It's nice to discuss these wish lists of things but right now gay ruleings, stem cell research, et all should not even be on the table. If you think the economy is bad now wait 6 months. We're just getting started on a long ride to stablize an world economy that is sinking faster than my Twin Spires account. This is serious stuff and if we do not corrected swiftly and properly we can see the dismantling of life as we know it.

We need the banks to get straightened out, a stimlulous package that greats jobs, weath, and people buying (not on credit)

the issue isn't whether a marriage in a church is allowed-some churches already perform a ceremony for their gay brethren.
the whole thing is affected by the fact that the govt regulates marriage, sells a license, and made it a civil arrangement-not just a religious ceremony. since our constitution supposedly grants equal rights to all citizens, they opened up this kettle of fish. you can't grant civil rights to some, and not others.
if they don't want to call it marriage, fine...it's just semantics anyway. but two consenting adults should be able to have the same legal rights granted that only married couples now enjoy. otherwise, all men(and presumably, women) in this country are not created equal.

but surely we can focus on more than one thing at a time? obviously some needs are greater than others, but 'the greatest country in the world' should be able to multi-task....

I agree, in a rare moment of pure unselfishness (enjoy it while it lasts....).

I am optimistic about DOMA being repealed and about civil unions some day, though I think getting rid of DADT as soon as possible should still be a pressing issue, because like them or not, there are still wars, and like them or not, there are still gays who are more than happy to be a part of them.

i think that has got to be one of the most ridiculous rules ever made. but, they used to ask you if you were gay-at least they quit that part. but if they ever find out you are gay, out you go. over 13k men and women have been discharged because of that idiocy.

;) ....;) no doubt

Including Arabic linguists....pretty much the stock answer for illustrating how ridiculous the rule is, these people got kicked out in the middle of two wars where they were needed most.

And he'll be head and head with Cynthia Mckinney in the polling, undoubtedly :D

Me too. Credit to Bob, I had a full response typed out...but deleted it.

You almost sucked me in Bob.

oh go fucl< yourself!

Whatever person they want to marry. Why shouldn't they have that right? Because you don't like it? Because your religion doesn't like it? Because of your bigotry? For way too long we've let the religion of some dictate the rights of others. We've allowed rights to be taken away because of one's sex, race, and sexual orientation. Why are we getting rid of just some of that? This guy comes in talking about equality this n' that, and yet he is against a member of society being able to have the right to do something others get the right to do(marry another person.) I think it's absolutely hypocritical, and I would tell it right to his understanding face. Many of us may not like the visual created when two members of the same sex marry. That's a really piss poor reason to deny them the right to do it. If you look at the reasons given to justify denying them the right to marry, they are all really awful. They are all based on sexual discrimination of one kind or another. You can't marry this particular person because they are this sex, and you are that sex. You can't have the society this guy was talking about yesterday(free and equal etc.,) and continue to discriminate based on one's sex. I really think the argument against gay marriage requires the use of discrimination based on one's sex, or the acceptance of another person's religious views. I don't think either should be condoned any longer. I think the arguments against gay marriage are based on crap. It amazes me that he is gunna possibly work on the gays in the military issue instead of the gay marriage issue. The gay marriage issue really has no impact on people who aren't gay(other than they often don't like 2 gays marrying.) Straight people don't like the visual. So what? When it comes to gays in the military, I think straight people have a real argument to make. Not whether gays should be able to join the military. They certainly should not be kept from being able to help protect their country. How are they going to do that? With who? Under what living conditions? I don't find it unreasonable that straight people don't want to shower in the same area(at the same time) as gay people. That's a lot more reasonable objection than wanting to keep two gay people from marrying each other.

I got lost about halfway through but this still deserves a :tro:

If somebody writes it more concisely, then I will substitute it in.

Exactly how strong does the economy need to be before it will be okay to consider providing homosexuals with the same rights as heterosexuals? Must equality of rights really wait for the GDP or unemployment or home ownership to reach a certain level? I'm not sure I understand that logic.
In reality there is no way the federal government will have the courage to tackle the issue of gay marriage anyway - regardless of the economic environment - but I think the argument that they shouldn't concern themselves with the issue now just because of the economy is seriously flawed.

what she said...

I don't think embryonic stem cell research is necessary.

The reason I want to argue that sexual preference is not genetic is....

I am pro-life and if people can determine that their baby is going to be gay or something they may "choose" to kill "it"