Iowa Legalizes Gay Marriage, Vermont Would Do Well to Follow

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This is both a legal issue and a religious one.
Those religious folk who disagree with gay marriage should forbid it from happening in their church. That's where their jurisdiction begins and ends.
However, it's a civil rights issue, i.e. legal, as Mr. Schlesinger aptly states (did you read his article?).
You can have your personal disagreements with gays, blacks, Mexicans, conservative Christians, etc. You cannot legislate those personal disagreements when they fly in the face of civil liberties and rights.
Remember: this is why we proclaim America to be the land of the free.
It's unnecessary and irrelevant to drag God into a legal matter.

Emily of IL 3:23PM April 03, 2009

Let me preface this by saying that i am a born-again Christian and consider myself politically a conservative libertarian.
I believe in God and i believe in our founders intentions for this country as well. I believe God calls us to be believers INDIVIDUALLY. To me this means that we are responsible for our own Christian lives and not that we must force others to adhere to our same beliefs when they clash with society's call for equality.
Marriage is a religious institution. Government saw fit to intervene in the contract for health and monetary reasons. If a government professes to believe in equality, then no class should have rights bestowed upon it that are not available to all.
Solution: Marriage should be returned to the churches. The government can then make all their blessed unions just what they are, civil unions. And any "rights that come with that would be bestowed equally; inheritance, hospital visitation, etc. Married persons would be required to also obtain a civil union to benefit from these civil rights. Furthermore, i don't believe these civil unions should be granted based on the existence of romantic love between the two parties (yes here the gov't could limit it's contracts to two people and two people only.) Any two consenting people who need to unionize for the sake of civil rights, should have the ability to do so (sorry, dogs cannot consent, so no dogs.)

Amy of CA 3:21PM April 03, 2009

When all Americans realize that they must be a voice for the tormented, maligned, and feared gay kids who can't speak for themselves, then we will be back on the path the founding fathers intended.

Stephen of TX 3:13PM April 03, 2009

who discriminate and hate in his name. And yes that is exactly what the fanatics that are bringing God into this are doing. God said love thy nieghbor. You who say "I'm not a bigot and I don't discriminate and I am not prejudice, I am not a hater" Well, you need to start admitting the truth to yourselves and your maker. There were some slave owners who said they were friends with the slaves and even said they were part of the family....yet they were still believed in slavery. Many in the 1960's said they had friends who were black and they loved them...yet they still believed in segregation and would have voted for it. Don't try to make yourselves feel better by saying you are not any of those things when facts are facts. God knows what is in the heart and by hating and discriminating in his name I really don't think he is too proud of what you are doing. You can pretend your not be but believe me God knows. The God I know would be accepting of his children and support them rather than stomp all over them. Think about it. Of course I don't expect any of you to admit you are wrong that would be too difficult so keep it up. When all is said and done and gay marriage has not damaged society, but strengthened it, when gay marrige is accepted just like civil rights for Blacks have been...Will you be like one of the few who are still in the KKK and Aryan societies that won't accept it or will you be like most that will just go on with you life and leave others alone? I am actually ashamed that some people call themselves Americans and still discriminat. After all the lessons we should have learned many have not learned to not discriminat and many so called Christians have not learned to love one another not put one another down.

alan of NV 2:58PM April 03, 2009

The problem here is that proponents of gay marriage and homosexuality don't believe in absolute truth. For example, what if someone decides that when they look at the color blue they feel in their heart that the color looks more like pink to them? And in fact they feel so strong about it that they have laws passed throughout the land insisting that everyone from now on call the color blue, pink. That still does not change the fact that blue is still blue and pink is pink. God's plan for sexuality is very clear - one man, and one woman, for life.
"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
—Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)
"And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.' Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."
—Genesis 2:18-25 (NKJV)
http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-f018.html
Homosexuality is not a "valid alternative lifestyle." The Bible condemns it as sin. It is not, however, unforgivable sin. The same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals. They, too, may become new creations in Christ.
Don't let anyone fool you. The color blue is still blue and God's Word is still the final authority. We can show Christ-like compassion for those who struggle with homosexuality, but we don't have to institutionalize it.
God has not turned His back on you; please don’t turn your back on Him. If you or someone you know is struggling with homosexuality and you want access to resources, I encourage you to check out the following:
http://www.oneby1.org and http://www.lovewonout.com/resources

KEN A. of ID 2:16PM April 03, 2009

My God, isnt a "religion", but a living God. He is the God who made the earth. His Word says gay marriage is wrong, he desined it for a man and a WOMAN.

Nicolle of IA 1:48PM April 03, 2009

Mike, I take it your profession is not based on logic, due to the fact that you make most illogical arguments. Let me explain, and also ask a couple of additional questions if I may . . .
You state, human thought and reason is the genesis of morality. So, if I am angry with my neighbor and "think" it is advisable to kill him, who would you be to judge that to be wrong? Is it simply the majority "thinking and reasoning" what morality is?
You state, morality evolves, that is why we do not have multiple marriages. Why would that be wrong according to your way of thinking? Certainly you would not be so bigoted and narrow minded to say that was not permissible?
You state, right and wrong do not exist, they are intangible concepts. I am glad to know that. Now I can go speeding down the highway at any rate I choose since right and wrong do not exist. I can refuse to pay my taxes this year, after all, the tax law is simply an intangible concept.
You state, it is not bigotry to disagree with a viewpoint. It is bigotry to hold a prejudiced and intolerant viewpoint. I see. Now that you have redefined tolerance, you can call me bigoted. Perfect. Tolerance no longer means I disagree with your viewpoint, but do so cordially and without malice, while holding to my own viewpoint vigorously. Tolerance now means I must agree with your opinions, whatever they may be, and I must celebrate them. If I think otherwise in the universe where right and wrong do not exist, then I am a bigot. What???
Lastly you state, it is not legal to marry your sister, or mother, so the question is moot. I am not asking you about the legality. I am asking you about the morality. Surely you cannot state that it is wrong, after all right and wrong do not exist, they are intangible concepts.
If we practice your logic Mike we can just make it up as we go along.

Jack Runyan of VT 1:28PM April 03, 2009

John,
The genesis of morality is in human thought and reason. For most civilizations, the "basis," generally, is the structure of society. Morality may be codified in law, religious text, or tradition. Morality, like any concept, evolves as society continues to change. That is why we don't have multiple marriages as did the ancient Hebrew kings.
Right and wrong doesn't "exist." They are intangible concepts that are open to interpretation and reinterpretation.
It is not bigotry to disagree with a viewpoint. It is bigotry to hold a prejudiced and intolerant viewpoint.
It is not legal to marry your sister or your mother, so the question as to whether or not it's "okay" is moot. Few, I think, would argue that it is morally "okay" but, not being a bigotted person, I'll reserve my moral judgement of you, if you happen to think it's okay.
You may marry your neighbor, provided that you are both single, and both agree to the marriage. It is not the business of the government to decide whether your union is based soley on any perceived contractual benefit.

Mike Eldred of VT 1:06PM April 03, 2009

No one is out to judge your beliefs the problem is that you are there to judge others. Joy, I am sorry but your comment is laughable. No one goes out to recruit people to be homosexual. There is not homosexual agenda. Homosexuals will never be the majority and if they were they would never try to take away Hetrosexual rights. The world will go on, just as it always has, the only difference will be that there are now a lot more happy people in the world because of the Iowa Supreme Court. And before you go bringing religion into it, and assuming you are a God fearing individual, please remember you may say that you are loving and not bigoted, but God does know the hate, prejudice, bigotry, pride, discrimination that is in the heart. So look deep before getting all uppity about how hetrosexuals are better than homosexuals and that hetrosexuals should have more rights that gays.

Alan of NV 12:56PM April 03, 2009

Mr. Schlesinger, are you a homosexual?
I think everyone should be homosexual. That way, there would be no more procreation, we would have less taxes because people would be diminishing, and life would be grand.
I also think I should be able to love my dog. He is my friend and love should reign supreme. If you disagree with me, who are you to judge my beliefs?

Joy Johnson of PA 12:45PM April 03, 2009