All couples of legal age deserve the right to marry regardless of gender.

Anything less than equal protection under the law is patently unconstitutional.

All churches deserve (and have) the right to decide which couples of legal age can be married therein.

It's really not rocket science.

This is like the abortion issue in that it proposes a major cultural paradigm shift and therefore a lot of expected confusion, anger and debate. I’m not certain that any of it is really necessary if you simply stop and realize that it either involves you or it does not. For instance; if you are a woman and you disagree with abortion – by all means do not have one. If you are a man and you don’t agree with it then don’t impregnate a woman you don’t want to have a child with. If you are gay and you do not agree with gay marriage – again; don’t marry. If you’re straight and you don’t believe in gay marriage then don’t marry a gay person (or get a grip and realize it has nothing to do with you and that no one is going to take away your right to marry the opposite sex). In other words – use your energy to tend to your own rights, responsibilities, beliefs and lifestyle and try to stay out of other people’s private lives. We are never all going to like the same food, enjoy the same entertainment or want the same things. It makes a lot more sense to just try to be as fair as possible and be thankful that you have the right to see the world through your own personally selected shade of glass.

I think they should have the right to get married. It is not that I think being gay is so wonderful or that I am one of those girls that go around with gay men. I have seen the gay women that wanted to get married in San Francisco and then they take it away and it just isn't right. I think everyone has their rights and they are just people. People are locked into one way of looking at things. Some people are also the ones that are both sexes hemaphrodite. What should they be able to do then? They could marry. It is happening anyway and times are changing.

I think all orientations should have the opportunity to get married, get bored, get divorced, lose at least half their stuff and wind up bitter and alone! :-)

No, I don't think they should have the right. There are 2 differnt genders in the world, and there is a reason for that i am sure. If people were not meant to be married to opposite genders, why would there be 2 seperate genders. In my opinion, we were not created to be gay, although if that is what they choose, then that is fine. But I don't think being gay should be allowed to go to the extent of gay marriage.

They can marry who ever they want to. I just don't support it and never will.

The name marriage means acceptance for gays on religious grounds, but considering the state of marriage today…I don’t understand why they would want to use the same name anyway.

I do not support gay marriage (nor civil unions) but I do my best to respect all people (except the Yankees and Red Sox). I think the gay marriage issue is a great way to sidestep issues like the faltering economy. I think people will automatically assume that I'm conservative based on that but I consider myself more as a moderate because I am pro-choice and support single payer universal healthcare. But rest assured on my feelings that both Democrats and Republicans suck!

They already have that right but, in most states, nobody can marry someone of the same gender, any more than they can marry their sisters or first cousins. Or their pets. For now . . .

It shows how low our society has sunk where this proposition has gained serious consideration. This is hilarious.

Any society that permits this is rapidly on the way to permanent decline. This is the Iron Verdict of History. Goodbye, America!

The most disturbing thing is that this question even has to be ASKED in this day and age!

Sticky topic. I think a civil union of some type should be allowed, but I don't think I'm ready to go any further than that. I guess one concern that I have is that the church is going to take a beating for refusing to perform ceremonies for gay couples and that would not only be unfortunate, but it would additionally be unconstitutional if we try to coerce churches into doing something that they have a religious grounds for not supporting.

I believe Gays should be able to marry, simply because I would want them to have the opportunity to go through divorce and be as unhappy as the straights.

It's none of my business to tell people who they can or can't marry. If we are going to copy bible passages to argue against gay marriage, I've heard the KKK use Genesis 9:27 as a reason blacks are inferior. Interracial marriage was not allowed until 1966.

They have it. Any gay can marry any woman and form a family. And any lesbian has the right to marry any men she pleases. The question is moot.

  As society continues in vain to cover up things that are being swept under the rug, it keeps getting uglier and uglier. The argument about gays is redundant, they are accepting under any circumstance the argument that it is in their dna is a little bit strange. I don't know, I've seen the guys that come out and parade around on the  Maury show, they don't think about the young 8 year olds that could be watching? Kids are so impressionable, and now they have to digest people wanting to be gay, and dance around with dresses and wigs and make-up, how wierd is that? But you ask these people why? sometimes I feel as though so much hinges on people wanting to be noticed and on television. Today there are enough cabel channels out there, so practcally anybody can go n television.

Another time I was reading an article in a magazine, about people who are on these reality shows, they number one do not make a lot of money. They may get some exposure, but it is usually the person who is the winner who might end up with a "good" connection. But I wonder with all the personal freedoms that are out there, is it a wonder how people especially young people 13-18 have to pick apart what they like about it, and what they do not like about it. I don't think it's as easy as it looks, it is extremely difficult to turn away from ones natural desires to behave as ones sex, think about it.

I think that gat marriages should be Legal..... some people use the bible as way to say that gay marriages shouldn't be legal but also in the bible it says that we are all brothers and sisters. so if a guy and a girl are together they are with thier brother or sister.. and thats not right in a way.....Gay people dont do anything that would hurt the original way of life(man and women) the only problem is that people are affraid of change... to bad suck it up

I'm no advocate of homosexuality, but I'm not immature or bigoted enough to deny two people who love each other, whether the Bible approves or not (if it is immoral or a sin, surely they will go to hell then?), then why shouldn't they get married? To prevent them from marrying is denying them a right. Gays are humans too, whether the homophobes like it or not.

Of course. Cementing the legality of gay marriage will be a step towards a better, more tolerant society. Several decades ago many people considered interracial marriage to be abhorrent, but now it is seen as perfectly normal. Ghengis: Advancing human rights does not indicate the decline of society.  Justwakeup: Marriage is not a culture. Marriage is PART of our culture. Yes, what gays do on their own free time may be disgusting to you, but basing your morality and basis for human rights on aesthetics is dangerous, ignorant, and wrong. Again, focusing solely on the gay communitys AIDS problem proves my point further. The Bible is not a basis for legislation, and furthermore, complex human rights issues such as this.

As for your statement "you are dumb if you think gays should marry"...you are undermining your own cause via immaturity. Rethink how you say things. Justwakeup, please, for your own sake, just wake up.

NO!!! Gays should not be able to get married. Marriage is a Culture. I don't want to be part of a Culture that promotes men screwing up the ass. We sit here everyday fighting AGAINST AIDS, but yet we have the same DUMBASS people fighting FOR GAY MARRIAGE. You are dumb if you think gays should marry. READ THE BIBLE. Or if you don't even want to go that far, read a BOOK. Look at the diseases, the deaths. You imbeciles.

yes gays and lesbians have the right to get married. the marriage should be legal. give them a marriage lecense, and evey body live happily ever after. give gay people a break!! they are crashing airplanes on the twin towers in new your. if Osama Ben Ladin can get married, well gay people can get married too. end of story

They have the right to be married just like any one else. If a gay man wants to marry a woman I has the exact say right as a straight man. Any other right would be considered an additional right.

That's a very touchy situation, so I'm going to try and not pull anyone's strings. I PERSONALLY don't believe that they should, just because of what I've been taught, and what I believe. There's a saying that goes God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. I know that there are a lot of gay marriages that have already taken place, but I'm against them. It has nothing to do with the person themself, but with their lifestyle. I don't believe in gay marriages. Love is love, I understand that, but I'm still not for them at all.

Absolutely. I don't even see why this is an issue, really. I've heard it said that gay marriage will ruin the institution of marriage, and at this, I scoff. Recently there was a pop star who got married and a day later declared it void, because, and I quote it was a joke that has gone to far. There was no outcry here, but you can bet that thousands, if not millions of young fans remember that. In Vegas you can get married, and (I'm not sure, but I believe this is so) divorced, without ever leaving the comfort of your car. How so, then, would the marriage of two, committed homosexuals degrade the institution of marriage? Where is the outcry of the drive through marriage? Where is the outcry for making divorce laws tougher? I believe that gay marriage is like any other marriage. Two committed people are necessary to make it work, and if there aren't two, it won't work. Whatever laws you pass. Let the homosexuals marry, and let god sort things out at the pearly gates, if that's what you're so afraid of. After all, it's god's decision as to who's worthy, and who's not. Or so I was raised to believe.

I think this question brings up alot of arguments for both sides... but if it was upto me YES... But, I am again a christian so its against religion.

If this is permissible, then there will be no logical reason to deny letting 3 people marry each other in a ménage à trois. There won't be any legal reason to deny letting a man marry his sister, his brother, his aunt, or his mother. As long as people can claim to have a meaningful relationship with other persons, they can lay claim to calling it a marriage. And don't be so sure they will limit it to marrying just people.

Rights. That is the key word. If a man and a man, or a woman and woman, want to get married to each other, why should we stop them? Doesn't the Constitution say that All men are equal.? It took years for people to see past skin color, past sex. Is it going to take the same time to see past sexual preference? To say that two people of the same sex cannot get married legally is Discrimination.

I think there are more important issues. But people against gay marriage remind me of another culture that based all decisions on conservative religion - The Taliban. Remember kids- you don't deserve one ounce of freedom you would withold from someone else. Sleep tight.

gay marriage being recognized by the state is not a segway into legalizing incestual marriage etc. that is an excuse that close-minded people, who feel they have the right to dictate the way other people should live their lives, use to make themselves seem less like bigots and more like concerned americans. i realize this statement will piss some people off, but i feel very strongly in favor of gay marraige and resent the fact that people feel they have a right to stop it.

Yeah sure, I don't really care if it gets banned or not, but people's religious reasons aside I do not see anything wrong with letting gays marry.

Yes of course! As long as two people fall in love, then they should be entitled to the same respect as heterosexuals.

they are human beings capable of love.

My God, are we still spawning the likes of Mr Political? Incestual 'marriage' would not be illegal if a law was passed making it so since 'legal' means the passing of MAN-MADE laws. Personally though, I can't see anyone wanting this one to get on the statute books! What connection has this, however, with offering state protection for two gays wanting to commit to each other? It really doesn't affect him or Ralph, the wonderLlama ( a good case for treatment and therapy if ever there was one) in any way...., or does it? Homosexual men and women exist in EVERY country, every society, every culture and creed , even in those places who have relatively little contact with mass media,making up at least 10% of the world populus if not more. That makes MILLIONS of them worldwide...a statistic that seems to me to represent a pretty natural expression of human sexuality- and therefore one that God must have intended. To refer to marriage as one man and one woman is a legal contract; the word marriage means to join two things together...it is a civic concept NOT a spiritual one. God isn't against polygamy as such...it's just that it doesn't work very well in anyone's favor. There is no good or bad in God's Universe...just what works best and what doesn't. Please don't keep quoting the Bible at me. Half the world doesn't read it and they get along ok. As for paying tax dollars...gays have been supporting heterosexuals for years -and their kids- with their taxes so maybe some of it is due back. Guessed it would all come down to money in the end.

The gays already have the right to be married. They have been marrying each other for decades. Nothing is stopping them from getting married now. The issue is should their marriage be recognized by the state. And, I say, if the state will not recognize polygamy, the marriage of a man and more then one women (some have gone to jail because of it), why should homo marriages be recognized? This is all about money and Satan's attempt to corrupt traditional values. You homos can get married already, you can write wills, you can request visitation at hospitals; hell, you can even adopt children. But you want to be equal to a real married couple, and that is just impossible. I do not doubt your love, even though gays sleep around more than hetros, I just don't want my tax dollars going to support your twisted version of playing house. Be happy you can't be legally married, do you really want the courts involved in your personal relationships? That would really add to the tax burdon if every gay marriage had to stand before a judge for divorce. The government should be getting out of the marriage game, not expanding it. Only marriages that have minor children should even possibly be recognized. You homos are free to sin all you want, be happy with that. But stop trying to force your perverted ways onto the taxpayers.

If you mean, should they have the right to form a legal union for tax purposes, that I can agree with. But to label such a union a marriage I will not condone. Marriage has always been one man and one woman joined as one, with God's blessing, and to a lesser degree, the state's. Anything else does not meet the standard to be called marriage, and some of them (incestuous relationships, polygamy, etc.) should remain illegal under God and the law.

Solenoid- you have an excellent point. If you allow gays to get married, what is to stop incestual marriage? What is to stop polgomisits from getting married to thirty guys/girls (or both!)? Nothing, and that's really is scary.

I am a republican but I believe in this libral views of gay marriage. Who says homosexuals cant get married. Oh yea the Catholic Church but Wait.... isn't there a seperation between church and state. It is up to the goverment not the church and Im from massahusetts and now the gays can get married.

I get so tired of people trying to force love into cookie cutter shapes. Who is the government to try and dictate love? Who is anyone for that matter? Heterosexual couples are allowed to get married with little stipulations. They can be abusive, criminals, drunk, even be on their 10th time. And yet homosexual couples are not afforded even the privilege of getting married. I think this only proves that our government relies to heavily on religious doctrines. Bush certainly has no right to tamper with the Constitution, the foundation of our nation. I suppose I just don't see the problem in allowing these couples, who will continue their lifestyle regardless, to be able to express their love and commitment the most true way.

Sure. Why should straight people have a monopoly on fighting over the bills, and who does the dishes, takes out the garbage and walks the dog.

I think that marriage is the joining of a man and a woman, but gays need to be allowed that same type of right. Is it a marriage, I would say no since it is not between different sexes, but is it more than a civil union? I think so. I think the gay community should come up with a term of their own to describe the union of two people of the same sex, and I think they should be granted the same rights as a man and woman who enter into marriage. And since when have family values meant anti homosexuality. My family has very strong values, but they do not include discriminating against homosexuals. I would prefer to know a loving, respectful homosexual couple, than to know a married couple who have a contemptuous relationship.

I fail to see the tenuous connection between allowing gay marriage and the marriage of minors. Minors cannot consent, adults can. If a marriage is a legal contract between two consenting adults that causes no harm to anyone, then why the heck not?

Yes they should. I have no problem with this.If this is what a gay couple want to do let them get married.

I think that the issue of marriage should be left to religious groups. Let them approve or disapprove as they wish. But our secular government should allow the civil union of same-sex couples so that all our citizens can be afforded the same benefits under the law.

One of the main arguments against gay marriage is that it breaks up the tradition in marriage. Let me get this straight... Brittany Spears can get married at 5:30 AM and have it unulled 55 hours later, where as a gay couple who really do love each other and have been together for years cannot be married? Where is the tradition in that? What Christians dont understand is that marriage today is political, not religious anymore. I, for one, do not want to be married. I will never forgive what the Catholic Church has done to the whole homosexual community. One one hand, they say Love thy neighbor. Then they turn around and call me immoral. I've lost all of the faith that I used to have in Church leaders and the Pope. As long as the church continues to blindingly live in the 15th century, they will undoubtedly continue to lose support. When it comes down to it, marriage today is not religious. It was, but not any more. Its political. And if Christians get angry over this, too bad. And, my state is the only state where homosexuals can actually get full-blown marriage. The Cathloic Church is committing suicide right before its eyes.

Yes! gays have social rights just like everyone else.

Yes, gays should have the right to get married because they apparently enjoy relationships that are just as valid and meaningful as heterosexual relationships. Why should they be denied the right to sanctify their relationships if it makes them feel better?

If gays are paying taxes, being law abiding citizens, and being productive, Then why not give them the same rights as straights? Gays have worked hard for equality and have not yet gotten it. I think we should strive for a society that treats everyone as an equal and gives everyone an equal oppurtunity. So why deny someone's happiness? I personally believe true love knows no gender, color, or religious difference.

I think Redoedo makes a very vaild point. I know many people find great comfort and peace in the Bible, but I have a real problem when they use it to force morals on other people, especially in the US where we have freedom of religion. In regards to Redoedo's reference to the Bible, I studied a lot of Biblical history in college and a lot of it is reference to other cultures of the ancient world. Noah's flood story is common to many cultures of the ancient near east, most notably the Epic of Atrahasis a Sumerian story which is contemporary to the Genesis flood story, or about 1650 B.C. The tale of Potiphar's wife was a popular Egyptian parable and Sargon II of Akkad was found as a baby in a bed made of reeds on a river centuries before Moses was found in his own bed of reeds. In fact, leaders of the ancient world often claimed to be found in odd places as babies, thus giving hint that they might be divinely sent. There is even debate among ancient scholars that the book of Daniel was actually written as Babylonian political propeganda towards the invading Persians. My point with all of this is, how can we make such damning arguements against the happiness of others when we are using a collection of stories, laws and myths that are thousands of years old? I know my view of the Bible will prove very unpopular among those who believe all of it to be the true word of God and I apologize if I offend, but I think it is just as offensive to claim God is against gay marriages because the Bible says so. Let them get married. It's hard enough to be gay in this world, don't they deserve even that much happiness?

I am personally tired of explaining why I think gays should be allowed to be together for life if they so choose. It isn't anyone else's business what I do in my personal life as long as it isn't illegal or isn't hurting someone else. Leave me the hell alone already !

Sure. With the divorce rate at 50% it seems like gays are the only people who want to get married these days. If 2 people are in love and they are not close relatives and they want to make a life-long commitment, they should be allowed to marry each other. It's getting to the point where soon everyone will know someone who is gay and it's a lot harder to deny the right of marriage to your friend, relative, etc.