Why is Gay Marriage Still Banned?

Sometimes a short easy answer is all that's needed besides I'm not here for the money. It doesn't really matter what the PEOPLE want, it's what the people in power are willing to give us & they're the ones making the decisions. So long as their against it ( or bought off by people who are ) the majority doesn't matter.

So true. That my friend is why the US goes by the Golden Rule. Unfortunately it isn't the one listed in scripture. The golden rule obeyed in the US is "He who has the most gold, makes the rules."

Its a wonder you ever reach payout with all these short, smart @$$ comments lol.

Interesting point Mater. I mean, in a forum like this, many of us are anonymous when answering this issue. But if the issue were put in a live forum, where we gathered together as a group, mny who did say yea here would probably say nay out of the fear of being labeled a supporter personally. However, I don't think that this would redefine marriage, except to make it a union between two people instead of a man and a woman. And just like going to school, it would be open to anyone who was willing to take advantage of it, so yest it would be for civil rights. From your manner of speaking, you would think that the Civil war only benefitted Black people; however it benefitted everyone, because while giving us equal rights, it gave white people the chance to understand us as people, not property. Lifting the ban would allow the rest of the population to understand the stigma associated with being gay. Also, even though Christianity is the majority of the population here in the US, it still doesn't make it right to force it on the minority who isn't. Again, this is the US, by the constitution we are supposed to have the right to worship in any way we so choose, or to not worship at all. The gay marriage ban forces this one Christian belief on the entire population, which by the constitution. Many do say that gay/lesbian couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples, however the union should not be called a marriage. I feel that this is a silly argument because it is over just a word. If this is allowed, the couple would still be living as married, they would have the same rights as a married heterosexual couple, however they would have to use a different name just to appease those religious fundies. Why quibble over a word? My opinion is, they should have the same rights as heterosexual couples, no matter what you call it. Until this happens, the constitution is violated every day.

I'm not a Christian, I'm agnostic, so I don't understand the whole "sin" belief anyway. But I'm afraid that it does redefine marriage. Because, under the Constitution's equal protection, if you allowed gays (American citizens) to be married, you would then also have to open the door for polygamists (American citizens) to be married. They're also consenting adults. If you changed marriage from a union between a man and a woman, you couldn't then shut the door again and say, "Okay, it's now between a man/woman, woman/woman, or man/man, but that's it; only two people." Doing that would be violating others' civil liberties. This is the only reason I say leave the actual "marriage" part alone. I have no problem with giving gays the exact same benefits that marriages have, only keep it under the tab of civil union. I'm also well aware of the Civil War's intent and accomplishments. Remember, while it was white people who owned slaves, it was also white people fighting to free them. "White" is a blanket term. The majority of whites then, and the majority now, have always been fair-minded individuals without racial hate. It's always been that small percentage in well-to-positions to own slaves and inact the Jim Crow South that gave every other white person in America who didn't want things that way a bad name.

No offense taken at all! :-) I understood that you were just using that as an anology per how you seen my viewpoint. I know there was no racial intent implied at all.

Another great viewpoint! One I haven't considered before. I have always wondered why this is such a big deal in US society. I mean, really it doesn't hurt anyone, yet at least once a week we hear something on the news about the controversy surrounding gay marriage. I wonder what this slight of hand is really hiding. While we are so worried about what rights should be given to gay/lesbian couples, something very serious could be broiling right under our noses. However, since we are so worried about this fluff issue, the politicians could be getting away with murder.

I don't think you responded on my previous discussion, however this is what many of the people said. I don't see why this is such a big issue. Them being together doesn't hurt anyone else, why should they not be allowed to marry?

The "Old Boy" network? I have never heard of that term, what do you mean by that? They aren't doing their job if part of it is stopping money from being given to politicians, because it seems they are still getting theirs lol. For this ban to come down, state by state, the current states that do allow it will have to stop flip-flopping on the issue. They need to be firm on allowing it, then once others states see the success, they will follow.

An "old boys" netwrok is considered a network of social,business,political and social elite people. I know that my grandfather used this term all the time. He explained to me when I was very young that it was basically people looking out for their own interests and paving the way with money. I hope this helps to explain the term for you.

Great point! But, being a believer of the bible I have a slightly different point of view. My question is, what about Gay marriage makes it okay to follow some points of the bible and not others? Those that use the bible as an argument against gay marriage always seem to forget the parts of Love thy neighbor, judge not lest ye be judged, and the part about free will given to all God's children. It just irks me to no end, because to me it feels like they are trying to take that power out of God's hands, and judge and condemn these people themselves. If God is against gays, he will take care of the problem himself on judgment day. I don't think it is any person's or group of people's right to say that Gays are less than people, which is exactly what this ban does.

I didn't think about this subject that way before. I just can't stand discrimination on grounds of whether you're straight or gay. Why do people have to be so cruel to each other. We have to live together and help each other for that we can be a strong bunch prepared for everything... that would be ideal. Thanks for expressing your view, I now have some better arguments in case somebody disagrees on lifting the ban.