I think the truth is more frightening than this being a case of using this particular issue to hide the "real" ones. I think this administration thinks this--and all its other religious right, morally conservative topics--really IS an issue that is critical to America right now.

Who cares about feeding the hungry when there are men kissing men and women touching each other in evil places behind closed doors! The horrors!

Answer 2

This is a classic smoke and mirror issue. It gets social conservatives in an uproar where they can pontificate about the end of the nuclear family and western civilization and say that the God they worship, "Made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"

This somehow implies that Adam and Steve will undermine marriage between straight couples and tear up the nuclear family.

I hate to break it to these folks but the institution of marriage and the nuclear family was in pretty bad shape with or without "Adam and Steve." 50% divorce rate ring a bell? Is that because of gays somehow? Or is that just the liberals' fault?

I think the only thing gay unions threaten is some people's fragile sense of normalcy.

Seriously, when I was a kid in the 70's I remember that lots of kids I knew were children of divorce. It's not new or because of gays--neither is the high number of single mothers. Those situations--divorce and/or abandoned mothers and kids--are all the result of individual's choices and a society that's changed. Did your parents divorce because one of them "got teh gay?" Probably not. That trend has almost nothing to do with gays--except that neither women leaving their husbands or people being gay didn't used to be publicly acceptable.

No, gay unions have no bearing on our daily lives. If your marriage is so fragile that it's somehow cheapened or diminished because two gay dudes can file their taxes jointly or visit each other in the hospital then you need to stop worrying about them and take care of yourself.

This is just another issue that appeals to social conservatives. This one is a little odd though in that it actually resulted in a little action. Most of these issues never go anywhere because Republicans pay a lot of lip service publicly to the Religious Right but nobody--not the Republicans or the Jerry Falwells of the world--would actually benefit by passing legislation about this junk even if a Republican majority (and a cowardly Democrat minority) would bother to pass it. That's because they'd lose an issue that gets the good old folks all riled up like clockwork--especially when those 'real world' issues aren't going so good.

That's why nothing ever happens on the same old social issues--all smoke and mirrors--that get championed year after year after year by the Republicans.

Answer 3

No, they don't. Yes, it's all smoke and mirrors. And Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned . . .

Politicians are much too busy cutting deals and feathering their own nests to deal with real issues, so they have "hot-button" issues to waste time, divert attention and clutter headlines.

I could care less if people are gay, smoke pot, overeat, drink tea, whatever. Some religious groups believe it is a sin, but I don't see what bearing that has on anything. You can always find someone who believes in something. Look at horoscopes! The entire population broken into 12 segments by birthdays, yet somehow this applies to you?

No, these are all diversionary tactics to hide the truth - the US goverment is directing spending to the tune of over $2.5 trillion per year and who knows how much of it is ending up in politicians' pockets? Only the politicians . . .

Answer 4

It's the politicians way of diverting our attention from the important issues, the ones that actually do affect our lives. I've never met a single straight person who was adversely, or positively affected from a gay union. The American people need to wake up and see this issue for what it really is, a diversion tactic.

Answer 5

When people believe that homosexuality is immoral -- and for most of the history of Western Civilization, the majority have believed that -- then it is an issue. Roughly fifty years ago, every single state legislature banned "sodomy." Public school teachers were afraid to "come out" because they knew they could be and would be fired. The American Psychiatric Association said that homosexuality was a mental illness.

Whether or not a majority of Americans still have feelings about whether or not we still regard homosexuality is immoral is just one of many reasons why America holds elections.

(Not that I'm participating any more.)

Answer 6

You have actually hit the nail on the head!!! Gay unions do not actually impact the vast majority of people, and the right wing is using this as a fringe issue to keep the right wing religious fundamentalists happy. Good for you! Most people can't figure that out for some reason.

Answer 7

That is a very funny question. I will touch on in a different way. IF GAY UNIONS WERE ALLOW... HOW WOULD IT AFFECT OUR EVERYDAY LIVES??

Have to ask myself that very question, because gay unions are not widely enough recognized to say one way or the other if they would affect our everyday lives.. although I tend to think that for the vast majority of the population the answer would be no..

I say YES! BUT not for why you will assume..

I (BTW am very stright and very happily married for many years)
believe that if these unions were recognized we would resolve MANY issues that remain unresolved. For ex: If a couple enters into a union then insurance benefits could/should be offered to their significant other. SS benefits for those who are "widowed", parental rights given to a survivor raising a child even though the child is not "biologically" theirs.. Teaching our children TOLERANCE and ACCPETANCE!

Oh yeah and all you nay sayers.. I dont care WHO you are or WHAT RELIGION you are or WHAT BIBLE you read from.. no ones bibile makes any of us judge and jury on whats right and whats not.. we are here for a much higher purpose..

Answer 8

really affect or daily lives? No.

Smoke and Mirrors? Maybe for some. For others it's a real issue. I disagree with them, but it's a real issue to them.

Answer 9

it is not a real issue . they will live together regardless what anyone says or does . make it legal for them. you know they will spend a lot of there money on weddings , and spending makes the world go round . then lawyers can collect money when they pay for divorces as well . After all gays have been doing it since Sodom and Gomorrah. So let them have there days . It does not affect my life.

Answer 10

I Gay unions do not really affect us, there are so many
more important issues on the board,what goes on in
someones bed room is their business, Iam more affected
by this Goawful war and people dying.