If you meet someone who doesn't believe in gay marriage, do you automatically think of them as your personal enemy? I'm asking because honestly that's the impression I get. I don't believe in gay marriage but I do believe everyone is equally important. I don't hate gay people, nor do I see them as "inferior". I just don't feel the same way about the idea of gay marriage. Know what else? I'm what you would call a "fundie", and I think it's horrible the way that word has been demonized. As if "fundies" don't feel anything, don't love, don't live, don't deserve any basic human treatment or kindness, even though we have never withheld any of those things from anyone else despite the cruel stereotype our self-proclaimed "enemies" have created against us. So, do you really see me as your enemy? I'd like to know. And if you do, would you be open to consider the idea that maybe I'm not? Maybe fundies are nice people too, just with different beliefs?
Or would that be a little too tolerant?
2007-11-01 09:05:07 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As a former practicing Lesbian, now an admitted bi-sexual woman..
I don't believe people who are against Gay Marriage are my own personal enemy. However it does hurt that they can say they see us as equal, yet don't wish to extend to us the rights of that equality....including marriage.
The Civil Rights movements have taught us that separate (civil union vs. marriage) is inherently not equal, for if you viewed a person as equal, there would be no need for the separation.
This is nothing against you personally, but perhaps you should look again and see if you truly DO see homosexuals as equals, and perhaps, if you do, mull over why that is essentially incompatible with your beliefs.
2007-11-01 09:12:05 · answer #1 · answered by witchiebunny 3 · 8⤊ 3⤋
No, not all people who oppose gay marriage are my personal enemy. However, I'm left wondering if they've really done their research on the issue. It only makes sense that if you have the right to marry someone you love, than so do I. As for your being a Fundamentalist, that's your own business. I'm a gay Episcopalian, myself, and am not remotely interested in right-wing conservative Christianity, but you can believe whatever you want. You practice your beliefs, and I'll practice mine. On the points where we differ, we can just agree to disagree.
2007-11-01 16:13:17 · answer #2 · answered by jace_mm 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I'm gay and I see no need for codification of state-statutes as gay marriage; we could easily provide the same legal status, tax benefits and spousal rights as "marriage" but preserved in a civil union so that the intent is completely met, but the "sanctity" of marriage is preserved as it has been since the dawn of time.
Those left-wing militant gays who believe homosexuality is more about political orientation than sexual orientation and stubbornly insist on the "marriage" label are as usual just being inflammatory, counter-productive, self-defeating and just plain irritating.
2007-11-01 21:12:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
ABB: hello...she just said gay marriage did not make her think less of them...
EDIT: i am a "fundie", too, but i agree with being tolerant, although only to a certain degree with certain things...( i.e we should not get "tolerant" of cussing and such in the world and go watch R rated movies. Then it is becoming one of the flesh or of the world.) but i am not trying to offend anyone by that.
2007-11-01 17:08:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
You "believe everyone is equally important" ... unless they are gay and want to marry someone they love.
How does that logic work?
Certain types of Christians have demonised lesbians and gays for years, and it is getting much worse (heard of a place called Westboro Baptist Church?)
Why should we have fewer rights than you?
I'm what you would call a "LESBIAN", and I think it's horrible the way that word has been demonized. As if "lesbians" don't feel anything, don't love, don't live, don't deserve any basic human treatment or kindness, even though we have never withheld any of those things from anyone else despite the cruel stereotype our self-proclaimed "enemies" have created against us.
So, do you really see me as your enemy? I'd like to know. And if you do, would you be open to consider the idea that maybe I'm not? Maybe gay people are nice people too, just with different beliefs?
Or would that be a little too tolerant?
EDIT:
I am very curious as to who is giving me the down-thumbs. Couldn't be the gay people, as I am gay and supporting the gay side of the argument.
And it couldn't possibly be the Christians, as a lot of my answer is almost exactly the same words as the question. Maybe it is the 'almost' that is the problem: what the questioner says is reasonable ... unless one little word is changed?
Ah, tolerance ... don't you just love tolerance!
.
2007-11-01 16:08:48 · answer #5 · answered by ABB 6 · 15⤊ 9⤋
Jonjon, I don't think you should have the same rights as a newly-wed couple planning a family--unless you adopt. So I think we'd have to radically redefine types of marriage and the tax code, and insurance codes in accordance with that. I don't believe that we shouldn't do that though. I think we should. I have no problems been a tier 1 married person, while someone else would be a tier 2 or 3, depending upon if they had kids or other varying circumstances.
2007-11-01 16:12:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 7⤋
They guy with the chinese character name said it perfectly. I do not have a problem if people want to consider themselves "married." I just don't agree that it should be the same in terms of the tax code.
2007-11-01 16:33:12 · answer #7 · answered by Thom 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
People who are against marriage are basically against LAWYERS.
MARCH THEM ALL INTO THE SEA, with Denny Crane out in front!
2007-11-01 16:28:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Well, so you don't believe in gay marriage. I respect your right to your beliefs. But do you believe it should be illegal? Because if you say "Yes" to that, then you're not respecting MY beliefs, and there's no reason I should respect yours.
If you believe gay marriage is wrong, then don't get gay married. When you start voting on constitutional amendments to prevent gay people from getting married, it's not a question of beliefs any more - it's a question of rights.
See the difference? Because "Christians" always use this argument, that the "gay agenda" is being forced on them. Well, no. Gay people aren't asking for anything that would infringe on your rights. It's the other way around.
I'll always stand up for people having the right to believe as they will, and to live by their beliefs as long as they don't harm anybody, regardless of who they are. I WILL stand up for you as a "fundie" - except insofar as you start trying to interfere with my life. I do it on here all the time - I've defended Catholics against Protestants and vice-versa, Muslims against Christian Fundies and vice-versa, whenever they've been unfairly attacked (I have no problem with fair attacks!), even though they ALL would say I'm going to burn in Hell forever because I'm gay.
And now let the thumb-down parade begin, because it's not enough for some people to "live and let live" - it has to be "live and tell everybody else how to live."
2007-11-01 16:09:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 16⤊ 9⤋
Don't you think you'd feel a bit of animosity toward anyone who treated you as an inferior? You may "say" you don't seem them as inferior, but by your own admission you don't believe they should have the same rights as you. That says more about your views of them than anything.
You don't respect them at all. Why should they like you?
2007-11-01 16:12:11 · answer #10 · answered by ~Smirk~ Resurrected 6 · 5⤊ 6⤋