Support For Same Sex Marriage Grows

[Docfeelgood]

"All men are created equal."
Which sexual preference does this apply?
If these words are not true then the whole Constitution cannot be taken serious.

[Tuberski]

By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer David Crary, Ap National Writer – Thu Apr 30, 6:30 am ET
A majority of Americans oppose gay marriage but support civil unions for same-sex couples and favor repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.
Quinnipiac's polling institute, which surveyed 2,041 registered voters nationwide, said it was one of most comprehensive polls ever on attitudes toward a variety of gay-rights questions.
"Americans have nuanced and at times inconsistent views" on these issues, said the institute's assistant director, Peter Brown.
Among the key findings:
_By 56-37 percent, voters said the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military should be repealed. Among voters with family in the military, the margin was 50-43 percent for repeal. Almost two-thirds of Catholic respondents supported repeal, but white evangelical Christians supported the current ban, 53-40 percent.
_By 55-38 percent, voters said they did not want their state to allow same-sex couples to marry. However, by 57-38 percent, they favored allowing such couples to form civil unions that would provide marriage-like rights and by 53-40 percent they supported allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.
_By 50-44 percent, survey respondents rejected the argument that ending discrimination against gays and lesbians is as necessary today as ending discrimination against blacks was in the 1960s.
_Also by 50-44 percent, voters supported the federal law allowing states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
_Asked if society is paying too much attention to the needs of gays and lesbians, 49 percent of voters said yes, while 21 percent said there's too little attention and 22 percent said it's "about right."
Four percent of respondents said they are gay or bisexual, while 63 percent said they have close friends or family members who are gay. Among those with a gay friend or relative, half supported same-sex marriage, while those without a gay friend or relative were opposed by 70-25 percent.
Earlier this month, Iowa and Vermont became the third and fourth states legalizing same-sex marriage, and bills proposing that step are pending in several other states.
The ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military remains in place. President Barack Obama has said he favors repealing it, but has indicated there could be lengthy consultations with military leaders before any action is taken.
The Quinnipiac poll was conducted from April 21-27. Its margin of error was 2.2 percentage points.

ACK!

[Ming]

But no matter. That's really just semantics.
-Arrian

While that may be the case... Religion has NEVER had a monopoly on marriages. Maybe religions should adopt some new term... like Religious union... and leave the term marriage to others. Now, they would be the first people to scream if this was asked of them...

I frankly don't see why the term marriage can't be used across the board for EVERYBODY!
But of course, I'm sure somebody will come along and try to say that if gays can be "married", it cheapens the marriages of non gays... and to that I continue to say, if something like that "cheapens your marriage" it was probably cheap to begin with. Why should a couple in love feel any more or less in love just because of somebody elses marriage

[Arrian]

I don't see why it can't be either, Ming. I was merely explaining that I personally was ok with ceding the term "marriage" to the religious folks. I don't have any real attachment to that word.

Your mileage obviously varies. Ok. The real central point is about equal rights, and we agree there.

-Arrian

[Q Classic]

Perhaps there's a reason why the two have been so closely associated with the most successful societies. Do you think there's no rationale why the two are connected to one another?

Iran's quite successful, with its marriage of religion and state.

[Q Classic]

The other interesting thing is that colonial nations such as India are more productive then their neighbours who were not colonialised, simply due to their greater infrastructure.

Ah, yes. In defense of colonialism. It was a horrific burden, shouldered by the white man.

[Q Classic]

Don't touch Orthodox Christianity with your heretical Catholic fingers, Ben. Also, care to name any other Western innovations that had disastrous outcomes?

*raises hand* Theocratic states?

[Q Classic]

"All men are created equal."
Which sexual preference does this apply?
If these words are not true then the whole Constitution cannot be taken serious.

Well, it doesn't speak to preference. But since we're a Christian nation, and the Bible says that women aren't equal to men, clearly it just means that men are all equal, and should be able to marry anyone they want.

Opposite marriage would have one equal person and one less equal person.
Same-sex marriage would really be a marriage of equals.

[Docfeelgood]

Well, it doesn't speak to preference. But since we're a Christian nation, and the Bible says that women aren't equal to men, clearly it just means that men are all equal, and should be able to marry anyone they want.

Opposite marriage would have one equal person and one less equal person.
Same-sex marriage would really be a marriage of equals.

You worded that very good.

[Ming]

I don't see why it can't be either, Ming. I was merely explaining that I personally was ok with ceding the term "marriage" to the religious folks. I don't have any real attachment to that word.
-Arrian

I totally understand what you are saying.

But I'm not ok with ceding them the term. What right do they have to it... the answer is NONE!
If they don't like it, they should be the ones to adopt some new phrase (I kind of like religious union, that would stick in their throats)... not everybody else.
Again, I respect their right to not have to perform marriages they don't agree with. But I'm against their desire to cram their beliefs down other people's throat.

[onodera]

*raises hand* Theocratic states?

I do not think ancient Sumeria was located in Europe.

[self biased]

You worded that very good.

i see what you did there.

so if it's largely a question of semantics, what's the big deal?

[Q Classic]

I do not think ancient Sumeria was located in Europe.

The Vatican. Or, by some arguments, many of the kingdoms after the fall of Rome and before the rise of the Enlightenment.

[Q Classic]

i see what you did there.

so if it's largely a question of semantics, what's the big deal?

Well, it'll lead to society falling apart, if we allow gays to marry. I mean really, gay men having stable, long-term relationships? What's next, a black president?

This country will turn into a socialist fascist nightmare!

[MOBIUS]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04...y4972643.shtml



Forty-two percent of Americans now say same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. That's up nine points from last month, when 33 percent supported legalizing same sex marriage.

Support for same sex marriage is now at its highest point since CBS News starting asking about it in 2004.

Twenty-eight percent say same sex couples should have no legal recognition – down from 35 percent in March – while 25 percent support civil unions, but not marriage, for gay couples.

As has historically been the case on this issue, liberals are more likely to support same sex marriage. Sixty-nine percent support the idea, while conservatives generally favor either civil unions (28 percent) or no legal recognition (44 percent).

So, as we already know: Liberals are intelligent people open to change, and - as per their name suggests - Conservatives are the opposite...