http://www.ufmcc.com/issues.htm
Vermont is the only state out of fifty in the United States that has and is allowing homosexual marriages to happen in the boundaries of their state. Still with that liberalism they state is sugar coating its decision by calling them "civil unions." It will be a "marriage - like" union between to people. despite the fact that it is not a big of a step that the Gay community would have liked it is a huge step forward in the battle against discrimination.
Marriage. Who is the person responsible for the definition? Does marriage mean the unity of a heterosexual couple or of a homosexual couple? Is God behind the hysteria or is it a sick misinterpretation of God's word. People all around the word ten to shut up and open up over this one topic. How hard of a decision is it? Should we or shouldn't we pass judgment on a group of people?
The institution of Homosexuality and Homosexual marriages seems to threaten many people's views of what marriage and what a family is. When a heterosexual relationship is looked at it's deemed good, but homosexual relationships are vulgar, and not right. Discrimination against homosexuals has always been around and from the beginning of time they have been sought out and persecuted for whom the choose to love.
There are many misconceptions about homosexual relationships, "that gays are promiscuous, unable to form lasting relationships, and the relationships that do form are shallow and uncommitted." Like many heterosexuals most of the people who are promiscuous in their relationships are those who are younger and the "older" ones are simply looking for a committed relationship. They too feel that all the "good ones" are already taken, and are not looking for a play toy. When has looking for a person to love been wrong, and made people look down upon another.
When it comes to religion may homosexual people do practice some kind of organized religion (Christianity being the most popular). How can we condemn a person who believes in the same God as at least eighty-five percent (if not more) of the people in this country believe in. Jesus would have loved everyone equally because he knew that everyone was not perfect. He even said, " If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Let's let the one who is perfect pass judgment upon the rest, but since no one is perfect then who are we to step in and play God. It is not our rightful place to step in and play that role. Rev. Joe Florence of Casa Linda Methodist Church in Dallas said, "Homosexuality isn't the biggest issue; it's the authority of scripture where we are battling." We are also told to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and I do not believe that anyone would like to be treated as many homosexuals are treated in this country. Right under our nose discrimination and mistreatment is happening. How many gay jokes has everyone laughed at, would we like to always be the butt of those jokes or is equality popular among the masses? This is the main issues and platform for homosexual and gay organizations: equality.
Our own countries constitution states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subjects of the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." The recently passes Proposition 22 (which would only recognize marriage between a man and a women), seems to be " abridging the privileges" of the citizens of the state. If the constitution is preaching equality, and the government is for the protection of people rights then we are failing ourselves when do not allow homosexual marriages to occur. The Constitution is against discrimination, but when laws are passed denying people of their basic human rights then do we really need the Constitution if we can go around so of the most crucial parts.
The Knight Initiative was passed in order to "preserve marriage." More plainly it is a part of "Defense of marriage act (DoMA)" that allows the government to deny homosexual couples their rights, and gives all the states the choice of having gay marriages or not. This debate is nation wide, and many national organizations are still fighting for the rights that they deserve.
When it comes to supporting the gay community people are torn between "traditional" beliefs and their own belief's. Many people disapprove of the union of two homosexual people, one of whom is a devoted Christian, but she says, "That love is love, and it is not our place to judge because when we start to judge other people begin to judge what we do. That isn't right"
The gay community as a whole is taking major steps to gain their civil rights. It is discrimination, and that is wrong." The most recent (and will probably be the most memorable) was the Millennium March that took place in Washington DC on April 30, 2000. The march was put together so the nation, and not just the gay community would realize that this discrimination is not okay, and it not right. The March was to wake the country up and show then that more needed to be done then just being a supporter at heart. The rally lasted for the entire weekend including "a two-day street festival, several GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) conferences and hundreds of affiliated events, including the Millennium March's national dinner." The movement for civil rights now is the same as it was and has been, but it is being thrown in the faces of people who just want the freedom to love whom ever they want.
"Those that deny freedom to other,
deserve it not for themselves; and under a just God,
cannot long retain it."
-Abraham Lincoln
i Bidstrup, pg.1
ii Bible, John 8:7
iii Koeing, pg. 1
iv Constitution, Article 11 section 1
v MMOW Platform, pg. 1
vi anonymous interview
vii MMOW, pg. 1
Two persons who
love each other are in a place more holy than the interior
of a church."
William Lyon Phelps
http://www.mbcenterprise.com/couple.htm
Public opinion polls on same-sex marriages-The following pages are public opinion poll findings since 1989 on the subject of same-sex marriage. |
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International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) - federation of national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people everywhere. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force- helps to strengthen the gay and lesbian movement at the state and local level while connecting these activities to a national vision for change. Marriage Equality - New York - organization solely committed to securing for same-sex couples the 1,049 rights, benefits, and responsibilities afforded heterosexual couples in legalized marriage. |
