I'm hoping it will pass (and it looks like it just might) because if New York accepts gay marriage, it will do a lot for the cause as a whole. New York is the third most populous state, and contains the most populous city (New York City). If they legalize gay marriage it will be a huge step for this country.
Of course, there are protesters to try and stop the bill. There are also counter protesters, and that makes me much happier about the whole thing. The protesters are praying and chanting "God says 'No!'". One protester even said if they pass this law, we will become Sodom and Gomorrah.
What?
Do they not realize that legally we can't legislate religious beliefs? It doesn't matter what 'God' says, this is not a mother fucking theocracy. If you want to gripe about something within the law, bring a secular reason! Your religion has no legal standing to make decisions for this country, or its citizens. I actually challenge you to give me a secular reason homosexuals should not be allowed to marry. Try. Think hard. And "Because I don't like/understand/participate in it." is not a good reason. (Also, it does happen in nature (like we aren't part of nature?) so that's a shit answer too!)
This is the kind of bullshit I'm so tired of seeing. You can practice your religion, you can hate homosexuals, non-whites, women, whoever the fuck you want to hate, but you can't force that point of view on others! This is why we progressives call you bigots. This is why we say you are homophobic. This is why we call you bible thumpers. If you don't like those names, quit being so damn deserving of them. Learn that we are all people, and we all deserve the Exact. Same. Rights.
On a related note, I read a few of the comments left by readers on that news article. My favorite had to be this little gem,
You would think that jobs and the economy would be more important to the citizens of New York than this?What a stupid comment. People care about equal rights and love just as much, if not more, than the economy. I would focus more on getting my rights than other peoples jobs if it were my ability to marry the love of my life on the line. Especially since there is no real justification to deny that right.
I hope in only a few years we will view this as the equivalent of denying blacks or women the right to vote. Or denying interracial marriage. Let's keep our fingers crossed, shall we?
wow. that was a truly awesome post. You just put it into words a lot better than I ever could.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I just can't see why this continues to be an issue. What are the secular reasons? There is plenty of proof it helps to strengthen societies. Look at The Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteI would hope, but not put money on, the commenter meaning that the protestors should be putting more of their energy into doing things about jobs and what not rather than wasting all that time, energy and money on something that they have no rational basis for. At least, I can hope. But I wouldn't put money on it.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I really hope they pass it! If New York does, it being New York, I can imagine a snowball effect taking place.
That's what I'm hoping too. Go snowball effect!
ReplyDeleteWow Rev! I know I seem to say this with every one of your posts but this one was your best one yet hehe! :D
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that means I'm getting better with age, hahaha!
ReplyDeleteOh ya! Rev just turned 24 everyone! Sing him that Birthday song he likes!
ReplyDeleteStandard rationale against Gay Marriage:
ReplyDeleteBible Bible Bible.
Ick.
Gays have diseases.
Oh, the Children!
There is no rational argument against it, just like you said. And you’d think that would make it easier to get something done, but unfortunately, those arguments still carry a lot of weight with religious morons.
Couple months ago, Maryland tried to get a gay marriage law passed, and it, too, passed one house, the State Senate. But by the time the bill went to the House of Delegates, the black churches weighed in full scale and buttonholed a number of lawmakers, telling them, “We put you in office and if you vote for this bill, we will take you out.” Couple that with the conservative areas of Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore, and thus endeth the Gay Marriage Bill in Maryland. The lawmakers started backpedaling on their initial intentions, saying, “My conscience says to vote for it but I have to represent my constituents.” In theory, that’s a good thing, but when it comes to preserving or establishing equal rights, it shouldn’t be subject to majority vote.
It’s funny when people start yelling about what’s going to happen if Gay Marriage is allowed to take place… All anyone has to do is look around Iowa or up in New England, where Gay Marriage is already legal. Any anarchy happening there? Didn’t think so. So maybe it’s not really a big deal, is it?
With corn/ethanol subsidies on the chopping block, you think anyone in Iowa has time to riot over Gay Marriage?
And of course, when logical arguments are scare, they try diversions like “Isn’t something else more important?” And like you say, it depends on the point of view. If you’re the person prevented from enjoying the same rights as everyone else, then no, there isn’t anything more important. Plus, there’s no reason the “something else more important” can’t be accomplished as well. Just drop the pointless resistance and everyone can move on.
I don’t really have a dog in this fight, (other than friends) but right is right, and our country is based on freedom and equal rights. If we don’t recognize that, then we’re no better than any other dictatorship or brutal theocracy.
As you might have imagined, I’ve posted on this before, right here, and then the post after that when I wrote in a letter to the editor denouncing some religious bigot’s letter.
Both were probably shorter than this comment.
Nicely stated. Half the Rethugs that say they're against gay marriage are playing footsies in the men's room or schtupping their aids. C'mon people. What's the big fucking deal? Everyone should have a right to get married. This country is so narrow-minded. It makes my head hurt.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly. If we allow a majority rules only mentality, we introduce the tyranny of the majority. Our founding fathers were wise enough to make sure that we were protected form the majority only approach.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a dog in this fight either (except friends), but I truly believe if you trample on one citizens rights, you trample on all our rights.
I hate people who live in the majority and just roll with it. It's easy to not care when your the white, christian, straight, rich guy. Hell, I only meet two of those attributes (white and straight) and I could easily forget about all of this and know MY rights will be protected by my government. But I can't do that. I can't stand by and watch other human's rights be trampled. It truly sickens me when I see people who don't care because it doesn't effect them. They piss me off just as much as the bigots trying to get it banned.
Anywho, looks like I got a bit off topic.
/rant
I find it hilarious that these Senators say that "Marriage is a sacred institution." to argue against gay marriage, then go have affairs. Or love children (Arnold). That certainly isn't treating it like it's 'sacred'.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, I'm not special! I'm getting older but not much better! Virgil wants to embarrass me, that's why I'm singing this song! So happy fucking birthday, I'm not special!
ReplyDeleteDamn straight!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see us having a conversation that doesn't involve body parts or smut.:)
ReplyDeleteAmen to that. It's' sacred until they get caught.
ReplyDeleteLauren rocks! This site loves Lauren!:):)
ReplyDeleteAnd this whole bullshit from Obama about how his opinion is "evolving." Fuck his opinion. This is a civil rights issue. His opinion and anyone else's is irrelevant. He needs to stop being such a political coward on this and be a damn leader.
ReplyDeleteYou guys rock! Lauren loves this site! You guys are so damn prolific.
ReplyDeleteI guarantee you Jayne that Obama believes in gay marriage! We need to remember that this is a homophobic country for the most part. If he threw all his weight behind gay rights his re-election chances will be thwarted. If he's re-elected I guarantee he will back gay marriage, no president has ever even hinted at supporting gay marriage, Obama realizes that we can't just go from 1 to 10 over night, it takes time.
ReplyDeleteExactly! His opinion doesn't mean a thing! He could say all Latinos shouldn't be married, it doesn't matter. All people deserve the right to marriage and recognition from the state. Opinions don't make what is right or wrong, especially in politics.
ReplyDeleteWe try! Thanks for taking the time to read!
ReplyDeleteI want a president that can say, "I support gay marriage!" or whatever else, and not fear the political backlash. I don't care if he gets re-elected, as long as he does good for the citizens of this country.
ReplyDeleteIt is my pleasure 'cause you're so damn good. Sorry Reverend.
ReplyDeleteLOL! What are you guys, "good cop, bad cop?" I'm with the Rev on this one. True leaders lead. Obama has never used the bully pulpit of the presidency effectively on anything. I didn't vote for a negotiator-in-chief, I voted for a commander. I wish he was more like Bush who just said fuck it and forced what he wanted done down people's throats. Bush got reelected! There's so much he could do with signing statements and recess appointments. His wimpiness on so much drives me fucking crazy. Be that as it may, I'm glad Virgil is a believer and hope he's right.
ReplyDeleteObama just "came out" in support of gay unions but stopped short of
ReplyDeletesupporting gay marriage. I didn't know there was a gay union? Is it like the
teamsters?
Well, now the gays are really screwed. The GOP war on women is exceeded only by their war on unions.
ReplyDeleteHis inability to just say "I'm the mother fucking President, I do what I want!" drives me up a wall too. Quit trying to please everyone all the time, it's not working!
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally call dibs on 'bad cop', haha!
Are you posting over here now? ;) Good points, Tony. Worth repeating over at your place, too.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't he just be the fucking "Decider" like GW. Someone please shoot me. I think I just longed for Bush. He may have done everything wrong, but at least he didn't give a shit. Wait, that doesn't sound right either.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm getting my butt kicked on this but I don't give a flying fuck! If we all expected Obama to get in there and waive his magic liberal wand and WOOSH! a liberal utopia, how naive were we?
ReplyDeleteI still love you guys though.:)
Because it's a loser mentality! Are we really wanting Obama to be blindly partisan like Bush was? If we are than we deserve to lose the next election!
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, Obama is not a liberal. Not even close. I wish he was. John Dean is a liberal. Dennis Kucinich is a liberal. Bernie Sanders is a liberal. Compared to them, Obama is a DINO. Still, he's the best we've got at the moment and he will be a better president for having his ass kicked from time to time by those of us who call ourselves progressives.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the money, not ours, the lobbyists. Progressives,
ReplyDeleteConservatives and dunderheads alike.
All of which would never win the presidency! I like them too but c'mon Jayne! I do however agree that he needs to feel the heat from his base, we see eye to eye on that one..
ReplyDeleteNo. They wouldn't win the presidency,but they are the ones keeping true to the principles of the Democratic Party. Yes. We know we will have to compromise those principles, but compromise should never be a starting point. Obama gives away the store before
ReplyDeletenegotiations even begin.
He does tend to give away the store. I wish he'd stop that as well. Good point Jayne! We love you.:):)
ReplyDelete