If this happens, I'll be sending post cards from California (health insurance, lawyer)

[AliceT]

Nice deck in the pic. Needs potted ferns, though.

[GottaHerdOn]

Originally Posted by AliceT

Nice deck in the pic. Needs potted ferns, though.

Hmm.. I love ferns! We have natural ones growing around the bases of our non coniferous trees. But I don't really know about them on the deck. We have huge ferns hanging from the ceiling on the front deck. I don't think my parents really care about the back too much. ha ha

[Janipoo]

GHO, I have been wondering where you have been.....

Well.....I believe a marriage should be between a man and a woman......with that said I still believe that they should have a legal partnership between a gay or lesbian couple. I just think it should go under another name...be it a partnership or some other name. I think that a gay or lesbian couple that chooses to go that route like us that get married should have the same recourse when it is good or not . I have always felt that a gay or lesbian couple needs to be able to have rights when it comes to visitation at hospitals and such since they don't have the option to get "married". I think if they want the rights as heterosexuals than they should have the option to make that choice or deal with the consequences like the "ones" that choose to stay single.

The only reason why I think it should have another legal name is because of the children.....if this comes to be a reality than a child needs to learn that if someones parents are married than they have a mother and a father and if someones parents are (let's say a partnership) than they will know that they have 2 parents of the same sex. It would be our job as a parent to make sure that they understand. I myself have no problem explaining because I feel that it is not a choice.

I just feel that there should be a difference in terminology but the commitment is the same, as so should be the consequences .

With that being said, I could also tell you.....be careful.....very careful what you wish for .

[GottaHerdOn]

Well I understand there are issues with religious institutions saying marriage is between a man and a woman. Which I don't personally care about. Because both me and Jake are atheist/agnostics, despite being raised in Catholic and Baptist households. But I have many gay and lesbian friends that are Christian, Jewish, and Hindu that still respect their religious guidelines... aside from that one..ha ha

Personally, I don't think that is a good idea to single out a child because his or her parents. I just don't see the need. I think as parents we should teach our children to embrace differences and understand we are all not the same and should respect other peoples lives.

With that said... I don't want a religious marriage. I want a state marriage. I want it called marriage because separate but equal is b/s. My parents were married at the courthouse basically back in 1978. They didn't have a church wedding because that was just not something they wanted. Then nine years later I came along... ha ha Which is pretty much how me and Jake want to go about things. We don't want a wedding in a church or something. We just want the title, the legal benefits, and perhaps a small reception with family and friends once we get back to WV, (we're planning on getting married in San Diego, CA)

The only way around this issue is to do away with marriage recognition within the government and to keep marriage a religious act (like christening or a baptism and create a whole new term for both heterosexual and homosexual couples to recognize the relationship. Or to allow any two loving people the same right to enter into marriage as everyone else. Those are really the only two options that are fair to the gay/lesbian community.

Look at it from my perspective. Hypothetically, gay marriages are legal and heterosexual marriages are banned for whatever hypothetical situation. But you are given the option in 3 states to be married to the person you love, and in about 7-8 others you can have a civil union. Wouldn't you have lots of questions? Like why is my love not treated the same as others? Why am I being treated like a 2nd class citizen? any many others...

[Call me Tres]

GHO, you might want to wait on buying that ticket to CA. Prop 8 is getting a lot of support all of a sudden.

I wish that someone could walk me through the steps to explain how me marrying my girlfriend would devalue or lessen my neighbours' straight marriages. If you don't want to call it a marriage, fine. Let me have some sort of state/federal recognition of our relationship so that I can protect my gf in case I die far too soon.

[GottaHerdOn]

Originally Posted by Call me Tres

GHO, you might want to wait on buying that ticket to CA. Prop 8 is getting a lot of support all of a sudden.

I wish that someone could walk me through the steps to explain how me marrying my girlfriend would devalue or lessen my neighbours' straight marriages. If you don't want to call it a marriage, fine. Let me have some sort of state/federal recognition of our relationship so that I can protect my gf in case I die far too soon.

Well there is always Massachusetts and Connecticut

more to come later

[vec101]

Couldn't help but wonder, from a Mom's perspective - hope you have both come out to your parents already. If not, you may want to remove the picture.

[GottaHerdOn]

Originally Posted by vec101

Couldn't help but wonder, from a Mom's perspective - hope you have both come out to your parents already. If not, you may want to remove the picture.

He came out to his parents in high school... I came out to my parents about a year ago... sooo I think we're safe. What do you mean from a moms' perspective? I don't really care who finds out. I'm not ashamed of my love or relationship

[vec101]

Originally Posted by GottaHerdOn

He came out to his parents in high school... I came out to my parents about a year ago... sooo I think we're safe. What do you mean from a moms' perspective? I don't really care who finds out. I'm not ashamed of my love or relationship

You get too defensive sometimes. From a Mom's perspective means that as a Mom, I would want my child to tell me - I wouldn't want to find out from looking at a site on the internet. That would be very hurtful - I've always hoped my kids can talk to me.

[GottaHerdOn]

Originally Posted by vec101

You get too defensive sometimes. From a Mom's perspective means that as a Mom, I would want my child to tell me - I wouldn't want to find out from looking at a site on the internet. That would be very hurtful - I've always hoped my kids can talk to me.

I'm not being defensive... I'm being straight forward, and I'm also a natural blonde so sometimes I don't get what people are saying? Which is why I asked you to clarify. I only get defensive if I feel I'm being attacked verbally or physically. Which I was not being towards you... I thought the smiley face would signify that. ha ha