Thoughts From Gays On My IM: Proposition 8 & Gay Marriage Bans

Margaret
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 01:52 pm: [report]

This is your site and all, but this constant gay marriage stuff is getting to be a real drag. You act like everyone simply must think like you do, or they’re fools and idiots. And it’s beyond insulting to compare this stuff to the heroic struggle of African Americans since before this country was founded. The people voted, move on.

Amelia
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 02:00 pm: [report]

@Margaret Actually, you go ahead and move along. We’re all about discussion on this site—and have welcomed the opinions on all people. Clearly, I have a stance, but I’m happy to debate it. This is a major issue in this country right now. Just because it’s not one you care about, doesn’t mean the rest of us have to stop talking about it.

Erica
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 02:14 pm: [report]

Did Margaret just call this issue—sorry, this HUMAN RIGHTS issue—“this stuff?”

When a group of people are castigated, abused, and, yes, even murdered simply because they are who they are, I would say that is nearly on par for the struggles that other groups of people who came before them had to face.

Mike
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 02:16 pm: [report]

And just because the people voted doesn’t mean they’re right. To quote Tommy Lee Jones in that classic film “Men in Black”: “A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky animals”.

I challenge anyone to show me a concrete example of how gay marriage will damage any person’s life. I don’t care about “traditional institutions”, or the concept of “the family”, I’m talking about one real, actual person.

Fluffy
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 02:22 pm: [report]

Marriage - the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce).

I think it is blasphemy that “gay” couples can not be married.  Marriage (to me) is two people getting together and saying their vows that they will be faithful to one another in front of their friends because they love each other.  Living in Ontario where gay marriage is legal, I have a best friend who is gay who will not get married to a man because he views marriage as “man and woman together”.  I figure as long as you love the person, get married!!  Marriage is a celebration of love.

Sapphocrat
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 04:52 pm: [report]

Yeah, Margaret, stuff like, you know, human rights, is such a drag. Aren’t you finally happy that the news media lost interest in that silly Abu Ghraib torture stuff, and that dumb old Guantanamo Bay stuff, and don’t you wish they’d just shut up about all that stupid genocide stuff in that, whatchamacallit, that Darfur place? Man, it’s like having to spend a whole WEEK with the news talking about nothing but that boring old World Trade Center stuff. What’s the matter with people who aren’t all worldly-wise, like you, Margaret, and just, like, you know, get over it already? (Say, Amelia, is there a dripping, blood-red “SARCASM” emoticon, preferably about 500px high, that I can slap onto the end of this comment, for the irony-impaired?)

Brad Behnke
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 05:13 pm: [report]

I find it odd to be a resident in a state (Florida) where it’s consitution will now carry wording that limits or denies civial rights to a portion of it’s citizens, while at the same time this same consitution carries wording that provides special protections for HOGS.  PIGS in Florida have special rights and protections written into its state constitution, while it’s human citizens who identify themselves as gay/lesbian are denied rights and privelages extended to ‘other’ male and females in the state.  Equaity for all, and the pigs, but not for me.

Sapphocrat
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 06:32 pm: [report]

Brad, you too? Here in California, our Prop 2 also passed, which mandates more humane conditions for animals bred for consumption. While that is certainly a good thing (and I voted for it), it’s not lost on me that in the eyes of most Californians, my well-being doesn’t even rate with that of chickens and veal calves.

Margaret
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 07:14 pm: [report]

If you were truly about open debate, you would not speak from a internet bully pulpit. You would ask for a posting from someone against gay marriage, instead of insinuating that anyone who disagrees with your stance is clearly backward. And you would acknowledge that reasonable people can disagree on this issue: I find it strange that you have not taken President Obama to task for his stance against gay marriege. Unless you just think he’s lying. Is that better somehow? Either way, you and this site are coming across as closed-minded. And its a drag.

Margaret
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 07:20 pm: [report]

sorry for the typos…

Sapphocrat
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 07:26 pm: [report]

There’s nothing reasonable about dismissing civil rights as a “drag,” as if it were a video game you tired of playing after five minutes. You’re making light of real people, with real lives, who are suffering a particularly bitter brand of anguish that you will never be able to comprehend, much less for which you will extend simple human compassion. Well, not until somebody tries to take something very precious away from you. Good luck when that happens; you won’t have anyone to support you when your heart is shattered. And it will happen someday. Mark my words. By the way, Margaret, I’ve ripped Obama to shreds over his stance against marriage equality for more than a year. Read my blog, and then come back and tell me what a mean, unreasonable, close-minded hypocrite I am.

Buffy
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 08:42 pm: [report]

Margaret,

I’m sorry you consider our struggle for equal human and civil rights a drag.  Maybe if people would just stop being hateful, bigoted jerks and give us what they have no right to withhold from us it wouldn’t have to be a constant issue. 

And if you think one should “move on” after the people voted away their rights, let’s put *your* rights up to a popular vote.  Funny how those whose rights are secure have no problem telling others they’re being silly about wanting theirs. 

Finally, if you see nothing heroic in our struggle for rights then you haven’t been paying attention.

Amelia
wrote on November 7 2008 @ 09:41 pm: [report]

Here’s the thing Margaret. I support gay marriage. I think to not support gay marriage is homophobic, on some level. You CAN speak your opinion here—I’m fine with that. But if your opinion is that the issue is tired in some way, or that it borrrrres you, well then move along. Because the topic is of interest here. 

As for being close-minded… The term can be used to describe anyone whose mind is closed to a particular point of view.  Open-mindedness does not apply to everything. I am close-minded about racism, homophobia, and sexism. I won’t be open-minded to someone’s racism, homophobia, or sexism. Some things are JUST WRONG. If I am supposed to be open-minded to seeing the wisdom of your homophobia, you will be disappointed. That said, so long as you don’t use homophobic slurs, you can argue your position here.

I think I have acknowledged that reasonable people can disagree on this issue. In multiple posts about this topic I have cited them. But they are still wrong on this issue, in my opinion, and I have argued why.

As for Obama—well that’s another post, and so much more about the American political system and its being under the thumb of the Christian Right than it is about our President Elect’s own personal beliefs. I am pretty sure Barack Obama PERSONALLY couldn’t give two craps whether Ellen married Portia. Actually, scratch that—in an ideal world, I bet he would dance at their wedding. Unfortunately, taking on social issues, like gay marriage, is not a smart idea when you’ve got two wars to end and a economic crisis to solve.