Gay Rights

[Morrus]

And you need a piece of paper for that?

Is it easier if we just say yes, we need a piece of paper for that? I didn't get married because I needed to. I got married because I wanted to. This seems to really bother you? It's just the choice my wife and I made about our lives, and how important the symbolism was to us. The legal rights associated weren't really that much of a concern, but they'll be a help if something were to befall one of us. That didn't really enter our minds, though.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

First off, let me be clear, I'm not referring to anyone specifically when I say "you." I'm speaking generally. I just think that the government has no business whatsoever in marriage. It's just another way to meddle in our lives. The mere fact that anyone has to get government permission to legitimize marriage in any form annoys me, yes. The whole gay marriage thing is just another way to divide Americans so we ignore the real problem of government overreach.

 

[Morrus]

I just think that the government has no business whatsoever in marriage.

Honestly, we got that.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Honestly, we got that.

Good, because I get the idea you think I'm calling you out specifically on the details of your marriage. I could not care less about anyone's particular marriage. In fact, I wish them only happiness.

 

[KirayaTiDrekan]

First off, let me be clear, I'm not referring to anyone specifically when I say "you." I'm speaking generally. I just think that the government has no business whatsoever in marriage. It's just another way to meddle in our lives. The mere fact that anyone has to get government permission to legitimize marriage in any form annoys me, yes. The whole gay marriage thing is just another way to divide Americans so we ignore the real problem of government overreach.

Honestly, I have the exact opposite view. Religion should not be involved in marriage (except for those who specifically want a religious ceremony). Religion meddles far too much in our lives and most definitely has an overreach problem.

 

[billd91]

And you need a piece of paper for that?

When the question of having the right to make medical decisions and financial decisions in a world in which disputes between interested parties occur? Yes. In fact that piece of paper helps a great deal. This is why marriage exists as a legal entity - not because of religious concerns - but because of issues that the state has an interest in seeing handled with some consistency and a minimum of disruption.

 

[Bullgrit]

Honestly, I have the exact opposite view. Religion should not be involved in marriage (except for those who specifically want a religious ceremony). Religion meddles far too much in our lives and most definitely has an overreach problem.

Read more: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?461865-Gay-Rights/page9#ixzz3eTK0Q2mp

This is odd statement to me. Religion doesn't meddle in my life, at all. And even if it did, it doesn't have any real power to make do or not do anything. And isn't religion's involvement in marriage only with those who specifically want a religions ceremony? I mean, you can get married at the courthouse, right?

Now, I do agree that many religious people would like to convince/control government to meddle in people's lives according to their own beliefs, but that is true of many institutions.

Bullgrit

 

[Bullgrit]

Cracked.com has had several interesting and educational articles regarding various LGBT subjects. The latest:
http://www.cracked.com/personal-exp...veryone-still-believes-about-bisexuality.html

Bullgrit

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

So why are you married if there's nothing religious about it? Do you really need a piece of paper to stay committed to her and her to you? Suppose the government ruled your marriage null and void today. Would you rush out and cheat on her?

If nothing else, the simple secular reasons are the same as gays have been fighting for: the way our laws handle taxes, rights of succession & inheritance, rights of hospitals visitation & guardianship, parental rights, and all the 10.,000+ things being "married" changes about you in the eyes of the law.

"Married" isn't just a word, it is a legal status, and unless your jurisdiction recognizes something like "common law" marriages, if you don't have that piece of paper, you don't have that legal status.

why do 80% involve a church?

Because most people still self-identify as "religious."

 

[Umbran]

And you need a piece of paper for that?

On top of the legal reasons already cited by others:

Humans are social creatures. Our social structures actually matter to our psychology and emotional well-being. So, in general, we need something that our overall society recognizes. For us, that means a legal piece of paper.