post-election eleven STATES VOTE TO BAN GAY MARRIAGE

[Jasella]

:mad :sad :ugh :reallymad :cry
-One of my best friends is a lesbian mother of two beautiful children. She and her partner have been trying to get acknowledgment of their union in the state that they currently live in. Now, with these votes just in, this will not be happening. This is not only a violation of civil rights, but tragically a violation of a child's right to acknowledge her parents as a "couple." This infuriates and saddens me deeply! When will we stop discrimation of ALL KINDS!???
--Here is the article from BBC.COM

ELEVEN-States reject gay marriage


Gay marriages took place in San Francisco this year
Voters in eleven US states have overwhelmingly rejected gay marriages, in referendums being held on the issue.
Oklahoma, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Utah, Mississippi and Arkansas backed constitutional amendments limiting marriage to a union between a man and a woman.

Oregon, which had been expected to reject the proposed ban, was backing a similar amendment by a smaller margin.

Ohio is reported to have also backed an amendment against civil unions for gay couples.

Controversial issue

George W Bush has said he is seeking to change the US constitution to specify that marriage can only take place between a man and a woman.

I think if you were to talk to [Vice-President] Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was

John Kerry
"As we profess tolerance... we shouldn't change - or have to change - our basic views on the sanctity of marriage," he said in the third presidential debate.

Democratic candidate John Kerry had responded by referring to Vice-President Dick Cheney's daughter who is openly gay and who works on the Republican election team.

"I think if you were to talk to [Vice-President] Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was, she's being who she was born as," Mr Kerry said.


Not everyone is in favour of single-sex marriages
He was heavily criticised by the American media for bringing up the sexuality of Mr Cheney's daughter in his campaign.

Mr Cheney's views appear to fly directly in the face of President Bush.

He has said people ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they wanted.

He also said individual states, and not Washington, should be allowed to rule on the issue of homosexual marriage.

San Francisco, in California, became the first place in the US earlier this year where gay couples were able marry.

But California's Supreme Court in August annulled about ****,************ gay marriages that took place in the city.

Missouri in the summer voted overwhelmingly to ban gay marriage.

Gay marriage is still a hugely controversial subject across the country.

Observers have said the issue is likely to have brought voters to the polls, which they say could be to the Republicans' advantage. [--> UGH!]

[sprecato_vita]

I hated that vote. Anyone should be able to get married; straight, gay, orange, purple. This is the USA...land of freedom...ugh.

I voted no on it...and I live in Oregon. Do you know how the outcome came out?

[sprecato_vita]

:ugh :reallymad I just checked on cnn.com....oregon said yes on it...stupid bastards.

[ribbon]

This upsets me even more than the outcome of the election.... and that's hard to do :winky. I already have a call into my congressperson to ask what I can do to help the cause. Fortunately, she has the same beliefs that I do about equality and discrimination.

[mel]

As someone who lives in Oklahoma and voted against the gay marriage ban, I have to say I am feeling shame for my state. I am seriously considering moving somewhere a little less conservative, even though I love my job and have had it for thirteen years.

I'm sorry, everyone (yes, I do know it isn't all my fault- I did my part).

[Shauna]

He also said individual states, and not Washington, should be allowed to rule on the issue of homosexual marriage.

One step further--how about letting individuals decide if they want to marry--no matter their sexuality?

What are people so damned afraid of? It angers me. A gay marriage does not have any impact on straight marriages.

Fuck. Never so glad to be a Canadian in my life.

[Spiritwind]

It makes me so angry that two people who really love each other can't get married and yet everyone goes on and on about how marriages between a man and a woman are so sacred and yet half of our countries marriages end in divorce and that is ok? what?! Most of the people i know (including myself) have divorced parents and a lot of us don't want to make the mistakes our parents made. But it is sad because some of my friends are also bi or gay and they are discrimnated against in the name of "morals" when actually they are trying to avoid the heartache that there parents had to go through.

[MegaVictory]

First of all, I think it had tricky wording. You would have thought that to say yes, would be yes, one was for gay marriages. But it was just the opposite. Also, it said, the amendment was to protect the sanctity of marriage as being a union between a man and a woman. That's fine. But it did not even infer, that by voting yes on this, that gays can't even have a civil marriage now. On that part I disagree. Gay people should be allowed to have legal unions. Gay people have nothing now, and that makes me very sad. I'd much rather see a child raised by two gay people who love each other, than a man and a woman who fight all the time. And they have no benefits, can't even go to the hospital and have their significant other advocate for them.

[Shauna]

Anyone who voted against gay marriage care to explain why? (It's just a question, I'm not being judgemental.) I think I definitely need another perspective on this.

[Sylphlover]

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OSURD

I was surprised that Oregon banned this to. But they did elect an openly gay city councilman. :winky

My fiance' is still contacting different several interested parties for a job out there!!!

I am so sick of these closed minded people. They are ignorant asses that do NOT think of others except their own beliefs of who SHOULD and SHOULD NOT get married. The fuckers!!! It isn't any of their fucking business.

[IthinkIcan]

admin note: removed

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For discussion of all things politics -- discussions are expect(ed) to be CIVIL and not to be insulting to other's views, values, morals or beliefs. Abortion debate is NOT allowed.


I am so sick of these closed minded people. They are ignorant asses that do NOT think of others except their own beliefs of who SHOULD and SHOULD NOT get married. The fuckers!!! It isn't any of their fucking business.


I believe that calling people "ignorant asses" and "fuckers" qualifies as insulting them as does saying they "do NOT think of others except their own beliefs" and it "isn't any of their fucking business."


Regardless of what I might have voted, this crosses the line and can cause nothing but harm and more tension. It also blatantly violates the rules.


I realize things cut a close line in many posts and replies here. Emotions are high, and I understand that. But this shows a good example of what not to do. These are hurtful words to be certain and ought not come from either side. Sylphlover, hun, I'm sorry that these were your words specifically. I'm sure you are hurting deeply. Maybe you wouldn't ordinarily say such hurtful things? I don't know as I don't know you. Please remember, hun, that words do cut deep, and there are people here who did not vote the same as you. And, well, ouch to those.

Take care of YOU.

[SanFran]

This upsets me beyond words. As I've said countless times before, the decision only promotes prejudice.

[leana]

Disclaimer; I believe in civil and even religious (if the religious party involved agrees) of same sex unions. I had to comfort a friend last night, who is lesbian, served in the military, and is also sixty years of age. In her life time, she will probably never recieve the benifets that all Americans should when they decide to join in a union with their partner. This is a crime.

But, (and I'm not the most politically minded.. so if any one see's any thing wrong with what I say.. please correct me) this is what I see happened here in Oregon.



In America, both Civil Unions and Religious Unions are recognized as legal marriages. But here in the state of Oregon, measure thirty-six, which would recognize union between the same sex marriages, in no way tried to fallow the first amendment of our bill of rights, which clearly states;

Amendment **** Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Hence, ‘Seperation of Church and State’.

Measure thirty six, from their own web site, stated this;

Some opponents of same-sex marriage have argued that recognition of civil unions would be adequate to protect the rights of same-sex couples. But Amendment ******** would not provide for civil unions. Instead, it would write discrimination against same-sex couples into the Oregon Constitution.
Anyone familiar with the politics of the Oregon Legislature knows that it is extremely unlikely that the Oregon House would approve a civil union law under its current conservative leadership. Even if such a law could pass both houses, civil unions could not provide full equality under the law for same-sex couples.
When a married couple moves from one state to another, they are still married. Only one state in the country, Vermont, currently recognizes civil unions. In addition, civil unions can’t provide the intangible societal benefits of marriage. When couples are allowed to marry, they are expressing to family, friends and the community their love and commitment to each other. Constitutional Amendment ******** would remove the ability of Oregon gay and lesbian couples to obtain these benefits.

Vermont is not the only state that recognizes civil unions, that is between a man and a woman. They may be the only state that recognizes civil unions of the same sex.
For such a measure to pass, would mean giving up our first amendment rights to deny religious ceremonies in which we chose disagreed with our religious beliefs.

Now, for my own personal note; I believe that gay and lesbians should be able to have civil unions. They should be by law, protected with all the same rights that every American is granted. It is a tragedy that they are not given these rights. But, it is also a tragedy that this measure was written in such a way, that for a church or pastor that denied them a religious ceremony could be found guilty of discriminating. Therefore, that religious group denying such ceremonies, protecting their first amendment right, could be halled in to court before a judge, with the possibilities of being sued.
Nowhere in this measure did it state that the church or religious group would be protected if they chose not to perform such a ceremony.

I am for civil unions, even religious unions between same sex partners. If that religious group chooses to perform the ceremony for the union.

It is a same this measure was not written with more insight to what both parties are trying to protect.


In my life time, I hope to see a law pass granting same sexed unions, even if I have to write one.. or run for Govenor of Oregon.

:love