Same sex marriage - Equality or Not for gay people?

1. 100

   chef-de-jourposted 9 years ago

   Same sex marriage - Equality or Not for gay people?
   
   Ireland recently voted 68% to 32% by referendum to allow same sex marriage, the first country in the world to do so. Is this true democracy at work? How do you view the decision - is it good for a whole country to be given the chance to vote on such a controversial subject?

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2. 61

   Akriti Mattuposted 9 years ago

   Absolutely. I'm proud of Ireland. Every individual in this world has the dignity to life. That cannot be taken.

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      teamrnposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Paula, "WHY R U bent on verbiage? " I AM. Why would you deny me choice when it doesn't harm  you?

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3. 74

   d.williamposted 9 years ago

   Yes, it is a good thing for the people to settle such controversial crap and to put it to rest once and for all. 
   However, the premise that it a necessity is what is at fault.  The constitution provides that the majority of people may not pass laws that discriminate against a minority for any reason.  And to do so in the name of some antiquated religious superstition is truly a shame and a stain on what the "equality" for everyone truly means. 
   I doubt that our founding fathers ever intended the addition to 'equality for everyone' to extend the meaning to:  {Equal rights for everyone - except for those who the churches don't like.}

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      Aime Fposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Totally agree.

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4. 60

   teamrnposted 9 years ago

   Ireland voted on a referendum for Ireland. Personally, I don't feel that the people of southeast Ireland know what is good for people of northwest Ireland. I'd imagine that there's a kind of state governance of sorts.
   
   That said, I believe in equal rights for ALL. I don't feel that marriage should be between 2 women or 2 men. Rather I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.
   
   However, 2 men and 2 women who care to unite, love each other, are committed to each other, should be considered EQUAL under the law and united; it just should not be called MARRIAGE.

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Except 'equal but seperate' isn't equal. Similar arguments were used when giving African Americans the same rights to white Americans. Do we really want to go there again? I'm not having a go - I'm just pointing it out

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   2. 74

      d.williamposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Jacqui: i agree. redefining marriage for some is just another form of discrimination. No loving union should be a threat to anyone. Religion should have no say in this legal matter.

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      teamrnposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Equal is equal. 2 gays have worked hard for equal rights which they should have. However, to call the union which they enjoy, 'marriage,' make a mockery of the UNION that I enjoy with my husband. Another word? UNION? COMMITMENT? My rights? UNEQUAL.

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   4. 74

      d.williamposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It's strange how 1 person can feel that giving some 1 else equal rights infringes on their personal lives. Love is love & no love between heterosexuals is better than any other love. it's denying others the same rights that's the mockery

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      teamrnposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You seem more intent upon proving me wrong than on proving you right. Why bring up religion vs. legality debate; no one advocates legality or illegality. Rights not infringed. bur My rights? Since love is love, it can exist under another moniker.

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   6. 74

      d.williamposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Ur missing the point. By categorizing same sex couples as different from you, ur are implying that this minority is of lesser value than you are.

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      If it's equal to yours why is it taking away from yours if it's called marriage? Why does it need another name? If UNION is equal, how about callin them all that, and take away the wor marriage - or would that make u feel yrs was lesser?

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      chef-de-jourposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, butI'm a bit confused - you say equal rights for all but then want to call it something other than marriage. Surely equal means just that - the same treatment for all regardless of sexual orientation, under the law. No conditions attached.

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   9. 74

      d.williamposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      ANY 1 who opposes a minority for ANY reason has a: "i am better than you" complex.  Sad but true.

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       fpherj48posted 9 years agoin reply to this

       teamrn...a "marriage" = "union"="contract"="Legally binding promise/vow "  WHY R U bent on verbiage?  Might you prefer a lesbian be referred to as other than "woman?" "female?".bcuz U think these terms refer to only heterosexual women? NONSENSE.

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   11. 60

       feenixposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Obviously, I am black -- and I have been black for nearly seven decades. And I say, When to arguing for "gay rights," leave blacks out of it. And that is because having black skin is nowhere close to merely having homosexual proclivities.

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   12. 74

       d.williamposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       feenix: the only similarity between being gay & being black is the discriminatory aspect. Pointing out how stupid it was to discriminate against blacks to show how stupid it is to discriminate against gay, or any other minority.

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       feenixposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       A great many blacks, including me, despise the fact that homosexuals are comparing themselves to us. We are sick and tired of it. Unfortunately, we can't speak out against it, because we will be labeled homophobes.

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       d.williamposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       F: that is funny.the ratio of gays in the black community is no different than any other group.Using the discrimination of other groups of the past has nothing 2 do with relating gay 2 blacks any more so than 2 whites. Paranoia also  present in both

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   15. 75

       jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       It was 2 show just how stupid discrimination is - regardless of colour or orientation. We look bak on history and realise how stupid it was black/white - it will b the same soon. Neither u or I can change who we r - y is discrimination against me ok?

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   syzygyastroposted 9 years ago

   Abolish all marriage requirements issued by church and state. They are all exercises in human breeding programs based on the pseudo science of eugenics. I will soon be submitting details in a hub.

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   1. 60

      teamrnposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I care not for what religious leaders or politicians think. You seem to feel because I'm not for gays calling themselves MARRIED, that I'm against equal rights. Not so. Just don't call the RELATIONSHIP a 'marriage' Be creative: a UNION? COMMITMENT?.

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   2. 75

      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Not sure if it was to me, teamrn, or this answer - if me - it's not that I think u r against equal rights - I'm just confused as 2 y if u aren't, they need 2 b seperate? If yrs was called 'union' not marriage, how would u feel?

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   3. 100

      chef-de-jourposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, a radical statement - I look forward to your article!

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   4. 61

      fpherj48posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      teamrn...I don't think anyone cares what you're FOR or against.  None of us get to make up our own specific RULES.  What applies to one group, applies to all, in terms of equality.  You don't get a monopoly on the term, "marriage."  It's a word.

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6. 75

   jlparkposted 9 years ago

   I personally applaud Ireland for taking it to the people of Ireland to decide.
   
   Too often we trust polticians will not let their own personal biases cloud what they think we as their constituents want them to do.
   
   Take Australia for example - Tony Abbot (Prime Minister) will not allow a conscience vote on Gay Marriage or even entertain the idea - regardless of the fact that a lot of Australia wants it to go through. The man even has a gay sister who he says he loves just as she is, but doesn't seem to think she's worthy of the same rights as he is.
   
   In NZ, we have marriage equality - I'm married, and gay, and it doesn't take away anything from anyone else's marriage - in fact, the fact that gay people WANT to marry strengthens marriage as a concept I feel. I know many many married straight couples, and they don't feel that their union is affected in anyway by mine, nor made lesser because mine is referred to as marriage.
   
   But - equal but seperate is not equal. Or America would still have seperate drinking fountains depending on skin colour. I don't want to see the world go back there - do you?

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      teamrnposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It was once said, 'a compromise isn't real unless it leaves both parties feel like they've 'given up something.' Legally, I must cater your wedding; Religiously, I must give up the meaning of my marriage vows?  Where is there compromise here?

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      R u saying that gay marriage is lesser + if it is given the same meaning, then yrs will be lesser? I'd hope the meaning of yr marriage is love, + I'd never ask u to give that up. Not enuff space 2 answer the rest - hpy 2 discus tho. ?email?

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      chef-de-jourposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you. It will take a few decades before the fear and loathing in Ireland truly subsides but the majority vote was enlightening.

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   4. 75

      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah. We have equality, but there are still those who fear and loathe us. I guess thats what makes life interesting - it would be boring if we all agreed with each other.

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      d.williamposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      sadly the problems in Ireland have'nt ALL been solved. There's still a law on the books that allow killing gay people under the "Gay Panic Defence" law that must B removed.Many crazies in the U.S. wish that were the law here!!

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7. 83

   tamarawilhiteposted 8 years ago

   It is a redefinition of the word, not equality. And to make things worse is the homosexual male inability to be faithful even when married, given various surveys where "married" homosexual male couples have rules for regular adultery. This led to the term "monogomish".
   If they want civil unions with full inheritance rights and hospital visitation, fine, but don't downgrade the concepts of monogamy and marriage, which create the stability that is best for raising children and living a happy life.

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      jlparkposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Sources for your claims? Also generalising an entire population on the actions of some...not clever - a great many gay people are in long term monog relationships. Also - seperate but equal is NOT equal. One is always viewed lesser.

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