Gay Apartheid: The real campaign against gays & lesbians?

You are very welcome, albertacowpoke. Thanks for reading, commenting, and for the rec!

It is certainly something else to consider and I am really considering this Opinion.

As you know, I have two sons, the younger who identified as gay very early in life. At that time, I did not fully realize the struggles he, along with his culture, would face. It really is dis-heartening, yet I believe equality will prevail. 

Strong words those are. I am for equality, justice and fraternity. 

However, I am also for duty and responsibility for all citizen.

"Once Liberty (Freedom) starts where the others end, just as once Liberty (Freedom) ends where the others start..." 

I think Voltaire said that. 

I said this because I am for Equal rights for all, and that includes the Homosexual community, nevertheless, I do also respect the views of the religious groups and their own rights as such, even though I am not religious my self, I can understand their demands as much as I can understand the Gay/Lesbian communities demands.

I would suggest that all leave their trenches and talk to each other and find a viable and respectable compromise.

I have to compromise every day with my Wife and Children and I never get it my way, at least not the whole way.

Paschen, your comments are always deeply appreciated. Thank you for the rec, too! However, I disagree where you talk about compromise. There can be no compromise when it comes to equality. The LGBT community is not separate and apart from the world's citizenry (or separate and apart from US citizenry).

As Mixner notes: It didn't work in the African-American struggle for freedom and it doesn't work for us. We want full equality with the same rights, benefits and privileges as all other Americans now.

As for religion/politics -- and for the most part IMO, they are self-serving; two very distinct, corrupt and malicious forms of doctrine/propaganda. 

Indeed Rhonda it is clear equality has to prevail. In a society as diverse as it has become today and probably even more in the future an acceptable approach has to be implemented. In America the majority of people are very much puritan (hope this the right word?) and gay marriage isn't in their cards.  Maybe something else as the name marriage should be found and made applicable with similar rights attached of course. Public opinion in Europe is much further developed on this issue. I understand the reservations of many, until you have met someone like Rhonda - as I did in the past -  to understand the other side of this issue.

Puritan works, PIM:)! But some of those so-called Puritans are actually closeted LGBT who are working against their own.

Unfortunately, as I disagreed with Paschen, I must disagree here too: "Maybe something else as the name marriage should be found and made applicable with similar rights attached of course." (Please see my response comment to him).

I do, however, agree that Europe (and Canada:)) are much further developed on this issue. Thankfully, right! And, yes, meeting people is important to understanding:)! Thank you:)!

Compromises sometimes end up in a deadlock, as it has on this issue.  While I understand what Paschen is saying, the religious right will not compromise.  This was also a difficult discussion in Canada and to the heterosexual community marriage should not be a showstopper.  When you look at it from the point of view from the LBGT community it may be that they feel excluded from society. 

The Supreme Court of Canada had to make this decision in Canada, based on our Charter of Rights.  Politicians found it too hot  a political potato.

The sun still rises and sets after gay marriage was made legal and finally this issue has been put to bed here.

"Politicians found it too hot a political potato."

And it's unfortunate that leading politicians (President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton comes to mind) made campaign promises to secure the LGBT vote -- IMO, they should feel 'used'.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, albertacowpoke!

Before I forget to remember that "it isn't all bad":) I don't want to overlook the fact that five states that have legalized gay marriage are Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut — but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by 'popular vote'.

Or, Haveys Top 10: "Let's Look At The Big Picture"

As far as the state is concerned marriage is a contract - the state has no business asking what the genders of the contracts signers are.On the other hand a gay couple has no right to demand a priest, rabbi, whatever marry them if it is against their beliefs.  It would be like going to a Masque and asking for communion, they just don't play that there.Lucky for us here in America there are many churches that would willingly marry gay couples - and if you can't find one I do feel a Justice of the Peace should perform the ceremony since he is acting on the behalf of the government.Just not that long ago a JOP was forced to resign for refusing to marry an interracial couple - as a public official he had no right to deny what what permitted under law - if he wanted to be able to have the say so on who he married he should have been a preacher...

Rhonda, Many folks who are against Gay marriage don't hate gays.  I am against gay marriage based on religious beliefs.  At the same time, because Government has injected itself into the issue, I see a need for some type of civil unions.  Folks who are in love should have all of the same benefits of heterosexuals.  It is unreasonable for the government to take away benefits, tax incentives, transfer of assets after death, and health insurance as "family plan".  Because of this  I see no other way but to have a type of civil union that allows all of these. 

Now there are some against gay marriage because they simply hate anyone different then themselves.   I am reminded that the Bible directs believers to love their neighbor.. it doesn't say love you straight neighbor. So please know that there are some of us against gay marriage by a religious conviction not because of hate.    Thanks for your excellent articles on these issues.

Interesting, gay apartheid, I've never heard that phrase.

Maybe it's me, and well I guess it is, but I really don't see what the issue is with just having everyone equal. Love is love isn't it? People should be free to love who they wish.

Marriage means many things to many people.  If members of a religious community don't like it, they don't have to perform the ceremony.  A good Catholic couple wouldn't ask a Rabbi to perform the religious part of the ceremony.  Marriage is what you think it is.  It's time that this should be a non-issue.  People are equal and should be treated as such.

Hi everyone!:) Thank you so much for sharing your beliefs and opinions on this very 'hot topic'. Thanks to each of you who recommended this story as well!:)

Unfortunately, however, it "does compute as an issue of equality." Under DOMA the Federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions, even if those unions are recognized by state law. For example: members of a same-sex couple legally married in MA cannot file a joint Federal Income Tax return, even if they can file a joint State Income Tax return.

Additionally, there are 1,138 statutory provisions in which marital status is a factor in determining benefits, rights, and privileges. These rights and privileges only apply to male-female married couples. Clearly then, "People are [not] equal and civil unions [do not] do the trick...".

Need I say more?:)

Okay:) 10 Bad Arguments Against Same-Sex Marriage:)