Bush backs Gay Marraige Ban Amendment

[Chemical Ollie]

He is digging his own political grave.

What happened to Arnold's suggestion for a constitution amendment?

And where is Fez on THIS issue?

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ramo
So how's Vancouver?

Cold, cloudy, and wet. A lot like Seattle.

[chequita guevara]

Thirty-eight have passed amendments or laws restring marriage to one man/one woman. Given that half of the population of the U.S. lives in just ten states, it is not a stretch to imagine a minority of Americans foisting an amendment upon the majority who oppose such a thing. It is a very real danger.

[Ramo]

Cold, cloudy, and wet. A lot like Seattle.

Hm... could be worse. Recently been opening up my grad school options to outside this country.

[Gangerolf]

Is gay marriage the same thing as a gay civil union?

[Ben Kenobi]

Oops.

My bad.

Will edit the post.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/L...on=2&vote=00280

Kerry voted against the DOMA.

[Ramo]

Is gay marriage the same thing as a gay civil union?

No. It's real marriage.

[MrBaggins]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
Is gay marriage the same thing as a gay civil union?

Marriage is marriage, (and has certain civil rights afforded.) Civil union doesn't have all those rights (although some private organizations might apply the same rights for civil unions that marriages have within that organization.)

[Gangerolf]

OK so it's not just semantics. Do some states allow gay civil unions but not gay marriages?

Or would a civil union give the same rights as a marriage?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Thirty-eight have passed amendments or laws restring marriage to one man/one woman. Given that half of the population of the U.S. lives in just ten states, it is not a stretch to imagine a minority of Americans foisting an amendment upon the majority who oppose such a thing. It is a very real danger.

Aren't you forgetting that 2/3rds of both houses of Congress thing? There is NO WAY that 2/3rds of the Senate votes for it. None.

[Ben Kenobi]

he has no understanding or respect for the US Constitution, the federal government, or the seperation of powers. His brand of extremism isn't supported by the public, so we have little to worry about. Plus, the founding fathers are really smart. In order to prevent such extremism from sliming it's way into the US constitution, they made it really hard to pass an amendment.

Sure.

Be complacent.

Thirty-eight have passed amendments or laws restring marriage to one man/one woman. Given that half of the population of the U.S. lives in just ten states, it is not a stretch to imagine a minority of Americans foisting an amendment upon the majority who oppose such a thing. It is a very real danger.

What a waffle, Che.

First you say it doesn't matter what the legislatures do, it should be up to the courts.

Then you argue that the courts that matter are not the federal courts, but the states.

Then, when I cite the states in the majority decide to oppose gay marriage, you retreat and say that it should be a vote by the majority.

Sure. I say bring it on!

Let the people have a say. Do not let the minority foist the law on the majority.

[Ben Kenobi]

Cold, cloudy, and wet. A lot like Seattle.

Well, you have an invitation to Chez Kenobi you crazy Communist.

Enjoy your stay in Vancouver.

[ixnay]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
OK so it's not just semantics. Do some states allow gay civil unions but not gay marriages?

Vermont is the only state that allows same-sex civil unions.

[Ramo]

OK so it's not just semantics. Do some states allow gay civil unions but not gay marriages?

Or would a civil union give the same rights as a marriage?

Gay marriage is illegal in every state but Massachussetts. However, some cities, San Francisco, some podunk place in New Mexico, and soon Chicago will license gay marriages. A few states have Civil Unions only - Vermont is the only one that comes to mind. Almost every state has neither civil unions nor gay marriage.

Most civil union proposals (including the Vermont law) give the same rights of marriage to gay people.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
What a waffle, Che.

First you say it doesn't matter what the legislatures do, it should be up to the courts.

You are putting words in my mouth. What I wrote was that when it comes to protecting the rights of a minority, majorities shouldn't have a say.

Then you argue that the courts that matter are not the federal courts, but the states.

Nope, never wrote that. I wrote that the constitutions in question were state and not Federal.

Then, when I cite the states are in the majority to opposition to the bill, you retreat and say that it should be a vote fby the majority.

No, I did not. I said that a minority of the U.S. popuation lives in the majority of states, and thus a minority could pass an amendment which is opposed by a majority of Americans.

Nice try, but rewriting my words doesn't help you any.