You know Lally, I get what you are saying and to an extent I agree with you (and I've made my personal feelings on the actual issue quite clear), however, I just really think if you want to convince people to change their views calling names and using hateful words on who have differing views than you isn't going to do anything but inflame an already hot topic.
I'm not saying don't be passionate, but I have yet to see someone be swayed by the "you are a bigoted and intolerant moron" argument. Instead they just go, "See how angry and hateful the other side is? We must be right!"
I understand.
It's true, I lose my cool when it comes to this stuff. But I just get so frustrated, and no matter how hard I try, on this issue, I just can't see it any other way. I am angry and hateful. This is one of the very few issues that I'm unequivocal about. I am not the type to argue about politics because a lot of times I can see things from both sides. But in this case, I honestly feel that if one doesn't feel everyone should have equal rights, he or she is just wrong. I just don't know what to do. I almost feel that if someone is already intolerant, there's no way to convince them otherwise anyway.
Talking about equal rights just makes me angry, and sad, and frustrated all around. Sorry for taking the conversation in a negative direction.[/QUOTE]
I feel the same way. but at the same time I don't want to force my ideal to other either (do unto others as you want them to do to you) so if I force my equal rights bit, I feel I am no better than the bigots who are against it (at least in my head)
My wife and I were married via JP. We actually got a Marriage license from the City of Dallas. yes, it said Marriage. I know that the history of marriage goes a long way back, BUT the "institution of marriage" in today's age is WAY different than say 200 years ago.
What does Hetro couple get automatically?
1. Power of attorney - your spouse can make legal decision on your behalf. This include financial, medical decision (especially when you don't have a living will), and laws of property. If your spouse died without a will, you get the property by default. Same sex couple would need to play money (hetro couple get this for free) to actually draw out legal documents, living wills, and power of attorney papers to prove the other person can make decisions on their behalf.
2. Visitation rights - this is a biggy for a friend of mine. Hospital (many in Dallas) will NOT let non family member to visit their love one. Brother, husband, wife, sister, father, mother, but noooooooo if you are of the same sex..... nope. (some hospital does allow with special advance permission but what if you are in a coma?)
3. name change upon marry. traditionally you take the husband's name, but you can legally take on your spouse's last name instead without charge (and it is legal) for same sex, you would have to pay 300$ for a name change in Dallas.
4. Adoption - sadly not much we can on this one, many are run via church group and won't let same sex couple adopt (there are some agency that does but those are rare)
5. tax benefits - nuff said
those are just some of the biggies. I believe that government should not FORCE a church to marry anyone they don't want to, actually right now a church can refuse me and my wife to marry in their church if I don't follow their belief and that is not illegal.
The only thing I'm fighting for is the same rights in the eye of the government. The same benefit that the U.S. government give to my wife and I, I want those same rights to any other COUPLE out there.
