Gay Marriage MERGED

[Duncan]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040515/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_courts&cid=519&ncid=716





http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/nws/p/ap120.gif (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/brand/SIG=br2v03/*http://www.ap.org) Supreme Court Won't Block Gay Marriages


http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/my/my16.gifAdd U.S. National - AP (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/addtomy/*http://edit.my.yahoo.com/config/set_news?.add=apus&.src=yn&.done=http%3a//news.yahoo.com/%3ftmpl=story%26u=/ap/20040515/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_courts%26cid=519%26ncid=716) to My Yahoo!

By DENISE LAVOIE, Associated Press Writer

BOSTON - The Supreme Court refused Friday to block Massachusetts from allowing gay marriages beginning Monday, removing the last legal impediment to what will be the nation's first state-sanctioned same-sex weddings.

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040514/thumb.bx10505141949.gay_marriage_bx105.jpg (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040514/480/bx10505141949)
AP Photo (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040514/480/bx10505141949)


The justices declined without comment to intervene and block clerks from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples in Massachusetts. The state's highest court ruled in November that the state Constitution allows gay couples to marry, and declared that the process would begin Monday.



The Supreme Court's decision, in an emergency appeal filed Friday by gay marriage opponents, does not address the merits of the claim that the state Supreme Judicial Court overstepped its bounds with the landmark decision.



A stay had been sought by a coalition of state lawmakers and conservative activists. The stay request had been filed with Supreme Court Justice David Souter (news (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=%22David%20Souter%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw) - web sites (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?cs=nw&p=David%20Souter)), a Massachusetts native who handles appeals from the region. He referred the matter to the full nine-member court.



Mathew Staver, president and general counsel of the Florida-based Liberty Counsel, which sought the stay, said he was disappointed by the ruling. He is still looking forward to arguing the case next month before the federal appeals court, and then this fall before the Supreme Court.



Advocates for same-sex couples were relieved to hear the Supreme Court declined to intervene.



"Couples who aren't tied in to the recent legal and legislative actions have been nervous wrecks about whether they could marry starting Monday," said Arline Isaacson, co-chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus. "Now they can all breathe a sigh of relief."



A federal judge ruled against a coalition of state lawmakers and conservative activists, including groups in Boston, Michigan, Florida and Mississippi, on Thursday. The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=%22U.S.%20Circuit%20Court%20of%20Appeals%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw) - web sites (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?cs=nw&p=U.S.%20Circuit%20Court%20of%20Appeals)) upheld that decision Friday, setting up the Supreme Court appeal. The appeals court agreed to hear arguments on the request to bar same-sex unions in June, after several weeks of legal gay marriages.



"This is a setback. This is certainly not the end of the road," Staver said, adding that the Supreme Court rarely issues emergency injunctions. "We're going to continue to the next step, and after that, we look forward to arguing the case before the Supreme Court, whether we win or lose — that's where the case will ultimately end."



Mary Bonauto, the lead attorney for the seven same-sex couples who sued the state for the right to marry, said she was relieved, but not surprised.



"Reduced to its essence, this has always been a case where people unhappy with the court ruling were trying to dress it up in a federal constitutional claim that Massachusetts was a tyranny," Bonauto said.



But all the SJC did in its ruling, she said, "was what courts have been doing for hundreds of years ... reviewing laws for compliance with the Constitution and saying when laws deny basic rights to a group of people."



At an anti-gay marriage rally in Fanueil Hall on Friday, a crowd of about 500 booed when it learned of the Supreme Court's decision. Several speakers spoke of the need to fight against what members of the largely Christian crowd called "sexual sin."



"The problem is they're being told that their sin is wonderful and fine," said Sandy Rios, former president of Concerned Women for America, a conservative public policy organization. She warned that gay marriage could have negative effects on families.



Staver had told justices in a filing that they were not asking the Supreme Court "to take any position on the highly politicized and personally charged issue of same-sex marriage."



Instead, Staver wrote, they wanted the court to consider whether the Massachusetts judges wrongly redefined marriage. That task should be handled by elected legislators, he said.



In the Supreme Court's last ruling involving gay rights, justices ruled last year that states may not punish gay couples for having sex. In a dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia (news (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=%22Antonin%20Scalia%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw) - web sites (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/*http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?cs=nw&p=Antonin%20Scalia)) complained that the court "has largely signed on to the so-called homosexual agenda" and was inviting same-sex marriage.

[jungee]

This is great. T4P (thanks for posting)

[Duncan]

Either way, the terms sounds silly and stupid. With this sort of terminology, it seems as if a black and white couple would have to indicate to the world each time that it is an interracial couple.

"Are you married, single, divorced or widowed?"

"I'm married."

"To a man or to a woman?"

"To a woman, but to a woman of another race."

I don't think we'll ever hear something like that. I don't approve of the term gay marriage. What if one of the parties is bi-sexual? What if two people of the same sex are actually both straight? Anyone ever think of that?

Of course, the right wingers would have a field day with the term "same-sex marriage" because then they would say that a human male would be able to marry his male Weimaraner.

Ugh !

[interval_illusion]

you are exactly right. it's completly irrelavent. but society always runs way far behind in understanding almost anything. it's gonna be a LOOOOONG time before things are fully changed (if they ever are).

[FoolinTheRain]

things will eventually get changed compleatly...it may take a long long time, but it will happen. Society cant keep us a secret forever and theyre going to have to face that sooner or later.
Someday, someday.

[gertie]

and now look where we are.

[Disarray]

Where are we?

[ahimsa]

Just curious:

Has anyone heard that wearing a wedding band on your right hand is a sign for gay couples making a marriage like commitment.

My friend told me this, and I'd never heard about it before.

Thanks

[SelfControl]

Not sure about this. The whole gay marriage thing has been blown out of all proportion though. I know in America you've got the whole morality issue, but here they could just introduce a civil partnership as an alternative to marriage and be done with it.

[PhotoGra1]

I have always seen it done on the left hand.

[xscoutx]

i've had gay friends who wear their rings on their left and i've had gay friends who wear theirs on their right. i've also got irish friends (straight) who wear theirs on their right. huh. well my partner and i are irish AND gay and we have two wedding rings: one for each hand. we had our civil union in VT 2 years ago.

[Defence_mechanism]

ive heard of the idea... but gay love/straight love, its all the same, so why try to create new differences by implying somehow your marriage differs from the straight couple's marriage next door?

[forest_pixie84]

"SAN FRANCISCO - A judge ruled Monday that California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional — a legal milestone that, if upheld on appeal, would open the way for the most populous state to follow Massachusetts in allowing same-sex couples to wed. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20050315/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_13

has anyone heard about this?

[Zypher]

nup but it sounds cool! u know what sux tho? is that because george bush decides to ban gay marraiges my prime minister (john howard-im australian) decides he doesnt wanna loose his "street cred" n bans them too. NO FAIR. *sigh* i guess thats life but that reely is a good sign that there is hope n there is someone who believes that politicians dont have the right to dictate someones peronsonal life that wont even effect the politician him/her self
peace!

[SkeeterVT]

"SAN FRANCISCO - A judge ruled Monday that California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional — a legal milestone that, if upheld on appeal, would open the way for the most populous state to follow Massachusetts in allowing same-sex couples to wed. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20050315/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_13

has anyone heard about this?

Yes, I did. The problem is that the judge made his ruling based on the California state Constitution. And conservatives are already preparing to mount a campaign to put a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage on the June 2006 California ballot.

I'm still waiting for a court to REALLY "do the right thing" and invoke the FEDERAL Constitution to strike down these anti-gay-marriage laws. They all violate the First Amendment separation of church and state by constituting a government endorsement of an anti-gay religious doctrine that is not universally accepted by every faith.

The U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately have the last word. In the wake of its 2003 ruling that struck down the last remaining anti-sodomy laws, the only justification that remains to ban gay marriage is religious. The state cannot use that justification without violating the First Amendment.

--Skeeter

[pianoperson60]

i really hope that the gay-marriage issue gets better!

[lalalamort]

im straight but i thought i would come and say this. I FUCKING WANT TO KILL ALL THOSE REDNECKS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO GAY MARRIAGE. OMFG.

ah thats better.

They have no reason to ban it. All they have is their stupid false religion which they mis-interpret anyway.

[bette]

Right, man!
(so difficoult here in Italy, where new pope is again so important for country laws and he's taking day by day abnorm power in italians mind, since few years ago really a-religious)

[greengoddess]

I agree..... I don't get it, they arn't hurting anybody, they just want to marry the one they are madly in love with just like evryone else, what's so bad about that. and I for one think they make very great parents, they'll have very loving, and open-minded kids, who probably wont be very judging of other people. and just cuz their parents are gay DOES NOT mean they will be gay, that's a load of shit!!

[shevek]

im straight but i thought i would come and say this. I FUCKING WANT TO KILL ALL THOSE REDNECKS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO GAY MARRIAGE. OMFG.

ah thats better.

They have no reason to ban it. All they have is their stupid false religion which they mis-interpret anyway.Of course I'm in favor of recognizing gay marriage, but the rednecks fascists and other assorted idiots are still in the majority and likely to stay that way for a while. Thanks to our screwed up education system which is so politicized in the first place, and so underfunded that people wonder why some "Third World" countries are beginning to overtake us (America) in technology!

[Ocean Byrd]

im straight but i thought i would come and say this. I FUCKING WANT TO KILL ALL THOSE REDNECKS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO GAY MARRIAGE. OMFG.

ah thats better.

They have no reason to ban it. All they have is their stupid false religion which they mis-interpret anyway.

I could easily play devil's advocate here...

[Patch]

i think that threatening murder of a group of people who are against us is counter productive...it just give them another reason to hate us...and it provides for even more separation between the liberals and conservatives...which is large enough as is.
but i certainly understand your frustration.

[SageDreamer]

I suspect somebody is just venting here. I'm not inclined to take it all so literally, but I also see the points of fellow posters.

[shevek]

I certainly don't advocating killing anyone, I just want them to learn some respect. I do suspect however that many of these idiots would gladly kill all of us if they thought they could get away with it. Nuff said.

[Patch]

i know it wasn't meant literally...but it just sends out the wrong message...killing does not yield respect...leave the hostility to the ignorant...to prove that we a group worth while we have to show that we are fair and not idiots...yep.

[DreamerSpirit]

im straight but i thought i would come and say this. I FUCKING WANT TO KILL ALL THOSE REDNECKS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO GAY MARRIAGE. OMFG.
Wishing death upon somon is BAD! Even if the are an ass...

just cuz their parents are gay DOES NOT mean they will be gay, that's a load of shit!! Exactly, I know plenty of gay/bi/les people who have hetro parents... heck,my parents are straight!


Anyways... in terms of same-sex marriageI wholeheartedly agree that it should be legal ! The couple is not harming anyone by getting married... they're just declaring thier love for one another in legal terms!
Also, by legalizing same-sex marriage the homosexual and bisexual communities will hopefully prevent any future loss of rights. If you pay attention to some of the anti-homosexual laws which are being passed, it's rather scary...

[Patch]

what i don't think people understand about gay marriage is that it is much more than declaring love...if it were just that i probably would not care as much...marriage is not necessary. what i think conservatives and the like are truly afraid of is giving us the rights that heterosexual married couples get such as tax breaks and hospital visitation rights among others...upon granting these rights the government will recognize us as more than second class citizens and will then lose their legal mediums for discriminating against they gays.
ouch.

[TokeMEup420]

What was with that stupid law gay's couldnt marry are they aloud now??

[PhotoGra1]

no.

[babybud420]

I dont know, I think so...maybe..ummm I dont know

[SageDreamer]

As far as I know, same-sex marriage is not yet legal anywhere in the USA. Vermont has civil unions, and those offer some benefits. I hear something about Massachusetts, but I'm not clear. Anyone with any more info, help us out.

Canada either has same-sex marriage or is going to get it soon. The Netherlands and Spain have same-sex marriage.

Btw, gay people are allowed to marry. We're just not allowed to marry people of our own sex. You might be stunned at the number of gay people who do get married to someone of the opposite sex.

[velvet]

Overhere it's legal.. so get moving :)

[TokeMEup420]

lucky ass you live in the netherlands thats like the best place to be. One day I'll move to armsterdam !!! :p

[velvet]

lucky ass you live in the netherlands thats like the best place to be. One day I'll move to armsterdam !!! :p
well.. it's just another city like any other.. we have theft here, crimes, homeless people, grumpy people, shitload of tourists.. it's not like it's a complete heaven :) I love living in Amsterdam though, I love the city.. but I love it as a whole: good things ànd bad things.

[DreamerSpirit]

Same-sex marriage is legal up here in Massachusetts, but the divorce laws for it are still kinda screwed up at the moment.
Civil unions are legal in Vermont and Connecticut.

As far as international law, I believe civil unions are legal in most European countries, and same-sex marriage is legal in Spain, Denmark, and the Netherlands, as well as a few other European countries and Canada.

[linda2210]

in the netherlands all gays can get married
and why not
i don`t understand all the fuzz about it
who are those people that they can make that rule
i think it stinks!!

[MysteriousNight]

I've been with my girlfriend for almost 4 years and I would really like to marry her legally, but, you know, the laws and all. At this point no politician is going to say he or she is all for gay marriage, b/c unfortunately the majority is still against it. (Isn't that fucked up? It's okay to have lesbian porn and watch funny gay men on TV, but we can't marry??) So, we need to at least elect someone in our states and in national elections who at least won't make it totally illegal, like Bush is trying to do with that stupid amendment. Any comments or concerns?

[meishka]

move to canada and become a felllow canuck

[Duncan]

Do you think you would ever have a same sex marriage for yourself ?

[mushie18]

I like to think so...

[txbarefooter]

I don't believe so .. I don't like pomp and ceremony. yeah yeah yeah, its all about each other and "if" I love him I should do it for him.

[SelfControl]

Maybe, but only if it was a proper one with a big party and everything. I mean, I might be wrong, but I'm guessing gay weddings are as much about keeping the parents happy as straight weddings. All parents want to see their kids get married so they can plan the wedding without their own parents sticking their nose in this time around.

Basically what I'm saying is I'd only get married for the party and the ceremony, and only if I could do it properly. In terms of proving commitment, I figure we're both men and we should both know that we don't have to.

[andrenio]

I don't like pomp and ceremony neither but I would like to get married. It would be a simple wedding party, just a few friends, because I don't like weddings parties with hundreds of guests, as we are used in Spain, and because I wouldn't be able to invite my family, they don't know about me...
I think to get married is important not only for the formalization of the commitment but also for the conjugal and civil rights that it implies.

[SelfControl]

See I really don't want to get married just to prove that I can.

[llamakarma]

i'm not sure. it's not something i definately want to do but i wouldn't rule it out either. i'd have to consider it with the man i was planning on spending my life with. but i am glad that i have the choice. i think if i had commited myself to somebody it would be nice to have that commitment formally recognised but it certainly isn't nessecary.

[Morning Myst]

I'm getting married next year (civil, of course). Me and my gf don't really feel it's necessary for us, but we want kids and we have to be married for that. It's not going to be a "standard" ceremony. She'll wear a white dress, but not the wedding kind. As for me, I'll just wear a normal long hippy dress, maybe patchwork, and I'll try to be barefoot.


In another way, Roger Thibault and Théo Wouters fought so hard to get all of us(Quebec gay community) the right to marry that it would be like an insult to them not to marry.

My 2 cents.

[okay]

I would. No question about it.

[SelfControl]

Did anyone see that awful televised one where one of the guys was wearing a wedding dress? Me and my mother watched it together, and at the end I just had to say "Mum, I promise I will never go anything that gay in front of the family".

[KewlDewd66]

Nope. The institutions of private & civil law and few contracts and powers have secured my partner and myself from all the major issues, should we start depending on each other.

Other than that, no pomp and circumstances. It always looks sooo cheeesy.

Marriage has turned out to be one of the least functioning institutions of modern society. The legislation in many countries unjustly protects interests of one partner at the expense of the other. Going willingly thru such a nightmare even does not come up for discussion here.

KD

[SelfControl]

You might like this:

http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2559136#post2559136

[mushie18]

very interesting...

[LoyalReflections]

Definitely.

[CrazybutLazy]

I am totally for it because there are homosexuals out there who would like it, but I'm not sure if I'd like to get married at all. I mean, I would be even more likely to marry a guy than a girl, but the thought of getting married doesn't appeal to me right now.

[daysye]

didn't know if anyone wanted to sign this petition....if so just click on the link



"Do you support the right of every American, including GLBT people, to marriage equality? Sign the petition! Click here: http://www.MillionForMarriage.org"

[techie]

Today, after a vote of 4 to 2, a bill legalizing gay marriage in nyc, was denied. apparently, there are still quite a few people that are okay with discriminating against gay people. i say we need some good rallies and protests in nyc.

[Libertine]

When will this goddamned puritanism END?

It's 2006 for fuck's sake! PEOPLE!

[CrazybutLazy]

The homophobes need to come join us in the 21st century.

[TheMistress]

come on over too canada and get married! Ontario isnt too far!!!!

anyhow NYC will come around one day. some ppl/states are just more stubborn than others!

dont give up hope my friend!

[vinceneilsgirl]

In a disappointing four to two vote, New York's Court of Appeals upheld a law barring same-sex couples from marriage and the hundreds of family protections the state provides to married couples.

The New York Court of Appeals chose to accept the same arguments that were rejected by the Arkansas Supreme Court just two weeks ago, when it struck down a policy barring gay people from serving as foster parents.

The New York court found the ban is justified because some people may think that children do better with a mother and a father. To reach this conclusion, the court ignored the advice of leading child health and welfare organizations as well as decades of social science research proving that same-sex couples are as capable of being good parents as straight people and their children are equally well adjusted.

In Arkansas, the court unanimously struck down a regulation that banned lesbian and gay people from serving as foster parents, a decision cheered by child welfare advocates nationwide.

The Court criticized the Child Welfare Agency Review Board's reasons for enacting the regulation, writing, "These facts demonstrate that there is no correlation between the health, welfare, and safety of foster children and the blanket exclusion of any individual who is a homosexual or who resides in a household with a homosexual." The Court went on to say that the state's argument to the contrary "flies in the face" of the scientific evidence about the suitability of lesbian and gay people as foster parents" adding that "the driving force behind adoption of the regulation was not to promote the health, safety, and welfare of foster children, but rather based upon the Board's view of morality and its bias against homosexuals."

www.aclu.org (http://www.aclu.org)

[Duncan]

I still love living in America and being a US citizen (even if I think the Executive Branch of government is comprised of a**holes). While I don't see GAY MARRIAGE in my immediate future, I would like to work to make it viable for the future generations... even if they choose not to participate in it.
Hell... in some states it's considered illegal to co-habitate as man and wife if you're not "legally" married.

[mushie18]

it'll happen eventually.

my guess, 20 years?

[Lanze]

it'll happen eventually.

my guess, 20 years?or how about now....... because massachusetts is the rock...

[txbarefooter]

as long as there are people like bush that pushes his view of "morality", then it'll never happen. this will sound aweful, but it'll take my generation, over 40's to die out and the younger generation, under 25's, to take over before things change.

but for now, I don't see the need of a certificate for two gay's to legally express their one-manship. for legal medical decisions, I think a trip to a lawyer should take care of it all.

[cardamom]

I don't believe in marriage ....

People can be faithful out of marriage and unfaithful in marriage. Ultimately it's a matter of legal rights and religion. The religion I can do without. The legal rights should be given to everybody or nobody.

[Vasolene]

the butthole is an exit only faggots

[FrozenMoonbeam]

In New Zealand a man and a woman can get married. A man and a man, a woman and woman or a man and woman can get a civil union, which, for all intents and purposes is a marriage (only without the religious connotations.) Legally, the rights of marriage are given to civil union couples.

it's explained more technically here (http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Civil-Union?OpenDocument)

personally I think this good but it's only a start...

also, it should be harder to get married no matter who you are marrying, you should have to be so amazingly sure before you say 'i do'. But, once you are sure of your committment, the marriage doors should be open to all consenting adults. And yes, once that happens, there will be no need to talk about 'gay' marriage. It will just be marriage. For everyone.

[Gdeadhead420]

i live in a city about 45 minutes from boston and the priest at one of the local churches was being married to another man, a gay marriage. The community's reaction to this was redicilous. They're were protesters, completely ruining the marriage and a well known anti-gay marriage woman (her name escapes me), even came down to protest the marriage. it was despicable. just thought i'd share. Why would anyone ruin anyone elses marriage like that, blah.

[Lanze]

Two words, "people suck". I assume hes in a religion where the priests are allowed to marry. Of course despite being possibly one of the nicest men , and in love with someone, I'm sure most people don't care because most people are assholes.

[Morty4114]

I agree with Lanze. People suck...expecially ignorant ones...

[dances in pajamas]

That's truly ridiculous. People need to get over themselves and realize that marriage is a right, not a heterosexual privelege.

[MikeE]

I presume that the "godly" protesters would prefer that these men continue to live in sin rather than do the right thing and get married.

[chinaraymond]

that woman shouldn't do that

[SageDreamer]

People are idiots.

Some people have incredible hangups about homosexuality; they're usually hiding something.

[Lanze]

People are idiots.

Some people have incredible hangups about homosexuality; they're usually hiding something.Exactly! There was this study in 1996 and the guys who were okay with homosexuality were shown 3 videos, 1 with hetero porn, 1 with lesbian porn, and 1 with gay porn. They had arousal from every one but the gay porn.

the homophobic people were shown the same videos and while they were turned on by the lesbian and straight sex they were also turned on by the gay porn.

[sickcharlie]

i am desparately hoping to get married. i am madly in love with the woman of my dreams and i want to marry her as soon as possible. please tell me of any states in which this is allowed. tell me about how much it costs and what i need to do to get this process started. thank u and i will be eternally grateful for your help

[Austin_09]

Erm.. Pretty sure it's legal in Nevada. Lots of people go to Las Vegas to get married don't they? So I think it would be legal state wide.

[erzebet1961]

From what I hear , the Methodist church is cool with Gay marriage..Im sure thay know where its legal.

[Lanze]

Marriage: Massachusetts , Canada, Spain , Netherlands, Belgium
Civil Unions:United Kingdom, California,Vermont,Connecticut, Maine,Hawaii , New Jersey, Washington DC, Iceland, France, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Israel, Denmark, Finland, Argentina, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Andorra, Croatia, Tasmania (Australian state)

but you have to move there you cant just come to massachusetts to get married for example

If you are in New Jersey they should allow Civil unions which should carry simialar benefits to marriage only they use a name like that to make it seem like an inferior union.

the funny thing is it is legal for straight people in nevada to marry a stripper they met the night before, but not for two men to marry even in las vegas.

[SageDreamer]

How much it costs is up to you. Are you looking for a simple ceremony and modest reception, or is this going to be the social event of the year?

If civil unions are indeed legal in your state, get in touch with a gay organization in your area and let them know that you're interested in having a ceremony. They might be able to refer you to other couples who have had ceremonies. They could tell you more about their experiences and be able to answer some very hands-on questions.

[VertuHost]

NJ has more rights than most states... I wouldn't leave if I were you, unless it is a step forward. CT and VT are also extremely liberal. Marriage is not legally recognized anywhere in the US at this time. Canada, Spain, Norway, and a few other countries have equal marriage rights. The USA is one of the most conservative 1st world countries on Earth...

Christopher

[Lanze]

NJ has more rights than most states... I wouldn't leave if I were you, unless it is a step forward. CT and VT are also extremely liberal. Marriage is not legally recognized anywhere in the US at this time. Canada, Spain, Norway, and a few other countries have equal marriage rights. The USA is one of the most conservative 1st world countries on Earth...

ChristopherWhat are you talking about marriage is legally recognized in massachusetts right now as equal to heterosexual marriage, it is even called marriage not a "civil union" not only that but the state requires any adoption agency to allow gay couples to adopt or they get shut down.

[barefoot_kirstyn]

Marriage: Massachusetts , Canada, Spain , Netherlands, Belgium
Civil Unions:United Kingdom, California,Vermont,Connecticut, Maine,Hawaii , New Jersey, Washington DC, Iceland, France, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Israel, Denmark, Finland, Argentina, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Andorra, Croatia, Tasmania (Australian state)

but you have to move there you cant just come to massachusetts to get married for example

If you are in New Jersey they should allow Civil unions which should carry simialar benefits to marriage only they use a name like that to make it seem like an inferior union.

the funny thing is it is legal for straight people in nevada to marry a stripper they met the night before, but not for two men to marry even in las vegas.
actually, not everywhere in canada. the federal government is holding a referendum on the issue soon to make it either legal or illegal all across the country. I'm definately voting for that one....sad thing is, voter turn out is so low (47%) that the only people who are going to vote, will be the uptight conservatives who want to ban it.

[mushie18]

the funny thing is it is legal for straight people in nevada to marry a stripper they met the night before

i'm pretty sure that's legal everywhere..

[Lanze]

i'm pretty sure that's legal everywhere..well then all the more silly http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

[drumminmama]

^^ no, no, some states have three day "residency" requirements. (rolls eyes)

Have the grand declaration wherever you are and get all the legal paperwork in place for power of attorney, survivorship rights, yada yada

[Bartendersrum]

I wouldn't worry too much on where to get married. Marriage is a contract bonding two people together. What matters is that the two of you are willing to comit to each other. You can hire a lawyer to work out details such as hospital visitation, inheritance, estate and what not. while you won't recieve certain benifits from the government... that's not the reason the two of you wish to be bound to each other. the confessions of your love should be enough.

[sickcharlie]

thank u so much for all yer help

[VertuHost]

What are you talking about marriage is legally recognized in massachusetts right now as equal to heterosexual marriage, it is even called marriage not a "civil union" not only that but the state requires any adoption agency to allow gay couples to adopt or they get shut down.
Sorry, you are right. MA offers it to citizens of MA, if you want to call that fair. Can straight people marry in MA if they aren't MA citizens?

Chris

[kokoyo112]

Got this in a chain email and thought it was kind of funny and maybe worth sharing?

01) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

02) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

03) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

04) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

05) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

06) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

07) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

08) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

09) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

[erzebet1961]

Hahahaha.........Thanks for the laugh...I really needed it !!!!!!!!

[kokoyo112]

No problem!

I'm glad to help.

OH and thanks for the guestbook entry.. It really made my day!

[Panzer]

That's great! :D

[grimjivey]

Did my Mom and Dad write that?

[clementinexo]

americans love air conditioning... lol

[amp7325]

Hahahahahahaha nice.

[TreeFiddy]

Ha I love #5

[kokoyo112]

^ me too!

It really shows the ignorance of so many.

[chillwithcian]

Below is a current case of whats happening in Ireland, (which i am otraged has had to come to this in this new age). This article is taken from rte.ie, irelands main broadcaster:

''Landmark case by lesbian couple under way

03 October 2006 14:21A landmark case taken by a lesbian couple to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Ireland has begun at the High Court.

Lawyers for Dr Katherine Zappone and Dr Ann Louise Gilligan say their case raises a fundamental question about the nature of marriage itself.

Dr Zappone, a public policy research consultant, and Dr Gilligan, an academic, met in Boston, Massachusetts and have been living together since 1981. They married in Canada in 2003. Now they want the State to recognise that marriage.


They took legal proceedings after the Revenue Commissioners refused to recognise them as a couple for tax purposes.

Their lawyer argued the case was not just about maximising tax benefits but about the nature of marriage itself.

Senior Counsel Michael Collins said Drs Zappone and Gilligan were not arguing for any extra or special rights. They were arguing for the same right everyone else has - the right to marry a person of your choice who you love, the court was told.

He said the State was discriminating against the couple on the basis of gender and sexual orientation. And he said there were no public policy grounds sufficient to warrant the withholding of the right to marry from them. The case is expected to last around three weeks.''

Inspired by the recent case by two lesbians to have their canadian marrige recognised in ireland, i decided to do a small little thing of my own. I am setting up a website with a geust book, hoping to recieve 1000 signitures of support for the legalisation of gay rights in ireland. Im going to forward it to the main politicans in goverment. Please visit www.freewebs.com/supportgayrights (http://www.freewebs.com/supportgayrights) and sign! Tell your friends and pass it on.... http://www.gaire.com/e/smilies/smile.gifhttp://www.gaire.com/e/smilies/boldyellow.gifhttp://www.gaire.com/e/smilies/smlove2.gif

All the help needed to make a diffrence, thanks! xx

[spark2006]

Wats up people! I fell in love with this guy and I want to marry him. In which state is it legal to marry him? He's a US citizen and I'm not. If gay-marriage is still legal, can I get my green card from him (is it similar to a woman marrying a man type of thing) ?

Please let me know as soon as you guys read this. I need to get some quick answers here.

Thanks

[Panzer]

As far as I know my beutiful home state of Massachusetts is the only place in the States that honors basic human rights in regards to marriage. Proof yet again of New Eglands superiority. I don't know about the citizen thing though, sorry.

[clementinexo]

come to canada! its legal here!

[werefuse]

massachusetts is the only place to be legally wed. there might be some details to work out in regard to citizenship, though.

also, vermont allows civil unions.

[Aesthete]

In Massachusetts it's legal to be married. It's also, however, legal to get a civil union, domestic partnership, or the like in some states. Here's a reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SSM_NorthAm_2006.PNG

[werefuse]

Best of luck you (and them)! I signed your petition.

[moonlightdelerium]

Well, Steelegiraffe, you are entitled to your opinion, but I'm definitely signing the petition.

[chillwithcian]

I agree with the state.
They are not being treated unequally or discriminated against.
Marriage is defined as;
The social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.
Therefor, they have the same rights as every other woman in Ireland does, which is to marry a man.

peace,
SteeleWell they should have the option of marrying another woman if they so wish...

[l-foote]

I signed your petition, you should be able to marry the person you are in love with. It really shouldn't be an issue, and it frustrates the shit out of me.

[CrazybutLazy]

and why is that?

by that logic i should have the option of commiting homicide if i so wish...Why should a women have the option to marry a man?

[erzebet1961]

Steelegiraffe...I notice that you hang out a lot on this forum...and post anti - gay threads..if your down on us..if your 100 per cent straight..then why do you hang out here....you even come on and read our threads during the day WITHOUT posting....whats the deal ???

[erzebet1961]

And that statement isnt anti-gay ???

[erzebet1961]

Yes it is...so .you said your peace....now enough.

[erzebet1961]

LOOK...We dont need this...you can toss the peace word around all you want as well as the word friend...but what you are spouting speaks different...and if you dont take it elsewhere...you will be banned...this is harrassment...and I asked you to stop once already. This was warning number 2

[erzebet1961]

Just Go !!!!!

[erzebet1961]

Didnt I ask you twice to leave ???? Stop..ok...no one wants to hear from you right now....just go !!!

[erzebet1961]

I am mod here...so I do have the right.....keep it up and you will be banned....check down at the bottom where it says mods and read the name !!!! Now go !!!

[erzebet1961]

Look.....DONT POST HERE AGAIN !!!

[erzebet1961]

No...Im doing my job...Ive already contacted someone ...now dont post here again !!!

[erzebet1961]

Banned !!!!!!

[cerridwen]

I don't understand why this is such an issue today. Love is love, irrigardless if you're gay or straight. :) Thanks for starting up that petition, I'll be emailing it.

[MollyThe Hippy]

what do you tell people when they say no where in the animal kingdom do gay animals exchange wedding vows?

[Night_Owl49]

Nowhere in the animal kingdom do "straight animals" exchange wedding vows?

that should do it...

[SelfControl]

I find "don't be a tard" is usually better. Why waste good logic on retards?

Personally though, I've been thinking that there's not a lot of point in pursuing gay marriage. I figure it'd make more senes to let the Christians have marriage back, and instead try to encourage civil unions to become more widespread, so as to surplant the Christian institution with a more secular convention. If the majority of straight people were having civil unions, we'd have equality already, it wouldn't be a major adjustment for them, and it'd really piss off the church! :D

[sm0key42o8]

Where do any animal exchange wedding vowels.

[glorified_screw]

I don't think I would even dignify that with a response. That is obviously a ridiculous thing for anyone to argue, and I find it hard to believe that anyone remotely intelligent would find any logic in it. Made me laugh though...:)

[CrazybutLazy]

People don't realize that there are some gay animals.

[ParchedTears]

I had a gay cat once. That was wierd. Finding out was anyways.
Point - question on animal kingdom I agree with "You'r a tard" as the right responce. Followed by "Humans are the only creature God created that feel that being truly together involves signing a contract."

[MattInVegas]

what do you tell people when they say no where in the animal kingdom do gay animals exchange wedding vows?
I ask them to show me where it says that two people in love CAN'T exchange vows.

[jerrysecret]

I would ask them if I could have some of what they were smoking.

[Dayne253]

i found a gay marriage petition site i figure i would post it, not sure if theres people who have seen it or not.

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/millionformarriageac

[Maanling]

Sometimes I am really ashamed of where I come from. I'd rather be English, or French. But there is one reason I am really proud of my country. Gay marriage!!
So, what's up with gay marriage in your country? Tell me all about it.. ^^