why is it so difficult to legalize gay marriage..i don't understand?

Question

I am an American citizen who pays taxes. why am I made to feel second class, I do not have the same rights as most Americans why is this,. because im different I love my country but don’t understand it,I use to love to sing my national anthem but cannot sing it without felling like a hypocrite because it states about the land of the free, some might get mad at this ,but all I can say is (wake up) this is not a free country! truth is its never been one women’s rights, slavery ,segregation. I guess bush and all anti gays are un-American, they have no right waving our flag or singing our anthem because they apparently have no clue what they stand for (freedom for all) if you don’t believe that your not an American..............America land of the free...void where prohibited some restrictions may apply

Answer 1

It takes time to change all those couples at the top of the wedding cakes.

Answer 2

Marriage as we know it is a 20th century invention. It has not been around for thousands of years. Marriage for most of human history was a means to control power and wealth. Women have in historical terms only recently been given any choice in who to marry.

The US confuses two issues - the secular form of marriage, which controls over 1000 separate federal laws, and the religious form of marriage which is a sacrament.

First, there should be no attempt by the state to control the sacrament. Each religion is entitled to set their own standards. Some, such as the Conservative and Reform Jews, allow gay marriage; others, like the Southern Baptists, do not. That's fine; people join or leave religions based on how well the religion reflects their own values.

However, with federal law, we have a duty to make it equal for all. Those that argue that gay couples can achieve the same things with a civil contract are wrong. Many of the rights and responsibilities resulting from legal marriage can only be achieved in that manner; and those things that can be done, are prohibitively expensive to do if you draft your own documents and contracts.

The straight men who reply 'well I can't marry a man either' miss the point that they should have the right to, even if they don't want to. Many gay men do not want to marry their partners, just as many straight men don't want to marry theirs; but whereas straight couples have the option to do so, gay men don't.

Marriage will come in the US. Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa - all are pointing the way to a time within the next 20 years when all Americans will be made equal in terms of marriage rights.

Answer 3

We are a free country,free to think the way we want ,free to vote for who we want,free to practice a religion we want( I don't know how much longer we can practice with all the anti-religion from the left)etc.This great country has voted overwhelming against gay marriage every time its been brought to a vote(radical left wing activist judges have forced gay marriage on the public in some states) .You and I have SAME rights when it comes to marriage.I can not marry someone of the same sex either.All you have to do is look at the morality of some countries in Europe that have legalized gay marriage Secularism and out of wedlock births are out of control.My older brother is gay and I still voted against gay marriage here in Kansas in an effort to preserve what is left sanctity of marriage.If this is really such a big deal to you,you are "free" to go live and marry in one of " enlightened" countries.In the mean time,we have bigger issues to deal with,like defeating radical Islam, so we will remain Free!

Answer 4

The fight is because marriage is a secular doctrine lifted directly from religious precedent; therefore, the religious forebear has an overwhelming interest to see that it is preserved in the same way that the state appropriated it. Part of the freedoms you speak of include the freedom of religion (and religious expression), which means that the religion's whose doctrines are in use wish to see them used according to the principles that their religion defines.
That is why civil unions are created: they are a state-sanctioned recognition that achieves the same thing. Demanding same-sex marriage is demanding that your fellow Americans who practice their religious beliefs acknowledge and accept, against their own beliefs, your marriage in its full religious sense as well.

You can make the argument that its discriminatory, but so would forcing them to accept doctrines that go against their beliefs.

The key point is that the government should never have taken over the legal aspects of marriage anyways: it is a religious institution. It's a lot like demanding to be called Muslim when you refuse to believe in Allah.

Answer 5

What is the damage to gays when they are not allowed under the law to be married. How are they treated like second class citizens? How are their rights being violated. I hate the argument that I live here and pay taxes I should be able too do whatever I want. Thats not true. Society decides whats right and wrong and we set up laws and guidlines that we all have to abide by. If this went to vote you better believe that a majority would vote no on gay marriages. I ask you this.... should I be able to marry my sister? How about my dog? I hope your getting my point..

Answer 6

I think that many in America believe perhaps rightfully so that gay marriage represents just another assault in the constant war to get Federal benefits. I think we are all sick of being further segmented in America today. Everyone has to be proud to be something today except being American and it is tearing us apart.
Secondly, I think morally speaking people are tired of the moral shift in the world today. There seems to be no line we are willing to cross anymore. At the rate we are going in another hundred year should we expect men marrying eight year old girls or sheep. Where does it end? No one is expected to follow any rules that they dont want to. I dont personally mind the gay lifestyle at all. I just dont see the true need to push the envelope.
If you want to talk contract law then we can have a discussion. There is no reason at all that current law cant be made to adapt to the unique situations gay couples find themselves in. Homeownership, wills, deathbed decisions and the transfer of asets in the even of death should all be accomodated in the same way as a husband and wife would arrange. There is no need to change marriage to accomplish that however.

Answer 7

I have a question, seriously why is it so important for a homosexual person to be married in the eyes of the law? I hear that it is due in some part to being able to make decisions about their partner's wishes.Like when your partner is sick or injuried deciding if that person is on life support whether to unpplug them, which I understand that decison is left to that person's relatives(mother, father,etc.). For insurance issues also , I have heard.What other reasons are there? I am asking because I really want to know.

Answer 8

You do have the same freedoms as anyone else. I'm glad for those who stand up for marriage, a union between a man and a woman. Work on changing the tax laws to something else so you can file jointly because your sharing a home. However, I will support in any way I can any politician who supports traditional marriage.

Answer 9

Some people have the silly idea that the government should decide issues of morality. They don't realize that this does two very negative things to America. First, it makes it so that some people are denied the freedom to do as they please, even though they aren't hurting anyone. Second, it allows people to believe that they are good people simply because they obey the law.

It would be nice if there was no effort to restrict behavior that hurts no one, or at least no one except the one who does it. Not only would this increase freedom, but it would force people to look elsewhere (their hearts, religion, their peers) to establish their moral values.

Answer 10

I have heard the arguement in a Southern California university that one reason it is not right to dictate legislation on this issue is because the statistical number of people who are asking to have this law to allow them to legally institutionalize their actions is equal to the number of people in the united states who want to marry animals, have multiple wives, ect. it is less then 1% of the population. We cant make law to cater to every 1% minority group that wants special treatment. Thats an arguement I have heard. As far as im concerned you should be able to do anything you want as long is at doesnt effect me (IE cost me money). If its gonna cost the gen public money for some reason then we should decide as a nation if the act with worth paying for.

Answer 11

Marriage is an institution that in large part creates a legal framework defending the interests of the children. In addition, procreation is the principal component of the marriage and has been sanctified as such by the millenia of human history. Gay unions have also being sanctified by millenia of human history, but just as such. They are not marriage.