Comments on: Study Supporting "Ex-Gay" Claims Finally Retracted to Much Rejoicing

By: Sybil

Sybil — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:34:28 +0000

I’m glad you see the similar goals of our two stances, because protecting rights are at the center of both (only, I would say the marriage-equality movement isn’t doing enough to protect *everyone’s* rights).

I am curious about where you see the value in the institution of marriage, when the oft-cited ‘redeeming factors’ such a commitment or social recognition can be equally obtained outside the institution. In other words, what does marriage give you that a contract or commitment ceremony does not?

By: Sybil

Sybil — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:27:19 +0000

Bhan,
I would say something very similar: I don’t care what you want for yourself, but don’t deny others their rights.

We both, I believe, want to protect rights: rights to medical care, adoption, custody, hospital visitation, inheritance, immigration rights, etc. Perhaps we can also agree that some people should not be given special privileges denied to others: tax incentives, banking privileges, societal recognition even.

You object to those rights and privileges being limited to heterosexual married couples, because you think same-sex couples deserve those rights too.

I object to those rights and privileges being limited to married (whatever their sexualities) couples, because I think everyone deserves basic rights.

Marriage as an institution excludes nonmembers from accessing civil rights. Everyone deserves civil rights, and marriage should, in Dina’s locution, “gtfo”.

By: Megaera

Megaera — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:05:09 +0000

It’s not just you. I think people frequently see ‘gay’ and think ‘gay men’.

By: Megaera

Megaera — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:58:14 +0000

It’s reasonable to suppose that God is *more* loving, understanding and compassionate than the average human being, and many human beings, straight and queer, recognise that there is nothing wrong with being LGBT. I can’t believe in a petty, hate-filled God, because that wouldn’t be ‘God’. Why would God forgive a mass-murderer who repented at the last moment, but have no place in his heart for an LGBT person who lived a loving, giving and caring life? It makes no sense.

The people who say that God hates and judges us say so because *they* hate and judge us, and they are projecting their own response onto God. They lack empathy, so they assume God does, too; that S/He is no better than they are.

Does God hate and judge the bonobos? Of course not. S/He made them that way. S/He made love and sex beautiful and joyful. It’s the haters and the fearful who try to make us think it is a bad thing, rather than a sacred gift.

You may like this article, if you haven’t seen it before: http://www.practikel.com/2012/01/27/christian-group-shows-up-to-chicago-gay-pride-holding-apologetic-signs/

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:21:10 +0000

From the guardian article, in opposition to the homophobic advertisements:

“The emotional damage that is done to the individuals who try to suppress their sexuality, the WOMEN they marry and the children they might have is immeasurable,”

Is it just me or gay women frequently overlooked in these conversations?

By: Bhan

Bhan — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:23:45 +0000

This, a thousand times this. I don’t care what you want for youself but don’t you dare speak for me and try to deny me rights you don’t aprove of!

By: Bhan

Bhan — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:21:18 +0000

What Rachel said. God made you as you are and that makes you beautiful and holy.

By: Dina

Dina — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 07:19:47 +0000

What I’m seeing there is actually something I support – defacto rights. I’m lucky enough to live in a country that has them! Australia extends defacto rights to all couples (but marriage only to opposite-gender couples, which obviously I don’t agree with). People who don’t want to get married don’t have to in order to secure rights for their partners and families.

But I do think there is value in having an institution as well for those who do want it.

By: Katie MUrphy

Katie MUrphy — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 06:55:38 +0000

Notice the name George Rekers in the beginning – one of the fix the gays people, and of course a baptist minister.

Cutie Georgie last year got caught taking a college student he rented from rentboy.com on a trip to Europe for 2 weeks.

The bullshitter claimed he needed someone to carry his baggage and apparently paid about $15000 for the rentall, the approx cost of a male escort for two weeks from the rentboy website.

As usual – its just a scam, but the big deal is the money these people fleece out of parent terrified by hateful churches that their kids are gay.

Bernie Maddoff comes to mind.

BTW Rekers also founded the hate group FRC. Showed the pix of the head, tony perkins and his sidekick peter spriggs to several gay friends.

Their conclusion – queer as a 3 dollar bill.

By: durga

durga — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:56:08 +0000

http://www.againstequality.org

A lot of those arguments are very sound socio-economic arguments, Dina, and hardly a question of infringing your personal right to partnership.

By: Sybil

Sybil — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:27:20 +0000

There is a range of grounds for opposing marriage, including nonsense as well as compelling arguments.

You know what, I think this topic would make an excellent article!

By: Dina

Dina — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:24:24 +0000

See, I think it’s fine to oppose same-sex marriage *for yourself*, but as soon as you try and limit what *other people* can do… gtfo.

Also, I find it highly suspect that Google brings up 0 hits for a “Gays Against Same-Sex Marriage Coalition”…