Gay Marriage Q&A (1072 hits)
Category: RomanceRating: 0.66 on 31 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Spenny (View user info) at 2009-02-26 17:54:13 EST
It seems a lot of people on here are confused about gay marriage. They seem to believe that either gays shouldn't be recognized at all, or think that civil unions are an appropriate substitute, which would be a compromise that would equally benefit both sides of the issue. Both of these are falsities, though I'll only give you the quick reasons why, I'll be available for questions afterward in case there are any questions that need to be cleared up.
Q: What is the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and what does it do?
A: DOMA is a bill passed under Bill Clinton which said that the federal government would not recognize gay marriage, and that while states would be free to recognize marriage however they saw it, other states would not be required to recognize those marriages. When a straight couple married in Utah, the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution requires all other states to recognize that marriage, as well. DOMA carved a little hole inside that constitutional clause to say that states would not be required to recognize certain marriages other states perform.
Q: But do gays have the right to get married?
A: Yeah.
Q: Wouldn't civil unions be okay, if they conferred all the proper rights of marriage?
A: Theoretically, yes, as this would melt the issue down to one of semantics, and whether gay rights activists were petty enough to truly continue this struggle over a word. Civil unions are unequal whether conferred on the state or federal level. Civil unions conferred at the state level will still not trump DOMA, which, as you remember, states that the federal government does not recognize gay unions. A gay couple, which would receive all marriage benefits on state taxes, would be locked out of any federal benefits conferred to straight couples. These benefits are not all related to taxes, however. Since the federal government handles citizenship, and marriage to an American is one route for attaining citizenship, gay couples that cross international boundaries face the choice of one living in the country illegally, or the other moving away. This is a right gay people would not have if every state legalized gay marriage but the federal government still refused to recognize it, as it is a right that is uniquely governed on the federal level.
Q: Okay, so what if instead everybody entered civil unions, and we separated religion from government entirely?
A: The institution of marriage has been reasonably secularized enough that it doesn't need to be purged from the realm of government. One of the talking points most employed by anti-gay political leaders is that gays want to destroy marriage - this kind of policy would be exactly that! No one would support a complete separation of the word "marriage" from government, so arguing for it is not only without benefit, but damaging to the cause. It is not a feasible or pragmatic position to take, even if it is a reasonable belief!
Okay guys that should cover the basics. If you have any questions just post them. Thanks!
User Reviews
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2009-03-05 06:28:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2009-03-04 22:42:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Are you *sure* it's not a tumor?
Submitted by Zackstersmackster (user info) at 2009-02-28 23:47:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Har har, ghey marriage!
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2009-02-27 22:13:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by iddqd (user info) at 2009-02-27 17:38:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2009-02-27 02:03:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
didn't read it and i'm glad canada was among the first to solve this complete NON-ISSUE so we don't have to ever hear about it again!
why the fuck do people care about what gays do anyway? i'm more worried about tomorrow's local weather.
but at least the economy going to shit has relegated those useless debates where they belong.
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2009-02-27 10:16:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yhey for the gheys.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2009-02-27 08:34:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Ok then. Married, not married, benefits, non benefits, gay, straight, bi or tri, good luck with all that.
Submitted by Replen (user info) at 2009-02-27 06:26:51 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
could give a shit.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2009-02-27 03:45:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
NO, YOU'RE GAY.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2009-02-27 02:03:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
didn't read it and i'm glad canada was among the first to solve this complete NON-ISSUE so we don't have to ever hear about it again!
why the fuck do people care about what gays do anyway? i'm more worried about tomorrow's local weather.
but at least the economy going to shit has relegated those useless debates where they belong.
Submitted by RoadSong (user info) at 2009-02-26 21:36:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Spend 20 years with anything and I consider you married to it.
Submitted by sandmantate (user info) at 2009-02-26 20:26:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 20:14:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by 8bithero (user info) at 2009-02-26 19:04:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I couldn't care less about who marries whom. Sixty years ago, racially segregated marraiges were illegal.
Americans are a retarded lot that just yearn for something to protest.
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Who uses the term 'yearn'?
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Homos?
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 20:14:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by 8bithero (user info) at 2009-02-26 19:04:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I couldn't care less about who marries whom. Sixty years ago, racially segregated marraiges were illegal.
Americans are a retarded lot that just yearn for something to protest.
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Who uses the term 'yearn'?
Submitted by Ballare (user info) at 2009-02-26 20:11:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Quint (user info) at 2009-02-26 19:45:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:26:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Gay is totally the new hetero.
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Gay is the new Canadian.
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Then Canadian is the new faaahbulous?
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2009-02-26 20:01:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
The Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution is toothless and selectively enforceable. Witness: Concealed Weapon Carry permits. Asking that clause to apply to gay marriage will be as effective. Hint: stop calling it "gay marriage" and start calling it "marriage".
Submitted by Quint (user info) at 2009-02-26 19:45:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:26:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Gay is totally the new hetero.
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Gay is the new Canadian.
Submitted by 8bithero (user info) at 2009-02-26 19:04:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I couldn't care less about who marries whom. Sixty years ago, racially segregated marraiges were illegal.
Americans are a retarded lot that just yearn for something to protest.
Submitted by sandmantate (user info) at 2009-02-26 19:00:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh yeah, one other thing; Can I bum a smoke?
Submitted by sandmantate (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:59:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Also, I watched a PSA where a gay man tricked a poor defenseless young boy into having the homo sex with him. Why do you guys do that?
Submitted by sandmantate (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:58:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I've heard that all queers like to suck dick for drug money. Why is this true? How much do you charge?
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:42:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:30:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Can I borrow $35 for my HRC renewal? I'm strapped at the moment.
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you have to pay for human rights? shit, i'm screwed :(
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:31:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry I just gave a few weeks ago to get a membership for my boyfriend. It was for Valentine's Day!
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:30:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Can I borrow $35 for my HRC renewal? I'm strapped at the moment.
Submitted by Toddler (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:27:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Didn't Uber go over this 5000 years ago?
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:26:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Gay is totally the new hetero.
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:24:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:22:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Why are gay people so GAY?
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We're so happy because being gay is rad!
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:23:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:20:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2009-02-26 17:59:54 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
faggot.
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You should really refrain from using homophobic slurs against people as it has consequences which negatively effect people who you probably do not mean to hurt!
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You're good!
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:22:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
14th Amendment, ftw.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:22:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Why are gay people so GAY?
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2009-02-26 18:20:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2009-02-26 17:59:54 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
faggot
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You should really refrain from using homophobic slurs against people as it has consequences which negatively effect people who you probably do not mean to hurt!
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2009-02-26 17:59:54 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
faggot