Honest question; Hoping for honest answers?

I think what is confusing here is the word "marriage". From my perspective, I think my partner and I should have the same rights as heterosexual married couples regardless of what you call it.

If my partner is injured, I want to be able to see him in the hospital.

I want the same tax breaks and/or tax charges as heterosexual married couples.

I want to be able to introduce my partner as such and it will carry the same weight as the word "wife" or "husband".

I want my partner to inherit my fortune (hehe) without special papers being drawn up.

I think you get the point. You can define "marriage" anyway you like but equal rights should allow me the same type of legal union extended to you and your husband (or future husband)

I hope this helps.

Once again, history repeats itself. If you are too young to remember the 1960's when my parents were complaining that everything was made in Japan, and that they would ruin our economy. Well that didn't happen then and it does not need to happen now. What will ruin this economy, is already in place with this new non-stimulus bill. The beauty of the free market, is that it is the consumer who has the last word as to which company will survive or fail. The consumer does not put up with overpriced or poorly made products forever. They will take their business elsewhere. This is exactly why government should not interfere with the free market. Perhaps you cannot defend the labor practices in China, but you must realize that labor costs in America are much higher than need be. Some of this is because of the unions, and some because of supply and demand, as in housing a few years ago. Also keep in mind that a lot of our "pollution" industries have been pushed overseas and into Mexico.We still have an abundant work force and have more technology , or smokeless industry, here in the U.S. But this will also vanish if this new stimulus bill with it's hidden agenda is allowed to affect American business. Lastly, when white college students don't want to do physical labor for $20 per hour during the summer, well, of course there are Hispanics willing to do it.

Until you actually experience legal complications from either being in a marriage or NOT being in a marriage, one which is recognized by the state or nation you live in, yes, it is hard to understand, isn't it?

I am a bisexual male, for years now only practicing heterosexual. I am married but legally separated from one woman, and living with another woman, waiting to save up enough to pay for the divorce. Now I can relate to how a gay male or lesbian feels regarding rights

My own thinking is that gays and lesbians want equality on all levels, legal, spiritual, and cultural. Yes, believe it or not, there are other religious world views which do allow for gays and lesbians to be recognized as spiritual beings. This will probably be difficult for many Christians and other "people of the Book" (Moslems, Jewish) but to get an idea, read Imajica and the sequels by Clive Barker.

A holy union between a man and a woman?So if a couple m/f are not 'holy' they should not be allowed marriage?I've read the bible and I did not read about the minister/priest/rabbi in the garden doing a ceremony for Adam/Eve.

The reasons for a gay couple getting married are as varied as they are for a heterosexual couple the point being they should have all the same rights in a free and democratic society.

I think your question hits on a key area of confusion with regards to "gay marriage." The word marriage has a tendency to spark an emotional, faith-based response for many people, but the reality is that most gay people aren't necessarily referring to marriage in the religious sense.

Legal marriage affords couples over 1,000 legally-based rights and privileges that heterosexual couples currently enjoy, often not even realizing they are benefiting as a result of being able to marry in the eyes of the law. Here are some obvious examples:

1. Medical visitation privileges: If you are legally married, you can see your significant other without being a blood relation. No matter how long a gay couple is together, they cannot see their partner in the hospital even in emergency situations unless they have the proper documentation (like power of attorney).

2. Immigration: There is no way for a gay U.S. citizen to apply for immigration benefits for a significant other from another country.

3. Taxes: We all have to pay them. Gay people have to pay at higher rates than straight people due to the fact that they cannot file taxes as married couples.

4. Insurance: Health, dental and vision insurance providers are not required to issue coverage to a gay person's partner or children (based on who the biological or adoptive parent is), because the law does not regard gay relationships in the same way as straight relationships.

5. Psychological/emotional impact: Imagine the psychological and emotional impact not allowing gay marriage has on gay couples and families. What kind of message do we send as a society by not allowing them to enjoy the same rights and privileges heterosexual couples do, like legally recognized marriage?

These are just 5 small ways not allowing gay marriage discriminates against gay people. In the past, religion was also used to prevent African Americans and interracial couples from being able to marry. We have to ask ourselves, is that what we want to be remembered for?

I couldn't care less whether I got married in a Church and for a lot of people in the world they get married because they are in love, not because the want to glorify God.

I want to marry because I believe everyone is equal. I see homophobia as being bad as racism. I don't believe anyone should be told they can't do something because of what they believe in. Nobody tells you you cannot believe in God - you do it because you love your God and it's the same as a homosexual wanting to marry because they love their partner.

Divorce rates are around the 50% but you could say that to a heterosexual couple - "why are you marrying when 50% of marriages end in divorce?". Why does it matter if you say it to a homosexual couple?

I do completely understand your point of view but I have to stress I don't think many people actually marry in a Church because they are religious. I know they are marrying in God's House and God is their witness etc but I believe many people marry in Churches as it's tradition. I don't know hardly anyone who, after marrying in a Church, actually then take up going to Church every week or ever again in their lives. I think gay people are/were fed up of being treated like unequals and so marriage offers them the chance to be the "same" as everyone else.

Hope I helped in some ways!

While I personally don't think marriage is necessary if two people are really in love, I support gay marriage. It's about equal rights. No offense, but your religion doesn't have a monopoly on marriage. Heterosexual atheists have the right to marry. Religion and politics should not mix, but that's what's happening.

Civil unions can be legislated to have the same legal rights and responsibilities as marriages.

But that means that those legal rights can also be removed through legislation. This is actually an issue in Michigan, which began its recession several years before the rest of the U.S. and is looking to save money anywhere and everywhere.

As long as there is a distinction between the kind of relationship that same-sex couples can have and what het couples can have, those rights won't be secure.

Regarding marriage in a church, many denominations are comfortable with same-sex marriages. Because that's decided by smaller groups, religious same-sex marriage is far more prevalent in the U.S. than legal same-sex marriage.

But anyone who loves someone and wants to commit his/her life to that person wants the legislation around it to be as steadfast and committed as the relationship. And they want it to include as much of what defines them as people as possible, their friends, family, and often their church.

Here is the real and honest reason why they want to marry and it has little to do with expressing their love, acceptance, religion or whatever. They want to marry because married couples have certain legal, medical and financial rights that are not given under non marriage circumstances. Yes the marriage certificate is a legal piece of document that gives tremendous legal powers for one partner over the other.

I believe they are ''really just interested in the legal rights marriage affords a couple'' in addition to the need to overcome the insecurity I suspect such people have. Not quite long ago, and I think, even now, many view them as deviants. A legally recognized marriage is changing that and many other things besides.