At a moment of great inclusiveness, gay people are shut out

You are sooo right,Lisa. I am not gay, white women, married to the same man for over 40 years but I say let our gay friends act upon their beliefs. Who am I or anyone elce to say who someone wants to spend the rest of their life with . I say to those who oppose gay marriage-mind your own business!
Love you and your mom and all the good you do.

The supreme court overstepped their authority is giving people false hope. They cannot change the consitution, these attorneys know this. The American people have a voice and they are using it.

Oh God, whose vast light devours all differences and in whose majesty all prejudices tremble, we pray for an opening of our hearts to all our gay brothers and sisters. We ask you to break down the walls that divide us, that keep us estranged.
Give us the compassion for the sufferings they have suffered, violations of the spirit through prejudice, discrimination, and judgment, a plague of illness and death, and may we honor them for the bountiful gifts they have brought us, gifts that expand and nourish their spirits.
We acknowledge the burden they have carried in being the living embodiment of the blending of the male and female energies, and give thanks for their living out the message that human essence is not of the body but of the spirit, not of gender but of consciousness, not of prejudice but of great love.
This excerpt was written by Daphne Rose Kingma. I found it in one of my favorite books entitled:
“A Grateful Heart” (Daily Blessings for the Evening Meal from Buddha to the Beatles)

I am a man that voted yes on Prop 8 in Los Angeles. My reasons were religious. I do believe that marriage is between a man and women. I believe this is what God intended and I'm not above God to change a institution that has been around since the begining of creation. I'm proud of Los Angeles because in a climate where marriage is not taken seriously, it was taken serious enough for us to vote yes on the proposition. I am all for civil unions, but marriage is just to sacred. And Lisa, regarding the "back of the bus" comment. I am a black man and to compare being black to being gay is not the same. When discrimination occurs around me, I have no "closet" to walk into.

Lisa – I thank you and your mother for all the work that you do for equal rights for everyone, not just a few. I am a happily married mother of two and I have never and will never understand the exclusiveness people practice. My hopes for America are to continue to open our hearts like we did in this historic election and give love to ALL of our brothers and sisters.

Lisa,

America, Yes, YOU Did! Our country has come a long way. Children, no matter their color, woke up this morning, and realized that they, too, can become President of the United States!

Now, on to the bad news . . . No, we CANNOT accept gays as equals. Shame on California! Shame on Florida! Those tears of joy we all had should be short lived! Those who voted YES on the proposals need only to realize that our friends who are gay cannot turn this "on" or "off" like a switch. It is NOT a choice. We should LOVE everyone. So, today is bittersweet!

Lisa and Wanda-

I agree with both of you. All people should be able to spend their lives however and with whomever they choose.

That is why there are legal domestic unions in most states. Have your ceremony, profess your love to the person you love, announce it to all your friends, family and the world. More power to you and congratulations.
But, that's not what gays want. They want all the financial benefits a marriage affords. They want spousal health insurance, tax breaks and shared retirement benefits. It's a money issue, not a love issue, now.

Those benefits were introduced to promote the family, the nuclear family, the majority accepted man and woman marriage.

"Mind my own business"? It is my business if my health care, my taxes and my retirement costs me more due to allowing gays to have a government sanctioned marriage.

Where do we draw the line? Shouldn't we legalize multiple marriages too? After all it's just people wanting to love as many people as they can. .

I went to the polls yesterday expecting a long line. If there was, I was not going to vote. Bless God, I walked right in and was out in 10 minutes. I did not have to wait at all. God bless America!

Lisa your right!
Thank you for giving a voice to everyone!
Lets pray things will change so we all can live in the USA happy, with love, freedom and in peace and a world that everyone can stop judging and start living. I am not gay but I do have gay friends and they are wonderful people. Stop the madness and bring in pure joy and happiness.

Hope you feel that proud when your taxes go up to spread the wealth.

Being a homosexual is not acceptable in our society. Marriage is historically, religiously and traditionally a man and a woman. Deal with it.

Thank you for you kind thoughts and good works on equal rights for ALL!
Celebrating a new hope for the futurewhile at the same time seeing the vote in CA turn against us was depressing.
The love of my life and I have been together for over 25 years, are tax paying part of the community and teach our two teenages that acceptance
and love of others is what matters. We hope for a peaceful, loving world for them and their future families.
Your "sidebar" comments this morning lifted our hearts...thank you.

I agree. But Native Americans and African Americans have both fought battles for decades. Then consider our next President. There is still so much hope for GLBT folks. But this is the time for them to really step up and tell their stories of parents' kicking them out of the house, of neighbors harassing GLBT neighbors, of students being beat up and worse. The African American and Native American plight of years of torture and abuse and mockery was ended when they began to stand and fight for what was right and just.

Let's do something about this conversation. We should all find a GLBT meeting going on this weekend and attend. Our GLBT family and friends need our support and our voice in order to succeed at becoming just another American with Equal Rights and Benefits.

if everyone lived by the 10 Commandments, ther would never be a problem. The Bible rejects being gay, so if you are a real christian you will stand up and be against it as well.

If there is one thing that I hate the most is when people use religion as an excuse to ban gay marriage. Yea ok, we get it, ur a born again christian, and u believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. So stop hating them so much just cause they see things differently. I hope u know that god does not condemn hatred. So stop being hypocrites and give them rights. And karma is real, just look at Dick Cheney, and his lesbian daughter. I hope that happens to all the people who hate gays.

Miriam, the supreme court of California did not attempt to change the California constitution. They merely affirmed what the constitution already said. Proposition 8 changed the constitution.

Read your Bible people. Being Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual is very wrong. No, I am not a bible-thumper–I am hardly a perfect person–I am not in "fear" or hatred of gays. Like Richard's comment above–I too, believe none of us are above God. God's words are plain as day in His Good Book. He does not hate these people, on the contrary–he loves them very much. He hates their sin and all sin. He did not make people gay. They chose this way of life. Marriage is a sacred institution between man and woman period. Unfortunately, these days–being married doesn't mean much to many people when saying those vows. This world is in a decline of Spiritual and Moral decay because of what is "allowed" by the people of this world –children disrespect parents and elders-they've become de-sensitized too. Murder, rape, theft its just the beginning of the end. I have nothing personal against gays–I've know a few and they are good people–but as it states in Revelations–they to, must repent or perish.

Why not just change the civil union laws to allow the same benefits of marriage? The conservative argument is all about God not recognizing "marriage" between two people of the same gender. So, take "marriage" out of it and make it a legal/financial thing like it should be. Frankly, I am tired of hearing the rattling of swords over legal interpretations of religious beliefs. We have much more significant issues to debate, things that affect all of us RIGHT NOW.

And the hyprocrisy of it all, according to a report in CNN, is that the group which most strogly voted for Prop 8 (denying gays equal rights) was African Americans. One would have thought that they, of all people, would understand the necessity of eliminating foolish barriers. Apparently not.

Spider, what are you talking about? How do your health care, taxes and retirement possibly cost more if gay people can marry? If anything, married gays will pay more in taxes than they do as domestic partners, and health insurance companies and the like will take in more in premiums.

And, by the way, the married nuclear family raising their own children now accounts for less than 15% of households in California. The rest are single parent homes, blended families, gay and lesbian families, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and so forth. I'd venture a guess, based on my experience as a foster parent, that methamphetamine addiction is doing far more to harm marriage and family in California than gay marriage does.

On a related note, I have to say that I've been growing desperately tired of this business about "activist judges subverting the will of the people." The role of a judiciary is to ensure that the will of the majority does not trample the constitution; the role of the constitution is to ensure that the rights of the majority AND the rights of the minority are both treated on equal footing. If 50% of the voters can make the constitution say whatever they want, then the constitution is meaningless. The will of the people is not, thank God, the supreme law of the land. Woe to all of us if that changes.

Hi Lisa,
You are so right. As a gay man in a 12 year committed relationship with my partner, I can not believe that this is still an issue in this country. My relationship with my partner has lasted longer them most of my straight friends and family members marriages.. Last year I was battling cancer and in order to have my partner with me we had do get power of attorney for each other. He was allowed to sit by me and make any medical decisions. It was the only way legally that he we could make any decisions for each other, unlike married couples that automatically can make those decisions. As long as there is a group of people that are denied the rights that this country was built on, we will always have a civil right issue. Although many do not see it this way, they believe it is a religious moral issue. What really is the moral issue is denying rights to people because of the color of their skin and who they love. This country was built on freedome but over the years there has been so much hateful momements in history. When I think of how many of our us citizens have been beaten and killed because of who they loved and the color of their skin, and just being different for what i society calls the "normal people", it really is disturbingly shocking to me. Yes we finally have a African American president, but this country has a long way to go. I hope in my life time I will see another history making moment for my fellow gay, lesbian, trans- gender, bisexual family, that we will be treated and accepted equally as other American citizen in this country. That will truly be another great day for me.

Richard–your attempt at discounting the bigotry that gay folks face is absurd. Having a "closet" to retreat to is no consolation to the oppressed. It is shocking that as an African American male, you would rank your own suffering over those of LGBT people. Open your eyes and your heart–don't keep the flame of bigotry and bias burning.

I pay taxes, I have worth, Jesus loves me and we (LGBT) shall overcome!!!

To Richard,
If you voted for Prop 8 based on religion than why do you allow Agnostics and Pagans the right to marry? There is a separation of church and state in this country. Marriage is a legal right, not a religious choice or freedom. It lost its ties to religion when it included those who don't believe in God and when it received rights, benefits and tax breaks. We are all Americans and we should all have that right. Basing the arguments against gay marriage on religion holds no water yet everyone wants to sail that ship. Please, allow me to sit in the back of the bus for another 40 years, I really enjoy being a second class citizen in my own country. The Unites States is supposed to be a progressive country yet while others celebrate diversity and equal rights; we make laws to purposely exclude our fellow tax paying Americans because of who they are. No longer are we basing rights on color or creed, those are protected under hate crime and discrimination laws, yet you see it fit for another society to sit by and watch all others reap the benefits of freedom. Just so you know Richard, I supported African American rights when it was said they were a lesser people back in the day. Now you show no support for those who are fighting the same struggle? It's not a religious issue it's a humanitarian issue. Though I am not a homosexual I am a lover of all humankind and a believer that we are all created equally and deserve the same rights.

First off: spider. If homosexuals are allowed to marry, it doesn't have anything to do with you. It really doesn't. I have a very close friend that is gay and married his boyfriend. As soon as that happened, nobody charged in to my house disavowing my hetrosexual marriage. The "preservation of traditional marriage" is a simple homophobic statement. It doesn't matter to you, unless, perhaps you are gay. If you're not, leave others alone to live their lives as happily as they can.

Secondly: Richard. No, you don't have a "closet to walk into". It's not about that. It's about one group of people getting treated like second class citizens because they're different. It's very disappointing that, being a black man, you can't understand that. And, yes, marriage is sacred. I believe that's the point. Why can't one group of people have a sacred union and others can. How would you feel if only white people could get married? I'll bet things would be a bit different for you then.

Let's all just open up our minds and accept people for who they are. Just because you don't agree with certain factions of the population doesn't mean they have no rights. This is one of the most ridiculous hot button issues of the last decade or so. It's a non issue, or at least should be one. Let me say this again: it you're not gay, gay marriage doesn't affect you and never will. Live and let live, for God's sake.

Welcome to living in a democratic society. If you don’t like it, feel free to move.

Although the ads to defeat Prop 8 were not strong enough, and not enough money was spent to defeat it; the money from the religious institutions/organizations had more of it.

If God created us all in his image, do you religious fantatics really believe we are his mistake? I think not, God loves us just as he loves the bigots, the ignorant, the those that use His name to hate. I have learned one thing from religion and that is "how to hate another."

If religionious institutuions/organizations want to throw their hat into the politica arena, I say take their Non Profit status away from them, start taxing them. The fine line of seperation between church and state has been crossed to many times, and this time it was a huge step across that line. It's time, we start looking at these religious institutions and making sure there that line is bigger, bolder, so it's easy to see and those who cross it, beware your hatred, your ignorance, will come back and bit you in the rear.

These propsitions in CA, AZ, FL and AR were created of ignorance, hatred, and based on religion and fear. I as a gay man, will rise to the occaision, keeping my head held high, and proud of who I am, because your God has created me in the same image has you. One day I will have the same basic rights as you.

Just one question for Spider since when did the number of marriages increase the cost of taxes, retirement and healthcare. What is that magic number that says if we exceed this then all these cost will go up for everyone.

Lisa thank you for just understanding.

Hi, I am a 42 year old gay man, father of 2 teenagers and have been with my "partner" for almost 3 years. I am opposed to gay marriage in the fact that gay marriage is NOT the issue. EQUAL RIGHTS are!

This whole marriage issue resulted in a lack of equal rights among same sex partners. Domestic partnership is no different than the old "common wealth" marriages of the 70's. A man and woman who had shared a house, kids, bills and life were seen as "partners" in the eyes of the law. So, why then can't gay people have the same rights.

I don't need to have a piece of paper or notarized statement that tells me I love my partner, I need to know that if something happens to me our kids will be allowed to stay in their home, I need to know my pension will go to help him and our children when I'm gone. Equal rights are at stake not marriage rights.

Lisa, you are soooo right!!

Spider, I am disgusted!!!
If you ask any same sex couple their reasons for wanting the right to marry, the tax breaks and other financial reasons you've mentioned wouldn't be on that list. It's the love, family, being able to be able to profess that love without judgement and having it be recognized like every other couple in america!

I am looking foward to the day when everyone has the same rights. We've made a big step with electing an african american president. Hopefully the next step will be with allowing same sex couples the exact rights any heterosexual couple have regarding marriage and family!

To Richard in Los Angeles.

Thank you for sharing your beleifs. I too believe that marriage is between a man and women as our Lord intended.

In Florida, we also voted down a change to our constitution. In today's society, marriage is taken so lightly by so many. I believe that had or when any state wins this right, it does irreparable damage to the traditional foundation of marriage.

Marriage is a matter of religion, an should not be suported by the goverment. Do we put bar-mizvahs, or baptism on our taxes? Wheres the square I check for circumcision.

We as a nation need to put the rights of marriage back in control of the churches. If you belong to a religion that only accepts straight mariages, then so be it. Or you can join a religion that allows gay, or multiple spouses. Why should it matter, these people will live together regardless of what you may think.

If you create a child now, we use DNA to prove who will pay to support the child- with or without a marriage certificate.

Removing marriage from goverment regulation will not only allow you to marry who you want, but wont force a definition of marriage down religons throat. Let the definition be defined by each persond religous beliefs.

Oh please.
Gay people need to realize that they are potentially just as worthy as anyone else without the paperwork of marraige.
Until they do they will always have a problem.
Stop trying to take away an institution from the rest of us in failed effort to make yourselves "equal".
God made you as legitimate as the next person.
If you don't feel equal take a better look at your life.
sw – Chicago

Richard, I'm so happy to know that you think that prejudice and discrimination are only prejudice and discrimination if they apply to you and your particular minority group. Personally, I find it even more appalling when minorities bash other minorities since as minorities you've experienced discrimination firsthand and know what it's like.

The entire country was founded on the principle that people are allowed to choose and observe whatever religion they want to, and to not be interferred with by members of other religions. To Richard, I am glad you are a religious man if that makes life better for you. But you have absolutely no right to impose your religious views on me. I am sorry that your religion chooses not to acknowledge that people deserve to be happy, but my religion does not so choose. The same way I cannot force you to worship a cow, you cannot make me worship your bible and its rules.

As for being a black man, perhaps the type of oppression that you face is not exactly the same as that faced by gay people. But the same way you were born black, these people were born gay. They didn't choose it; who would? Even if I accepted your argument that the issues are not the same (I don't necessarily), I would thin that as a man who has faced a struggle for equal rights, you would sympathize with those who also struggle for equality. The fact that you do not sympathize says a great deal about you, especially if as I suspect, you call yourself a "christian".

I am sickened to know that I live in a time where people think they can constitutionalize bigotry. If you substituted any group for "gay/same sex", you would be discriminating to disallow them any right. What are these people so afraid of, that they cannot see this?

Homosexual marriage is a slap at the centurys old institution of marriage. I am glad to see the citizens of California and other states have denied this opportunity to homosexuals. Homosexuals never could marry 50 years ago, why on earth should they be allowed to marry now? Homosexuals can live their life as they want as it is with that singular exception. This seems fair and reasonable to me.

Please. Take your activist self somewhere else. It is people like you that make this Country the disgrace that it is...Being Gay is a sin, they need to repent and find forgiveness...

It is a sad day. But Obama's victory, less than 41 years after the Supreme Court ruled that the state could not keep inter-racial couples from marrying gives us hope. Winning does not make you right. Losing does not make you wrong. It just means you have to keep working and doing what's right. It may take another 40 years, but I believe that God is on our side in this.
Richard, you seem to imply that it would be okay to take away your civil rights if you were able to somehow hide the fact that you were black. Are you sure that's where you want to draw the line?
And Spider, you seem to think that civil rights are okay as long as you aren't out of pocket. The civil rights you enjoy were paid for by others with money and blood. Shame on you.

What's wrong with this picture: Californians voted to take away rights from a class of its citizens (those who are gay), but bestow rights upon chickens. It just shows the aburd nature of voting on propositions. The voters can change the law of the land if enough of them feel emotional enough about an issue. The propostions rarely have anything to do with common sense, and like many before, Prop 8 will end up in court and probaly be nullified anyway.

So all the hopey change is for naught as the good people of Arizona, California and Florida voted their conscience and ended this gay marriage stupidity once and for all. Liberals are all for change as longe as things change in their direction. The insanity of thinking that two homosexuals, incapable of reproducing their own offspring , offer anything as a couple besides more drain on tax dollars is ludicrous. This is still the USA. We vote, we live by the results. You got your president, you didn't get homosexual marriage. Deal with it free thinkers.

And to spider, all I can say is that that is about the most self serving, claptrap I have ever heard.

"Those benefits were introduced to promote the family, the nuclear family, the majority accepted man and woman marriage." ??? Are you kidding? These benefits were NOT introduced to promote YOUR version of the perfect family. Instead, they were an acknowledgement that most people eventually end up sharing their lives with someone. The fact that your acceptance of that principle is limited is not my problem. You show me one place in our tax code that says that a tax break or retirement benefit was created to promote your version of the perfect family (man and woman). That is your incorrect, ignorant assumption.

So nice try, but masking your hatred behind financial "concerns" is even worse than openly acknowledging your bigotry.

Further, if you are so greedy that

Spider said:

"That is why there are legal domestic unions in most states. Have your ceremony, profess your love to the person you love, announce it to all your friends, family and the world. More power to you and congratulations.
But, that’s not what gays want. They want all the financial benefits a marriage affords. They want spousal health insurance, tax breaks and shared retirement benefits."

And why shouldn't they get them? Why shouldn't they have equal status with heterosexuals? What non-religious, *objective* reason is there to deny them basic equality?

"It’s a money issue, not a love issue, now."

It's more than that. It's the 1200-plus rights that automatically come with marriage. It's the financial items you mentioned, sure, but it's also the automatic right to be next-of-kin, for example, which allows for hospital visitation and decisions. It's the right not to be compelled to testify against the spouse. It's the right to file taxes jointly. It's the right... well... you get the idea. There are hundreds of these that accrue to heterosexual spouses that do not automatically accrue to "civil unions" and, in some cases, are not available through "civil unions."

"Those benefits were introduced to promote the family, the nuclear family, the majority accepted man and woman marriage."

So? How are you or I (heterosexual, married male, incidentally) harmed by extending them to homosexuals?

" “Mind my own business”? It is my business if my health care, my taxes and my retirement costs me more due to allowing gays to have a government sanctioned marriage."

Please demonstrate how any of those will cost you more because we allow equal rights for same-sex couples.

"Where do we draw the line? Shouldn’t we legalize multiple marriages too? After all it’s just people wanting to love as many people as they can. "

I see no reason not to, actually. Again, if you can show an objective, rational reason to prohibit them, please go ahead.

Thanks, incidentally, for not introducing that man-to-child or man-to-animal garbage that we see in this debate so often. We don't allow children or animals to sign any kind of contract, so we're not going to allow them to marry, either, just to forestall any moron who wants to try that hoary old shibboleth.

I'm not gay, but I cried all morning when I found out California's prop 8 passed. I'm ashamed of all Californians who voted yes, they should be prosecuted for discrimination not get their religious beliefs validated.

If you love being with someone, and you love how they make you feel, and everyone know that your in love a piece a paper will not change those feeling, nor will make you stay together forever either. What doesn't matter if you married or not. I belive that marriage is meant to be for a man and woman,

To the man that calls himself Richard and christian i have to say that you may not be at all a christian when i know that in the bible it does say not to judge thy neighbor or something like that. i have a gay brother that i love and will always stand by him. in fact i will be standing by him when he is married. you may want to go to the closet and confess. i believe Lisa is right because when you look down on gays or blacks then that is discrimination no matter what skin your color is.

I totally agree with you Lisa. I was raised to believe that everyone is equal. I have a 2 year old son and I want him to be able to grow up thinking the same things. I thought that church and state were supposed to be separate, but the only reason people can give to being opposed to same sex marriage is their religion. Can anyone name a passage in the bible that is specifically against same sex relationships or did they just interpret it that why because it makes them feel uncomfortable that someone is different?

It was not meant for a woman and woman or a man and a man to be together as they can not procreate. I have gay family members and love and respect them like anyone else and they have the same beliefs as the straight community. They do not believe in marriage for this very reason. I believe that letting them get married might be ok if they did not try to get the same benefits as a actual married couple. There should be some limits. Isn't that what being married is all about. If not and we can get each others benefits why not just let people live together and claim each other on their benefit packages and taxes. It is just not right. I say be with who ever you want to be with do what makes you happy but do not cry and whine if you do not get the same benefits as a conventional relationship is allowed. And I am sick to death of hearing about it all over the web and news channels! We as straight people have rights to and you are stepping all over them! I don't care that you are gay and I don't try and get you to turn straight or force my lifestyle upon you so STOP! trying to force yours upon me!

Spider, you're right... it is a money issue not a love issue. I don't need the government or anyone else to sanction love. However, in America, we're all supposedly created and treated equal, but I do not have equivalent benefits to a hetersexual couple in my relationship.

You are also misinformed about how many states offer legal domestic unions. It's substantially less than half... and in fact, many states even have laws threatening the validity of contracts between people of the same gender meant to "imitate" marriage rights (and we're talking civil rights here, not those from a religious institution).

I'll take a civil union from the government – but only IF you get one too (instead of a "marriage" since that's the word in all of our laws), and it is valid state to state so I don't have to worry when I travel about who will respect my rights and who won't.

Yes, gay people want the same rights to insurance and tax policies that benefit married couples. And exactly where in the Bible does it say that they shouldn't get those? Please...
I love my husband more than anyone in this world. The world looks upon our heterosexual marriage and smiles upon the "normalcy" of it. He adores me; I adore him. Ours is a peaceful, love-filled home. We are very blessed to have such a relationship. Our best friends, David and Michael, have a similar relationship to ours. They share our values. We volunteer together. We cook dinners together. We help out with each other when someone is ill. They care about each other as deeply as we do. Their love for one another is as profound as ours. But society looks down upon them and denies them basic spousal rights of inheritance, parenthood, shared tax burdens, and many others. Why? How does their love for one another take anything away from anyone else's marriage? I don't see that. They add to our community in so many ways. One of these guys is a teacher while one is a physician. My husband is a teacher and I am a professor. I just cannot understand why people discriminate against people like David and Michael. Maybe they just don't know any gay couples. I am very sad that we cannot seem to get past this hatred in our society. Oh, well. Maybe this will take another 40 years. I will tell you this though, since I teach in a college and listen to my students, your children don't share your hateful views. In another generation, I have a feeling these laws will be stricken from the books.

So, Diana, does that mean that if a hetrosexual man or woman is sterile they shouldn't be married because they can't procreate? What about married straight couples who choose not to have kids? Pretty bad arguement. Nobody's stepping on your rights or my rights. They are not forcing their lifestyle on you, just trying to live their own like you or me.

While I don't belive in gay marriage, people regardless of orientation should have the same rights. Whether it be to leave what you want to whomever when you die, visitation rights in hospitals, ect. The line in Lisa's article that gets me is were she claims that " the people have taken away constitutional rights granted by the courts." The courts don't have the power to "grant " any rights. And there lies the problem of liberals legislating through the courts. Don't like the constitution, put a judge in there to change it. That is not right.

I believe that people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transsexual should have full rights. Those who use religion as the basis of their decision to disallow it must realize that, while it is ok for you to retain your beliefs, you are inadvertently making others suffer. It breaks my heart to see that two people can not live in happiness with all of the rights and privileges afforded to others. If people argue that gays do not deserve the same financial benefits from marriages as others, then no person deserves these benefits.

To the black man who said that rights for the GLBT community is not the same as for black people, I am a black woman living in Mississippi my whole life, and even at my young age have faced discrimination and blatant racism that many can't imagine. AND I have seen my gay and lesbian friends hang their heads hiding out in that "closet" that you speak of because of a fear of discrimination, beatings, death. Once we were not allowed to marry across races in this country. Who am I to say, regardless of my personal beliefs, that anyone else must be constrained by them? So many people vote against these measures because of their religious beliefs, but this is a country where church and state are separate (or at least are supposed to be). Go to your church, if you want to discriminate there, that's fine, but don't force everyone else to share your narrowminded views. I cried when I realized that whatever equality we have achieved for black people in this country (and this election is not the end of that fight either), we have so much further to go for the GLBT community. The fight continues.

Richard –

As a straight, black woman, I must disagree with you. Your religious reasons are yours. I try not to impose mine on others, but I realise some people feel they must.

The 'back of the bus' comment was pretty accurate. While most black people have no closet to hide in, some did. My grandmother's cousins were all fair skinned – fair enough to pass for white. They moved to Cuba, denied their heritage, claimed Cuban ancestry and made a closet of their own. It was another time, so I can only understand it in the same context that gay people use when referring to being in the closet.

As for it not being the same thing, well I read an argument several years back. It was over a hundred years old. It spoke of all the reasons black people should not be allowed to marry, not each other, and not whites, why they should not be citizens, why they should not be allowed to own land, why they should not be allowed to vote. Why they were trying to seek more rights than white citizens had. Why it was against God, country and religion.

It chilled me to the core – If you crossed out every instance of 'negro' in that document and put in 'gay', it was nothing more or less than what is being said by some people today. No difference at all.

If those things were all horrible lies about people like us, how can the same arguments suddenly be truth for others who aren't like us?

And how as black Americans can we support this bias?

A marriage should only be between a man & a woman.This is what God indended for us. It is not up to us to change that. If we allow gays & lesbians to be married and allow abortions to occur, then we better be ready for the United States to fall. The Bible speaks Very Clearly about this. (People) were not put on this earth to live there lives to see how many cars they can have or how large of a house they can get. We were put here to Worship (God) and to do his work. As far as Obama being the 1st. African American President, do people not reliaze that he is 1/2 White and in God's eyes, he is just a Man. He is a man that can do Great things for our Country if allowed to do the things needed for our Country. Allowing gays & lesbians to wed and women to have abortions do not take priority over our economy.

The domestic partners law does give gays all the rights of married couples, except when filing their federal taxes. If, you are a domestic partner you can be covered by your significant other 's health, dental and vision insurance provided by their employers. You can also file joint state tax returns, and you are the recognized as the one able to make legal decisions if one becomes incompassitated. And, Lisa I am sorry but the people of California spoke eight years ago on the subject of gay marriage and some didn't like the answer so they pushed and shoved until they got the California Supreme Court to overturn the majority of Californian's wishes on the subject. Well, the people of California have spoken once again and this time we made it very tough for it to be overturned. I always thought majority rules, I guess that only applies to others. I have two cousins that are gay one on the paternal side one on the maternal side and sorry they can be domestic partners but not man and wife. They know how I feel and they know I love them but this is one issue we will disagree on.

Thank you, Lisa Bloom, for your intelligent and sensitive response to those of us still fighting for our civil rights.

Well said Spider....if you really think all problems are caused by gays trying to aquire what everyone else has. We do work, pay bills and have our taxes used to support narrow minded, discriminating groups who say we are good enough to pay taxes but not good enough to have the same rights as anyone else. To quote a very respected hetrosexual(as far as we know) "all men are created equal'.

have a great day

This is a great article! It saddens me, that still in 2008, our country can hold our heads high that we have finally elected an African American President, and begin to undo the wrongs committed by our ancestors in year's past, but still, we as a country can determine who has the right to marry, and who has the right to be denied that right, based on the gender people choose to love. I am a heterosexual female, and I believe in gay rights and equality, wake up America!!

Folks here in Texas voted for the same measure several years ago and gay people seem here seem to understand that they are different and therefore not able to get married under the Texas Flag. The fact is simple as Richard pointed out, when people choose to become different they choose to accept the treatment that they get. Case and point, wearing a UT shirt to an A&M funeral will get you in trouble, and this is based on a choice. Gay people can get a civil union..not marriage. Thank you FL / CA / AK / AZ for voting.

My marriage is defined by me and my wife and no one else. Our commitment and bond was made to each other and no one else. That is what marriage is. Not this holy sanctioned right for only a few. If your marriage is going to be effected by what your neighbors do then there is something wrong with your marriage to begin with. As for the Bible does it not also see women as property and most marriages arranged? Love and choice are what modern day marriage is about. If we are going to use modern day views to define marriage we cannot use ancient rules to enforce it. The Bible also lists eating seafood as a sin and advocates an eye for an eye. If we can move past this; why not other things?

to those of you who still seem to believe that being gay is "not acceptable in our society..." where have you been and who are you to say what is acceptable for the rest of our nation? just because you are closed-minded and choose to believe that homosexuals are wrong for wanting the same rights as straight people, it does not mean the rest of us share your archaic views. every citizen of this country should have equal rights. its funny to me that it's fine for a murderer to marry a woman while in prison if he chooses to do so; however, decent, law-abiding gay citizens do not have the same rights to marriage as the lowest criminals. as long as it's a man and a woman, it's ok? come on, it's 2008. we should be beyond all of this childish bullying by now. christians want marriage to remain a sacred union before god, but non-christains and atheists get married every day. so i ask those of you who consider a marriage to be a sacred religious cerimony, what about those of us who don't follow your religious beliefs? i'm agnostic. should i not be allowed to marry because i don't consider god or religion to be a part of my life? marriage is a bond between two people who love each other and want to be together and express that love before their friends and family.

Adrian- maybe you should read a post before you comment. this is the problem with people- they put things in others mouths what they want to say. you can talk to a person, you cant talk to people.

We have to work to show gay people it is wrong, and reject that belief. if its not in the Bible, it shouldnt be. Consider this fair warning- When Christ comes back to judge, none of peoples excuses will be good enough. If you are not saved, you will go to hell forever. i'm sorry, did i offend people? its the truth that no ones wants to talk about, so here is your dose.

God has already abandoned this nation. people have changed His word to adapt to what they want to hear. thats why you have 300 different religions. judgement day is on its way. read the Revelation!
- last book of the Bible for people who use the Book to prop up the corner of their table.

Some Advice:The laws that we the people have created can be changed by those we have choosen to change it but remember the laws of God do not change we have to make things right for ourselfs. We're here to serve him not serve each others pleasures

I am incredibly moved by your eloquent words, your recognition of this sad truth, and your solidarity with those of us who are yet to be considered equal. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Spider – But, that’s not what gays want. They want all the financial benefits a marriage affords. They want spousal health insurance, tax breaks and shared retirement benefits. It’s a money issue, not a love issue, now. (((YES)))
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I believe any two or MORE people who live permanently at the same address SHOULD have all of those financial rights, and it may even help the economy. This goes for siblings, adult children who live with parents, as well as gays. They should be considered 'family' groups.
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The reason I oppose gay marriage is to protect all religious institutions and cultures. Because 'Christians' have been so terribly intolerant; there is now reverse intolerance that Christian beliefs have no protection.
What would stop a person from 'demanding' the 'freedom' to be recognised as an ordained priest, Jewish rabbi, Muslim and imam and a Buddhist monk, and ALL at once???
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Civil unions are the solution to this controversy, gay 'marriage' is NOT! Why can a mother and adult son not claim the 'right' to be married? What about a cowboy and his horse?

So I have read these comments & thought to myself since when do you have to be a Christian & believe in Christianity to be an American and receive the same rights that straight Americans receive? The whole reason that people can speak freely about the Bible and what they believe is right & wrong is because they are in America. Being American gives you the freedom to choose to believe in whatever religion you want ; that freedom should not be used to hold another group down. If I am not mistaken there is also a message in the Bible to love your fellow man, I dont recall an astrik next to that with a footnote that said, well except if you are gay. Come on people use your brain.

I have gay friends and i have no problem in them being gay. It does not bother me and that is there choice. But i believe in the bible and the other day i was in a store and the gay man was talking about how God loves all and he wants us to be happy so who are we to say what makes a person happy. Well that all is true but if you are going to quote God the bible also says that marriage is a gift from God between a man and a women. So congrats on CA, FL, ANN AZ for passing and nice job down south AR,

Richard,

It is not for you to decide what others do. They may not hold beliefs that you do, and you need to respect that. Forcing your belief down their throats is un-American.

Furthermore, your argument assumes "God" exists. If you remove that, what do you have left? They are humans, like you, and have every right to be happy.

I have no problem with the fact that people who do not meet what ever criteria will go to hell forever....that is your belief and hat is fine. Thanks for informing me and now it is MY choice to do what I want to do and not for you to try to tell me what to do. It is my soul not yours. You worry about yours and only yours. You are not the lord do not act as if you are. You are not to judge me or others–that in its self is a sin.

I'm not sure why everyone here is using God as a way to support the ban on gay marriage. This is not a religious issue in any way. I believe that the United States should allow any kind of person to marry any other kind of person, whether that's interracial, gay, transgender, whatever. Who cares? It doesn't effect me, my marriage, or my life.

Now, if your church or place of worship does not believe in allowing gay people to have religious wedding ceremonies, then fine. Gay people may not be allowed to get married in a church or a synagogue or mosque. Religious marriage (performed by a priest, pastor, rabbi, whatever) and civil marriage are two different things. If you have a religious wedding ceremony performed by a clergy member, you still have to file civil paperwork to make it legal in your state. Why can't gay people be allowed to have the same rights afforded straight couples in this civil ceremony. Then, if people want to discriminate within their churches, so be it. Church and state are separate in this government. No one is trying to get the church or God to approve gay marriages. I understand that some people's religious views do not allow them to support a church-sanctioned gay marriage, but we're not arguing religious equality, we're arguing basic civil rights here.

Couldn't aree with the California vote more. Where I differ is why marriage is given special rights at all. It is intrinsically a religious entity first. Therefore under the separation of Church and State, it might be recognized as one of several types of uniors recognized, protected and extended specific rights by Civil Authorities.

i just want to say that this story is most insperational and moving. but to the comment from the richard below, as an openly and proud gay man i cannot hide from discrimination anymore that any african american. and it shouldnt be the fact that we could be closeted if need be, but the fact that should be no prejiduce to make us be closeted. whos place is it to tell anyone who to love or how to love. in arkansas it is illegal for gay coupkles to adopt or foster children, but any straight couple can foster and molest, starve and beat the already broken children they are supposidly careing for. This America has prospered and has moved leaps and bounds to be where we are today, the first african american president, i mean just to say it is insperational, but this america still has a few more leaps and bounds to go before it stands up to the true and original meaning of being an american.

Dear Bible Thumpers,

For the people who voted based on religion you disgust me. You pick and choose out of the Bible and disregard the rest. Leviticus states that laying with another Man is an abomination, but it also states we should be burning bulls as a sacrifice for our sins. Why are we not stoning people for their adultery either. In the New Testament Jesus proclaimed that he is the way. Well please tell me where in the New Testament it states that being Gay is wrong. People are people and treating people equally with compassion and love is what Jesus was talking about.

By the way I am Married and Hetero. Not that it matters. As a member of the Human Race I am ashamed of what we just did as a Country against our fellow citizens.

Get rid of all definitions then!!! That would be real American freedom? NOT
I should be able to go to court and demand to be an American citizen, a supreme court judge, a Hopi shaman, an LA police officer, a Muslim imam, a Jewish rabbi, and, hey, what about a brain surgeon!?
Civil unions for ALL family groups, including siblings, adult parents and children, AND gays is THE solution.
Christians have a right to define and protect their ceremonies and sacraments in the same way any other groups.
I am NOT a hula dancer, but the proponents of stealing of stealing 'marriage' could not argue my 'right' to be cerified.
Gays who want 'marriage' are latent heterosexuals!

Yes, Jim, which is why heterosexual couples must also file paperwork with the state in order to have their marriage LEGALLY verified. If you get married by your priest your union may be recognized in the eyes of God, but that does not make you married for tax purposes, etc. Straight people still have to file civil paperwork. Why are people so reluctant to give gays civil marriage rights? No one is trying to get gays to marry in churches, that decision should be left to the religious authorities.

Morality is a real concept. Certainly, Americans believe that. It is no coincidence that through roughly all civilizations generations homosexuality has been considered immoral.
The people in America stand for that - now, twice it has been held by the majority of the people in California. Both the other states who allow gay marriages distort the true precedent. Their courts decided the issue and not the people. Additional to religious meaning, the precedent was set with the onset of 'the separation of church and state' in the Supreme Court Ruling (backed by legislation) defining marriage. See The Late Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints v The USA.
Civil Rights are not dependent on morality, they are dependent on humanity. How should my taxes be constricted to encourage behavior that I believe is immoral upon innocent children?! How can I let innocent children be adopted into gay families and taught in schools that they might be homosexual?! That would never be right. Also, history stands undeniably on the right side.

Lisa, your article brought me to tears (again), but also gave me hope. I too was so frustrated that I could not wholly celebrate the wondrous election of Barack Obama and all that that means for this country and the world. But as I watched the many news shows and listened to all the words about discriminatory boundaries being overcome, I was so impacted by the dichotomy of it all. On one hand, history was made with his election – on the flip side – discrimination voted into the California State Constitution. I sobbed.

The funny thing is that these people who feel they have won some victory with Yes on 8 are oblivious in this moment. In reality, all that they have won is a war on words. Nothing changes at all in their lives – except that they have helped to ensure that thousands of people have less benefits and rights than they do. Gay men and lesbian women will still be their neighbors. Gay men and lesbian women will still couple with the person they are in love with, they will "marry" and "wed" and they will bear or adopt children who will go to school and who will sit in the classroom next to their children. Nothing truly changes for the Yes on 8 people – not truly. And deep down their fear remains, and deeper down – in their core, a wrong that they have done festers. And how sad for them.

There is one element of Yes on 8 passing that makes me sad far beyond my rights and inability to legally marry. And that is the message that these people sent to young gay and lesbian people, the message they sent to those children growing up who are gay/lesbian and are now given a message of intolerance and a message that they are less than someone else. The hatred that these young, scared gay and lesbian kids will feel. (I know because I was once one of them) The damage that that does to their well-being, their self image, their ability to be strong and healthy and confident. And the message given to other people and kids that it is okay to hate those gay and lesbian kids. It is okay to treat them in a lesser manner that everyone else. It fuels something so much more than just 2 loving adults wishing to be legally wed. And that is so much harder for a society to overcome.

I ran into an African-American man as I was entering my grocery store. He said to me he was sorry that Prop 8 passed. I thinked him and then I replied that it had taken 45 years since MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech until that dream was realized, so I guess we just had a longer battle yet ahead for ourselves. He told me to keep on and not to give up. I was very touched by his words (and yes I cried again). But he is right, we just have to keep on and keep fighting and teaching and helping people to give up their fear. They will realize the freedom that comes with that – as much as we will one day realize that freedom.

Thank you Lisa for your words of hope and support.

Its truly sad to see the way alot of heterosexual people are acting towards trying to ban someone from being happy.. As a lesbian I am also a US citizen, I pay taxes, I am a sister, an aunt, a friend.. etc.. Its sad to see these people trying so hard to ban gay marriage.. Its sad and I hope that some day the ignorance fades away.. Im not bitter about your decision to harm other peoples freedom .. we will continue to love just like anyone else and keep the hope that someday there will be PEACE which im sure will make god happier than seeing nearly half of straight couples divorcing and remarrying as many times as they want when we dont even get one chance,, take care america

How right is it that I am forced to "remember my gay friends". If I want I should not be forced to remember the parts of their lifestyle that I do not find moral. Should I be forced to remember my friends who are straight? Should I be forced to remember the innocent children whom I meet? I believe in the land of the free practice and in a land where family is protected by the people for the people and of the people. I believe in a land of happiness where children are treated as though they belong to a mother and a father who made them - as worth more than rubies or diamonds.

I posted something similar to this on a Connecticut (where I thankfully live) website a few weeks ago and I must say it all over again. There comes a point where you can only sit back and read some much. There comes a point where its my duty as an educated, successful, respected, well informed, and PROUD lesbian to express how I feel.

Will God judge me for loving or you for hating?

You know, it would be really easy for me to write a long, angry comment about people who use religion, morals, and general superiority to bash my life and my happiness, and to rationalize that I should be afforded less rights then my heterosexual peers. It would be easy for me to hate people who are so quick to cast such deep judgement on me without even knowing me. But I don't hate you, and while at times I am very angry with the closed-mindedness which is still so prevolent in this world, my heaviest emotion when it comes to all this nonsense is sadness. I'm sad for all you, that you live with such hate in your heart. Sad that your life is so unfullfilled that you have to take time out to make judgements about me, my family, my friends, and millions of people who you know nothing about except that we happen to love someone of the same gender. Its a shame, youre probably missing out on knowing a alot of really great people. No, on second thought, you probably know a lot of us. We're everywhere. We're your daughters, your sons, your doctors, your attorneys, your police officers, your local grocery store clerks, your coaches, you waiters. We live, we work, we love, just like you do. Only with a lot less hate inside of us and a lot less concern with who you're having sex with. And of course, fewer rights. Open your minds people, this world is filled with enough hate.

As an African-American woman, it saddens me to see such hatred against gay people. Why not let them marry? Marriage is not as holy and pure as it used to be...look at the divorce rate. As for the religion arguement, I feel as though if God could see all the hatred that is spewed in his name, He would be ashamed of the very thing he created I hope one day we will see true equality for all.

Please do not generalize that all African-Americans are against gay people because I for one definitley am not. I am a true ally and always will be.

Especially for millions of gay Californians, Did you count them? I think not.

The Mormon Church of Utah, the Catholics/Knights of Columbus and many other churches and organization gave millions to take away the rights of all Californians to marry. I wonder if instead of donating all of that money and resources to support discrimination, if they could have instead given those resources to their parishioners whose homes are in foreclosure? If instead they could have assisted members of their churches who have recently lost their jobs? If instead they could have provided those church funds to members of who are hungry, homeless, jobless and in great need? I know Jesus never advocated for this kind of hatred or discrimination. There is not one verse in the bible where Jesus Christ promoted this kind of uncharitable behaviour. "Love thy neighbor as thy self" – it means whether or not that neighbor looks like you, thinks like you are believes like you.

I'm sorry but I cannot support gay marriage. Marriage has since time immemorial been defined as between a man and a woman. Indeed God defines it as such. I therefore cannot dispute the definition that all my ancestors and God held as true.

I fully support however the rights of all Americans regardless of their differences, sexual or otherwise. I think they should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. But I do not think those unions should be called marriage, nor do I think it is proper for them to be religious agreements like marriage is.

I fully support civil unions, as these give gays and lesbians the same rights under the law. Let us allow civil unions, but not same sex marriage.

Gays say they're being discriminated against. They say others shouldn't impose their beliefs on them, that they have a "right" to be married. To that I ask: What about smoker's rights? We have been forced out of almost every building in this great country of ours. Non-smokers say they have a right to breathe clean air. Go for it. Nobody is "forcing" you to walk into a public building that allows smoking so your rights haven't been encroached upon. On the contrary, smoker's rights have been wiped out. So, until all of you gay non-smokers stop being prejudice against smokers, I say hurray for California, Arizona, and Florida.

If the measures had been defeated then the homosexual movement would have been jumping up and down and forcing their agendas down our throats. "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" is a movie, not a TV show targeted at our kids. You lost, stop trying to indoctrinate our children!!!

Typical media, always highlighting on the wrong point.

You're directing your comments as if the law was interpreted to shut down gay marriages when in fact, it was the people's decision. This is a right of the people, a foundation of our nation and the reason for distinction between state and federal governments. The people of California chose to not allow gay marriages to occur, not the governor, not the senate, the people.

It is for this same flexibility that different states have different regulations on guns, abortion, different punishments for the same crime, etc. Hence the importance of the distinction between state and federal government bodies.

Love the article. To many it was a day of joy, but to some whom wish to be respected and accepted, it was just one setback, but not the end.

Well said, greg, well said.

Can someone explain to me how, if this truly is the case, same sex marriage would increase taxes and health care costs? I'm being serious – I need some info.

To Richard, you think gay people can just walk back into a closet any time they want? Maybe some can hide it though to do so would surely be a feeling worse than I can imagine, but there are just as many who in their inborn mannerisms and ways will never be able to hide it. I know 7 year old children who are so incredibly obviously gay it boggles my mind to think that some people still think being gay is a choice, not something you are born as. They are just as unable to change their ways as you are the color of your skin. Of course this all overlooks the most obvious question – If you could change or hide the color of your skin, would you? I dare say you wouldn't and would find it an insult to be questioned as to why. So don't tell gay people they have it any easier than you.

I have to say I wish they would just let gay people get married. Its not like us straight people treat it with any honor. For crying out loud I know people that are in their 30s had have been married 3 trimes. I'm happy in my marriage of 5 years now and I see no reason why a gay couple should not have the right to feel the same way.

OMG, the irrational hatred here is unbelieveable. This country takes 2 steps forward (electing Obama) and immediately takes three steps back (gay marriage bans) on the same day.

Ok, so religion is out as a valid argument about gay marriage because this country permits, nay, constitutionalizes, religious freedom. What does that leave for reasons to object to gay marriage?

Financials? Well, as someone else pointed out here, if homosexuals are paying the same taxes as heterosexuals, then they should have the same benefits. Why should they pay for your benefits and get none of their own? If you want to make gay marriage illegal, then make gays who want to be married exempt from taxes. But you won't even consider this because this is another false argument.

The fact is, you people hate gays. You think they are trying to recruit and brainwash your children. You do not condone gay relationships, and you feel that by condemning gay marriage you are somehow protecting your children from the Gay Menace. Got news for you. Your kids are already gay or straight, and hearing the moral preaching of others is not going to change the gender to which they are attracted. You go through all kinds of mental gymnastics to reduce the cognitive dissonance that your hatred creates; it is difficult to hate gay people and then claim to be non-prejudiced. So you write off your hatred as something else, be it protecting some financial benefit to which you feel entitled, or protecting your children from the evil recruiting gays. The fact that gays don't recruit (they don't really need to you know) is of no concern to you, because these are only the reasons you vocalize, and not the true reason for your condemnation of gay marriage. It is much easier to say you are protecting children from some (non-existent) threat than to admit that you have hatred and intolerance in your hearts.

This is not an equal rights issue!!! I can't help being Black or an immigrant (now citizen)!!! Homosexuality is a lifestyle, a choice, a decision made by an individual not an inherent trait that cannot be changed!! Homosexual marriage is not a right!!!!

There should be an Amendment to the US Constitution regarding Union between Gay people. They don't have to use the words Husband and Wife or Marriage when legalizing their commitment. They should be able to commit to each other and get all the assurances, guarantees and benefits that Marriage provide, without using the word Marriage.

No wonder Gays always support homosexuality as they belong to the same cateogary. I used to hate homosexuality & homosexuals in my teenage. Now i am 22. Though i am not a gay, my view for gays changed completely.

Marriage is definitely not a combination of house, money, sexual intimacy, and kids. It's a relation in which two individuals feel comfortable, secured, happy in each other's company irrespective of looks, money, Religion, caste, creed and sex. Two individuals can be male, female or combination. The ultimate goal is to stay happy and a peaceful life to the fullest. Everybody should be given a right to live their own lives unless it harms other individuals. Nothing in the world is bad unless it harms somebody.

Homosexuality is 100% better than male+female getting married and cheating on each other. Homosexuality is absolutely better than pretending love for money, killing each other for insurance claims. Homosexuality brings awareness in people who are already gays & are silent with the fear of society rejecting them. There are gays in countries like india where they marry opposite sex due to pressure from family or fear of disrespect from society. It doesn't just ruin their life, but life of the partner who has different view of marriage. Gays should come out openly that they are gay. That is only possible when society accepts & respect them.They adopt orphans which gives new lives to tender hearts which is highly appreciable.

As coin has two sides, even homosexuality has two sides of it. there is lot of scope for younger generations to be in dilemma and get confused with their sexual status. If not properly raised, adopted kids might be affected a lot right from the childhood. however, no body has right to negatively impact younger generations and kids. If proper measures are taken, homo sexualism brings awareness in people about what they are, how can they design their lives not impacting & disturbing other's lives.

Religion is just a belief an individual has. Please don't interfere beliefs with lives & human rights. Everybody has their own priorities for life & what they believe in. After all everybody lives on the same planet called EARTH.

Amazing well said. This truly is a civil rights issue.

Lisa....I don't know in what type of household were you brought up, but I certainly have my doubts and can't help but wonder whether you are a lesbian yourself. God did NOT create Adam and Steve, very clearly it states in the BIBLE no matter what your religion is that God created ADAM and EVE (MAN AND A WOMAN) in case you have issues recognizing genders....ADAM (MALE) EVE (FEMALE).

Thank you (fellow Lisa) for writing this article. As a gay female, this shows how I have felt since election night. I do not understand why people feel the need to use the constitution to take away rights and legislate based on their religious beliefs? I just want the right to marry the person I love and start a family. I don't think that anyone in this country should have the ability to take away those basic rights from me.

So if marriages are determined by "God", what does that make of my heterosexual marriage? My husband and I don't believe in any "God". Does that mean that ours should not count either? This is ridiculous. How 'bout, if your church doesn't see gay marriage as being right, then don't have gay marriage in your church. I'm sure homosexuals don't want what your church offers anyway. To bring "God" into the argument at all is ignorant because Church and State are supposed to be separate according to the Constitution that the fine folks who voted Yes on Prop 8 just dumped all over. Everyone has a right to their voice, but when that voice ends up being unconstitutional, there's a problem. And for all of you who have posted your hateful comments about "the gays" and how they don't have the right to marry...why not omit the word "gay" and replace it with the words "human being" because that's what they are. Now see if your "God" would approve of what you're saying.

I'm of split minds on this topic.

First, let me say that I have nothing against gay people. I have had gay friends at various points in my life and will likely have more.

Second, yes, I am a Christian, but I like to think 'outside the book'. The Bible is a good book of morals and values, but it is NOT the word of God. It has been translated and re-translated and translated some more and then altered to fit the ideologies of various societies too much to be God's word.

Third, I don't think it's the place of the federal government to say if gays are allowed to marry or not. But I do believe in the realm of various states, it is the people's right as a majority to say what they want in their state.

Fourth, and this is the biggie, discrimination against gays isn't the same as discrimination against blacks or hispanics or asians. Discrimination against gays is discrimination against a lifestyle, not a biological, natural trait. I know some will come back with homosexuality is indeed a natural and genetic trait, but if that were true, homosexuality would have died out long ago because none of the trait carriers would have been breeding. Instead it has recently exploded in popularity, especially in the US. It's a fad. I have seen straight friends decide that they're gay and gay friends realize that they're straight. These are not the fingerprints of biological traits. An asian teen can't suddenly tell her mom that she wants to be hispanic. At most they can change their lifestyle to imitate the stereotypes presented to them. But they will never change who they are.

To the homosexuals who live in California, Arkansas, Florida and other states where same-sex unions are not acknowledged, I'm sorry that the majority of the population of that state is against you. But that is the lifestyle you have chosen. You are not alone in your lifestyle discrimination. Just think. You could be in a same-family relationship with your first cousin in Missouri. Then you would be discriminated against by straights and gays alike...

Remember Sodom and Gamorrah. God hates sexual sin so much that he burned those two cities out of existance. How can you reconcile being an active homosexual and being a Christian. And how can you ask a born again Christian to endorse that which goes against their God and Religion.

Remember this is a democracy. Christians have the right to vote just like the minority group of homosexuals and their straight allies. When there are enough people in California, or any other state, to out vote the Christians, then I guess you will get the right to marry each other.

God loves ALL of his children, but he doesn't love our sin. For a Christian to endorse same sex marriage, you may as well ask us to vote to condone murder, rape, incest, or any number of other sins.

And yes, to a born again Christian, homosexuality is as bad as any other sin. We don't hate sinners, we love you all and hope that you find Jesus and read your Bibles and turn from sin. By the way, Christians sin too. The difference is we are We sometimes fornicate, get divorced and a number of other things. We just aren't asking for you all to approve of it and praise us for it. We are ashamed when we sin and ask God for forgiveness, we don't flaunt it and ask you to tell us it is OK.

Love and Peace to all....

Amen.
I believe that referendums and initiatives should be abolished. It's a horrible way to govern.

I did not realize gays had become an enthicity. It is not like you can tell someone is gay because of the pigment of their skin tones. There are plenty of straight males and females that may have tendencies that one might associate with being gay. Do you wear a sign saying I am gay. One being african american, indian, hispanic, asian, purple with pink polka dots resulted in discrimination simply because of their skin color. I have no way of knowing if someone is gay or not unless they tell me or I see something they do in public to let me know they are gay. And if gays are being quote discriminated against than what about women who have been discriminated from the beginning of time, should we now become a protected class. Or how about skinny toothpick individuals, overweight individuals, short or tall individuals, brunette, redheads and blondes should they all become protected classes too, and be allow to rewrite any constitutional amendment, or law they disagree with and feel is discriminatory to them for any of the various reasons I have listed. Taking a tradition that is centuries old and has always been defined as between a man and woman and rewriting it to suit you is wrong.

Based on some peoples arguments procreation is a requirement of marriage. So are all the states that have bans on gay marriages going to invalidate the marrages of elderly people who are no longer able to procreate, the marriages of infertile people, the marriages of people who choose not to have children, and the marriages of people who lose their fertility due to cancer, illness, or accident. Of course not. This "argument" is a thinly veiled attempt to rationalize their own predjudice.

I'm a gay man who has been with my partner all of my adult life. We are stable. We are tax paying. We volunteer to help the less fortunate. We know our neighbors and are available to them if they need our help in any way. We have good jobs and are well educated. Our home and groundskeeping is never in disrepair. We hand out Halloween candy and buy things from your kids for their fundraisers. In short, we are valuable members of the community.

Would you want my partner and I, two gay males, living next door to you? Or would you rather have a heterosexual couple who have a home in disrepair? Who fight all the time? Who the police are regularly called to their home for some kind of disturbance–again? Who would you rather have? If we were a man and a woman would you pick us? Or because we are two males would you pick the heterosexual couple?

I am not from California. If I was I would have voted no on 8. It troubles me that the people who voted yes on 8 would pick the straight couple to be in their neighborhood. That we would not be welcome.

My partner and I aren't married. We do not need a piece of paper to validate our relationship. We do not need societies approval. We love each other and are committed to each other. For the good and the bad. Isn't that what marriage is supposed to be? Shouldn't we have that right?

Someday people will be ashamed and feel sorry for how they treated us. And when that day happens, my partner and I will say to them, "We forgive you." and invite them in for dinner.

It seems to me the discrimination at this point is placed on the 52 (and some change) percentage of people who voted for Prop 8 to pass. (myself included) I agree with Prop 8 because I believe it to be wrong according to the Bible. However, I disagree with the discrimination that it has caused, either directly or indirectly.

Marriage SHOULD be protected under the law, especially since over half of Californians think so. However, civil unions should be also recognized for homosexual couples. (when did we start calling it same-sex anyway?) Marriage, among hetero and homo sexuals should be taken more seriously, no doubt.

Furthermore, I would like to address the comment(s) some made about not judging. People who quote the Bible as saying "Thou shall not judge" are grossly MIS-quoting it. It says, "Don't judge. But if you must, Judge how you would be judged." Not judging is impossible in every day life. How do you decide anything without judgement? Even saying, "You shouldn't judge" is a judgement. Think about it.

Anyway, the people of CA have spoken and I am sure in years to come, homosexual relationships will get more and more common place and demand for another amendment. Until then, don't condemn people for standing up and speaking out for what they believe in. People do that every day.

This makes me laugh,
It's amazing how everyone wants to fight for equality.
Yet they'll go and discriminate against everyone else.

This world doesn't want the right to equality
they want the right to be comfortable
and have the system work out for them.

P.s. Gay is an abomination, there are no riights for something that shouldn't exist. It's not descrimination its just a different opinion than all of the stuff on here.

I am not against gay or gay marriage. Everyone should have equal rights. Some people like hot dogs and some like hamburgers. The only thing I was against is teaching gay marriage in schools. Not so much gay marriage...marriage in general what does that have to do with what children learn in school!!

I am so GLAD voters decided in a majority to NOT allow gays to marry. Being gay is a SEXUAL decision....not a race or religion. If gays get rights because of thier sexual preference then we ALL should get rights because of whatever sexual position we like best.

Deal with it

I am a gay man with a longtime partner and I have to say as I read these comments and see the ignorance that exists in the world, I am deeply moved to comment as well. Everyone enjoys the same rights regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or any other dividing factor. Until only the last 30 or so years in many states inter-racial marriage was illegal. Our day WILL COME.
And to all of you who are "religious" and voted on those grounds, please remember that Jesus loved everyone most often made examples of the people that others would shun. And that Jesus was conspicuously silent on Homosexuality. Only in the books written in the words of other people is there EVER a criticism of homosexuality. Come walk for a day in my shoes and then you can judge me, until then accept me for who I am and love me.

So, I have a question for folks saying marriage is a religious institution:

What about us straight folks who weren't married in church? Who have no religious affiliations? What about people of non-Christian religions? Are you saying that only Christians are allowed to be married and have the financial and legal benefits that comes from such a union? That, because I do not share your beliefs, my life, my voice does not deserve that same rights and protections as yours? Really?

Please enlighten us.

Looking at the demographic breakdown of the prop-8 voting, I think we are seeing a classic example of 'once oppressed, now oppressor'. A sad point is that when a group is treated poorly, once they get some footing, they find another group to treat like they were treated.

In california esp, you are seeing that with the black community (voted yes on the prop more then any other group by percentage) found someone they can pick on now, someone they can be 'better then'.

Even more depressingly, you see the gay community doing it too now that they have gained as much acceptance as they have. Look at how they treat bisexuals, transsexuals, or poly relationships.

And of course, long term, Christians have forgotten what it was like to be oppressed. It was originally (when they were weak) the Baptists who pushed so hard for separating Relgion and Politics because they feared other denominations passing laws to change how they worship. Now you have them as one of the leading forces trying to make even other Christians follow thier ways.

Beautiful article. Absolutely honest and sincere. I couldn't have said it better myself. I don't think it's fair that everyone feels they need to "agree" with someone's lifestyle or life choice. Would it be a matter of time before interracial people cannot marry or adopt? Would it be a matter of time before every single life decision is subject to approval? That is not the America we were all taught that we live in. Equal opportunity doesn't just include race or gender. It includes all. I'm deeply saddened and I must say surprised at California's decision. How long do we all have to live with the fact that... "life's just not fair". Why does that have to be a reality? This is just my heart felt opinion and does not mean it's yours or anyone elses. I do not need you to agree with me. I know right from wrong. And this decision is wrong. Again, beautiful, articulate and sincere article.

yeah, civil rights created by guess who- people. If people are in charge, there is always a chance for let down. and, its not about religion. Religion is man made to reach up to God. God created Christianity to reach us. Humans dont want to hear that, so they create their own god and believe what they want. And, backing up, where am i casting judgement? I am stating the facts. its not up to me to judge people. Once again, people interprit what they want to see/hear.

If you would take the time to believe in Christ, you would see the real picture. enough said. You cant be a die hard blue jays fan and always walk around wearing a mets jersey. it contradicts.

Thank you for this article. I too was shocked when I found out it was the increase in African American voters that passed Prop 8. How bizzaar.

I can't add anything to what has been said. One day soon these Fundament Religions (aka the Religious Right) will be such a minority that their voices won't be heard. Then everyone will truly be free.

I live in Arkansas, and I am saddened to see a form of legalized bigotry come to pass. But some parts of the country, such as Arkansas, in certain respects choose to not participate in "things" that are perceived as "too different".
Now, a couple of thousand foster children will have to wait for an agonizingly long time to find loving homes. Within the last couple of weeks at least 13 foster homes in Arkansas were closed down, due to reports of various types of child abuse. The majority of these homes were "staffed" by married, heterosexual couples. Within the last several months, no less than 4 foster children were killed in their foster homes–it is my understanding that in all 4 cases deaths came at the hands (fists? sticks?) of heterosexual mattied couples.
Also, I have been under the impression that one of the basic tenets of Christianity is that the teachings of the New Testament take priority over the books of the Old Testament. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" remains one of the simplest, most basic and important guidelines for life. With all due respect to those who disagree, why do they emphasize a more brutal, exclusionary aspect of Christian religion while ignoring the beautiful lessons of, for example, the Sermon on the Mount?
I have been and still am the victim of discrimination. Some young people ignored an Old Testament lesson some years ago–"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. . . ."–and I am a registered sex offender as a result. A couple of months ago I applied for a job, but in honestly answering the question concerning criminal records, I was turned down. Discrimination, exclusion, being treated as a pariah–these have happened to me repeatedly for some time as of this date. And I was FALSELY accused!
Please, folks, stop and think–if what you believe or do brings hurt to someone else–

This shameful movement is reminiscent of the days when biracial marriage was illegal and such positions were supported by so many. The passage of such amendments to documents designed to PROTECT citizens makes supporters look like uneducated bigots and our country peopled in the majority therewith. Is it any wonder the world views the US as it does with people like that apparently dominating?

This kind of popularized oppression of minorities transforms the word freedom into nothing more than a buzz word. How very un-American! The arrogance, self-righteousness and ignorance of you oppressors shames our entire country and all your 'houses of god'. May God forgive you.

Please Obama, focus on bringing education to our willfully stupid masses.

To Richard, and others like him who justify their decision in this matter by relying on Biblical Scripture -
You have chosen to make this a religious issue rather than one of justice, and I will reply in those terms as well.
In this land, you are guaranteed absolutely the freedom to express your religious beliefs, and to live in accordance with them. This is a freedom enshrined in our founding documents. Am I not entitled to the same right?
I do not share your interpretation of Scripture. I have studied the Bible long and hard, and I do not agree with you. Why, then, should I be compelled to live my life in accordance with your interpretation, rather than mine? Where in our laws and founding documents do you find that you (and others who share your interpretation) have the right to compel me to reject my own belief in favor of yours?
Let me put this issue squarely on the table for you: I am not a Christian. Why, then, must I be compelled to live in accordance with the beliefs of a religion that is not mine?
You may say that this is a Christian country, and our laws are founded on Christian principles. Well, there is considerable room for argument against that position, but I will point out to you that although the majority of our citizens are indeed Christian, a vast number of us are not. I ask again: why should we be compelled by law to live our lives in accordance with your particular interpretation of your own particular religion?
Where do you get the right to deny my right to self-determination?
That's the real issue here.

As someone who was raised Christian, I was taught being gay was wrong and a person's choice, and to be honest the first time I met a gay person or at least relized I had, I was scared because of those teachings. When I found out what a great person that individual was it made me really think why am I not supposed to "approve" of this person? He's nicer and more moral than half the straight people I know. I may not fully understand being gay or know if it really is a choice or not but the fact is people are gay. It's how it is and God does not want us to judge and wants us to do unto others as we want done. It's possible to not necessarily agree with or understand a person's PERSONAL sexuality and yet still respect them. Let them get married if they want, they pay taxes and adopt kids just like everyone else, and quit being a hypocrite people! Black people used to not be able to get married to anyone but other blacks, and that was denounced for the disgraceful practice it was, whats the difference between that and this??

I'm kind of with you on this MJCraven

To Miriam who commented on 11/5/8,
Public opinion once felt that our black citizens could claim no no basic human rights to education or protection. Today our country is still suffering from the lasting effects of keeping a portion of our population illiterate and without basic rights. Imagine if we had left desegregation up to public opinion and not allowed the supreme courts to step up and do the right thing. The Supreme Court is specifically set up to allow the judges to be detached from public opinion. This was done for a reason. Public opinion is not always right. That is why our founding fathers have set-up our government to be at least somewhat independent of the public's ever-shifting and shapeable views. I am not gay. I am a married white woman with children of my own. But I believe that everyone should be extended this most basic human right and shake my head in disappointment that I live in a country that shouts "FREEDOM," but withholds it so often.

so in retrospect shouldnt all the people who donate money in support of gay marriage give their money away on something more worthwhile? People fight for what they believe in and now you want to chastise them in doing so? Its quite hypocritical

I got fired by three Gay supervisors 5 months ago mainly because I wasn't Gay. I'm straight and tried to get along with them but they would have nothing to do with me, so they showed me the door. What bigotry!

For those that say marriage is between a man and a woman and to just deal with it..let me tell you this..homosexuals being married does nothing to your life..you deal with that..you wake up and realize that..but what you do to stop them from marrying does everything to their lives..you destroy lives, homes, families for your own selfishness. You do realize it is selfish, don't you? Have your opinion..no one is stopping you. Just like no one should be stopping gays from being equal as human beings that bleed the same blood, that cry the same tears, that work the same jobs and pay the same taxes as everyone else. How can people actually want to hurt others that way? Voluntarily and so matter of factly, not even caring whose left wondering "why do they hate us so much? what did we do that was so wrong?" Why are people so focused on stomping on peace and stopping the division of mankind instead of focusing on the real problems out there. Mankind is full of all types of people..good and bad..being gay does not make a person bad, so why treat them like it does? Bottom line..have a heart, really, homosexuality has been a known thing for centuries and its not going anywhere..deal with it

It's amazing to see the ignorance of people who are just afraid. Afraid of their "rights" being taken away, their "normalcy" defeated, their ideas of perfection shot down.

America is a country based on wonderful principles of varied nature. Everyone can agree that every person in this country should have basic rights. So how is everyone deciding for others what is suitable for them?

Gays want to marry because they love each other- the same reasons straight people do. Gays feel the need to have the same joys, milestones, problems, arguments, and trials as the people that surrond them. By marrying, if gays gain benefits that relate to money, power, or anything else, great. But that's not the sole reason. I don't know anyone straight who married to get a "tax cut".

As for the religious issues, get over it. I'm not going to tell you to become a Pagan, or an Agnostic, or a Lutheran, and you don't need to tell me what your religion "accepts". It's irrelavent- gay marriage is not soley a religious issue for you to dictate.

And lastly, the idea that having two gay parents, a gay relative, a gay teacher, or any kind of gay infulence makes you "gay" is insane. I have gay friends and family, and believe it or not, I'm straight. Is the argument valid then that anyone who is Catholic cannot be taught by a Buddihst? Can a person who eats meat befriend a vegetarian? Ideas are exchanged, but if someone has a true will and nature, the "gay" isn't going to rub off. What a sad idea.

I hope, as with all civil right issues, the one day gays will be able to marry, blacks/hispanics/other people in this country are treated as equal, and people will stop all the sad and over-zealous hatred, whatever their motive, and make this country truly what it's founding principles state.

Thank you for writing this article. The election was in fact bittersweet.

lisa.
born back and being gay are two different things.
black have suffered thing no other race or gays will ever know or face,how can you compare the two this way?

As a Bisexual female I am so appreciative that you have went against the unrealistic values society has created. I have pride for myself and any partner I may have, And I am so glad that now we have someone to speak for us, thank you.

In actuallity there are precisouly 1,047 laws that hetrosexual "straight" couples have that homosexual "gay" couples do not. So to top that off in 3 more states homosexuals can no longer get married and this is a major blow to us. But to combate what someone said as a comment about the American People haveing a voice. I totally agree with you on that. That we do have a voice but also if you really look long and hard on our government and look throughout our government's history you will see that even though we the american people have a voice if the people in "washington" do not like the measure/'s that we the american people have voted on then they well find a loophole into something that they do like and then find a way to alter and or change the decision that we the american people voted and make it into something that the people in "washington" do like the only setback is most of them are so ignorant and stupid at times is that they totally forget that sooner or later they well be back in society as well. So to wrap this up the governments and state legislations can in actuallity change what balliots say.

You all spend your time attacking each others views, but for what? As citizens of the United States we are entitled to cast our votes (those of us who are eligible to vote) any way our heart desires. I don’t even need a reason to vote one way or the other.

Those who voted to take away the gay right to marry did so because it is what they believed. They don’t need to justify their decision to vote that way no more than you will ever have to justify your views. Both sides are here throwing around religion and claims of bigotry, but should accept things and if you don’t like the outcome fight harder to make a change.

For as long as you live in a democratic society laws will be passed that you may not agree with because a majority of people feel differently than you do. It may not be a perfect system, but it is certainly one of the best.

The next time you feel like you are being oppressed in the United States, think about gays in places like Iran. Hmmmmm doesn’t seem so bad here anymore after that huh?

In my experience, I've never met a reasonable person that says they feel homosexual people deserve less in life. It is a fallacy to think that those that oppose Gay-Marriage oppose Gay-Rights.
California voted that marriage is to be defined as a civil union between a man and a woman. They did not vote to suppress homosexuals and send our country back to the stone-age.
The logical conclusion seems to be inevitable. Civil unions will be granted to homosexuals without being called Marriage.

One of my best friends, a guy, is gay and lives with his partner. They had a civil union 10 years ago and he refers his partner as his "husband". They live in NC, which doesn't honor gay marriages. I don't agree with gay marriage because it's in the bible that marriage is between a man and a woman. When my friend told me he was gay, it took me a little time to accept it. We're still friends to this day, however, I've always said that as long as you respect my straight lifestyle, I will respect yours, regardless. I can still be your friend, but don't expect me to understand the gay lifestyle, just as I don't expect that person to like my straight lifestyle. I keep telling him that there are always going to be people that can't understand the gay lifestyle. Don't expect us to understand your lifestyle, as we don't expect the gays to understand ours.

Mam, I understand you and your mother have done a lot of things for gay rights but really...not everything has to do with gay rights and how about we celebrate this time of TRUE equality...this is not about sexual orientation. Being gay IS a choice...its a habit and anyone who lets it be a lifestyle is committing a sin...now this is certainly not to say I have never committed a sin in my life...although I am not homosexual. Clearly marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman...thats exactly why they fit together like a puzzle...if you get what I am saying?? The pieces just have to fit and Im sorry to tell you but two woman or two men being together cannot have the same connection as a man and a woman can truly have and thats simply because God created sex to be between a man and a woman...so please keep mismatchin that puzzle...because as a straight woman...my puzzle fits together incredibly well and I am certainly enjoying Gods gift!!

@Hattie

Perhaps you simply don't understand?

It is true the two are not quite directly comparable, but they can be compared. Both have lynching (gay was less frequent, but more recient), both had levels of discrimination. Blacks had slavery, but at one point so did whites (even the word Slave came from the Slavic people of Europe.. so please don't talk about Blacks having gone through something unique... it really isn't. horrible yes, but not unique).

The gay stuff is also much, much older. Black discrimination within the context of this country is, at most, 300 years old. Gays on the other hand have millennia of history including quite a bit of torture (Turing, for instance, the British scientist responsible for breaking the Nazi codes, was tortured to death by his own government when they later found out he was gay under the idea of 'therapy'). So a less intense but much longer history.. then again, what do you expect when you are talking about 3% of the population.

It isn't very productive to say 'so and so had it worse!' since that never helps... but don't discount the suffering of gays at the hands. they have their own story to tell and there is plenty of horror in it.

A tyrannical majority strikes again *sigh*. I could (and probably will in due course) go on at length on this topic, but basically it's a discrimination issue and a strict construction of marriage as being between a man and a woman is, IMHO, wrongheaded. For a heterosexual majority to remove the right of a minority to contract in a union is daft and regressive. It is sheer ignorance to claim homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, it is a natural thing- it occurs throughout the animal kingdom, in both sexes. And for any smartypants who's going to claim that "if it were natural it would have died out", let me direct you to the journal of Evolution and Human Behavior, Vol 9, 36, p 424, "Genetic factors predisposing to homosexuality may increase mating success in heterosexuals"...Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, anyone?

All I know is that I want all the Rights being enjoyed by everyone else. This is simply about equal rights. Marriage isn't the issue it's the battleground.

Ever notice it's people who AREN'T homosexual who say homosexuality is a choice? Makes me wonder if the majority of them are closeted and thus fearing the 'sin' in themselves. How would you know that if you're not gay? Why else would people work so hard to prevent someone from seeing their partner in the hospital, or from having any parental rights to an adopted child or from being covered under insurance of their partner like any hillbilly Vegas wedding would allow a straight person to have.

And to those who keep saying it's only about the word – Are you suggesting that we really spend the time and money to amend all the laws that mention "wife", "husband", "spouse" to include "partner in civil union"? Aren't you the same people complaining about waste in the government? Seriously.

I got through maybe 2 dozen of the comments left on this article, and I highly doubt that anyone would be able to get down to mine at the very bottom.

Instead of trying to base this on discrimination, let's go from a different angle. Take marriage away from everyone. If any particular group can't get married, why not just take the damned thing away from everyone? When siblings quarrel about a toy, the parents can just take it away so no one can have it. Let's expand this idea.

Once it's taken away in the entirety, people will SEE that there are other avenues of expression and legality.

Chew on that for a while.

Nathan, you ought to learn something about the democracy you live in before you make such foolish comments. The Founding Fathers did not abandon their people to the tyranny of the masses. They did not believe that a majority should be allowed to persecute a minority simply because of numerical superiority. That's why we have a Bill of Rights. The Constitution shows how badly wrong you are.

Unfortunately, prejudice has always clouded the beauty of the Constitution's promise. For many years we made its gifts the birthright of white men only. I look forward to the day when gays enjoy the same rights that women and blacks won over the years.

Marriage is clearly not a religious affair - atheists wouldn't be able to marry if it was. If you believe an invisible man in the sky doesn't want you to marry a man, then I will happily let you follow your beliefs. Please extend that courtesy to others, however, instead of trying to inflict your beliefs on everyone.

How very very bittersweet this was for my family. I cried so hard when Obama took the stage, and yet my wife and I still can't legally marry. Just because we are two women that love each other.

When do we get our chance?? And to the person that says just because he is African-American and when racism happens around him, he has no closet... do I have a closet?? Does our daughter have a closet? We have no where to run. You think I chose this life? Do you think I would choose heartbreak and ostracism for any one person? Would you? I hardly believe so. And I can hardly believe that popped out of your mouth. How very very VERY ignorant of you. And considering. How very ironic, isn't it?

Fifty Years Ago, marriage was one white woman and one white man, or one African-American woman and one African-American Man. Look at how things change. So to think that it will always be this way, is pretty ridiculous.. that doesn't make it any easier to accept right NOW.

'One day we SHALL overcome!!!"

For those who donated money to the cause of "protecting marriage" in the name of God...if a fund raising group was standing on the street as you walked by asking for $50 donations to support Prop 8 , and Jesus were standing 20 feet away, flanked by several homeless, hungry people and he said "would you give $50 to clothe and feed these people?" Which one would you give your money to? All you so-called Christians who gave your money to support proposition 8, could you look Jesus in the face and know you did the right thing? You are the ones who will be judged, not the gay people.

I find little offense in the social behavior of gay people. They do not see fit to parking in non-parking spaces blocking the doorways to stores, playing their loud obnoxious violent promoting gangsta style "music", toting weapons and infringing upon the safety of our society, and living off the welfare system intended for temporary relief of single parents. They do not father children and reside with the mother of their offspring as she collects from the system claiming "father unknown". Gays are not notorious for commiting violent crimes and then proud once imprisoned as a passage of right into their own kind. Gays do not expect medical/food/housing assistance all because they are "gay" and it's just a way of life for "gay" people. I find little offense in the social behavior of gay people in comparison to those type of "people". Too bad the gays who unwittingly voted for Obama were like ignorant sheep being led to the slaughter house while waiting in line at the polls.

I agree with you, although i am an African-American, heterosexual male, and i believe that when you find love it should not matter whether that person is of the same sex, black, white, purple or green. The heart is color blind to love. I have gay friends and the thought that they may never no what is means to be joined in a union of love because some people out there feel that it is wrong is not Right. So What's next? If you are an inter-racial couple will that be put on the ballots too, will everyone have to live in fear that their Right To Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness will be in jeopardy, just because some one disagrees with your life style? I thought that this was the land of the Free, and not the Land of it's only Free if I say so.

@Kristie

The rest of nature, which is also God's creation, disagrees.

God also told Christians, through Christ, to keep the State and the Church separate. Marriage has both a religious implication and a State one (the state one predates the religious one, BTW – if you want to talk actual traditional marriage it was purely a property contract to settle land ownership). From the religious side, each Church is well within it's rights to decide who it will marry and who it will not (including denominations that WILL marry gays, which oddly enough are now being harassed by other denominations just like those denominations were not to long ago.. ah, how quickly people forget what it is like to be on the minority side),... however, marriage is also a legal contract that carries with it functional rights within the State. These rights are not traditional anyway so 'one man one woman' has zero claim to them.

This is a constitutional issue, not a religious one. There is a reason for the separation of church and state. There is a reason for the blind fold on Lady Justice. The concept of freedom without prejudice, of equal rights, of living without the fear of unlawful persecution is what our country was built on. We can not accomplish these, the wishes of our founding fathers, until we view everyone as equal. We are all equal.

Im happy that Prop 8 passed. Its about time. GLBT is a sick perversion and against the natural order. Im sick and tired of hearing about tolerance and all that liberal dribble. I dont want my kids seeing men or women making out on tv or such and thinking its ok. Its not.

I am a Connecticut resident and fiercely proud of the fact that my state is open minded enough to support gay marriage. Opposing it based off of your religious beliefs is fine. . . so long as you don't impose those beliefs onto other people, which is what a lot of people did Tuesday. There is a seperation between church and state for a reason and I think it's deplorable that citizens of this country, who are falsely claiming we have overcome adversity when there is still so much prevalent in our society, would deny two people who love one another the right to be married.

Additionally, homosexuality is not a choice. There's no switch in the brain that someone can flick to "turn off" the way they feel about certain people. The human brain does not work like that and it's naive to think that it does.

In closing, I think that a lot of people are simply hiding behind religion as an excuse for something bigger. People generally fear what they do not understand and a lot of Americans are simply too frightened of what they may discover about themselves or loved ones to actually take the time to educate themselves. Just because someone does not have the same lifestyle as you, does not mean they deserve less rights.

In the infamous Civil Rights case "Brown vs. The Board of Education," African Americans fought for their rights to educate their children in the same institutions as white students. In the spirit of their fight and Barack Obama's recent victory, I ask the nation this: How can we call ourselves the land of opportunity and freedom, when we deny the basic human right of happiness to law-abiding and upright citizens? Proposition 8 (and the other bills that were passed Tuesday) is nothing more than a repeat of the past and I say to you all that, "seperate but equal," is not equal.

The bible was written by men, not God.

The bible is not the law of this country.

The bible does not dictate rights in this country.

Gays should protest, and achieve their rights BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!!!

Oh one more thing, being gay is not a choice. Only Straights say its a choice, but how the heck do they know? You're not gay! It's not a choice, its how we were made!!!!!

I don't even know where to begin. I, too, am a Californian who proudly voted "Hell, NO!" on Proposition 8 & wept for the blatant disregard of civil rights that was shown in the election results. I do not care if you call yourself a Christian, Muslim, Atheist or Agnostic, there is & always has been a little thing we like to call a "separation of church & state". You may have heard of it, though as it probably cannot be found in your sole piece of literature you own: The Bible, I can only recommend that you branch out a bit.

There are innumerable reasons for homosexual couples to desire marriage & it does not boild down to finances any more than it would for a heterosexual couple. It is about a basic human right, one that does not involve anyone but those two people.

I have read all of your arguments against it: that marriage is a sacred institution & that it is designed for procreation, etc. If marriage is such a sacred institution, then perhaps you should be rallying against the drive-thru marriage services in Vegas where drunken couples can go after "hooking up" & getting plastered. Perhaps rallying against the frequency of divorce (let's see, 50 % rate in the USA) would be a pleasant use of your time. As for the "Procreation" argument, my heterosexual husband & I lived together for 2 years (that's right: IN SIN) prior to getting married. We have been happily married for 10 years & guess how many children we have produced? ZERO. By your biblical standards, perhaps in 2012, you can pass a proposition to annul our marriage as it obviously does not suit your standards. Live your life & let others live theirs. PLEASE.

ONE FINAL THING....

Minority rights, be definition, must not be decided by the will of the majority, or else, they never have rights. Its a hallmark tenent that while democracy is generally majority rule, courts are set up to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority. Prop. 8 was a clear example of the tyranny of the majority [straights] against the minority group of gays, simply because of hatered and bigotry.

AND!!!! Civil Unions instead of Marriage is the same exact thing as Separate but Equal...there's no such thing!

For a country that is proud to be free, telling people that they can't marry who they love because they're a same sex couple, well that just disappoints me. It truly makes me sad.

I stand corrected on the constitutional comment I made.

Ok aside from religion, please tell me can a man get another man pregnant no. Can a woman get another woman pregnant no. So therefore if it were meant for same sex people to be together they would be able to do the same thing as a man and woman. Being Gay/ Lesbian/ Bisexual etc. IS A CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! being black is not so please lets stop comparing the two. And to the gentelman that said my God made you yes he did you are right and my God also loves you and wants you to recognize your sins and repent. By no means am I saying that I am perfect not am I saying that I hate you, but what I will do is pray for the healing of your mind, body and soul and for you to ask God for forgiveness. May God Bless all of the Gay/ Lesbian and Bisexual people.

With the passage of Prop 8 in California, I no longer believe in the institution of marriage as a whole.

Not 50 years ago, African Americans and other minority citizens were not allowed to marry whomever they chose. Inter-racial marriage was banned. To know that Prop 8's passage relied heavily on the votes of minorities in California makes me sick. Why, after years of struggle and fighting to be seen as equal to white citizens, would any minority not recognize the similar struggle being fought tooth and nail by same-sex couples?

For those making a religious argument, please tell me how the "sanctity of marriage" is upheld when 50% of heterosexual marriages end in divorce?

Our country was founded with the knowledge that all people are created equally and should have equal freedoms and rights under the law, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religious affiliation or sexual orientation. While I am proud of the strides we have made as a country as demonstrated by our election of an African American president, I am disgraced and sickened by my fellow Californians who cannot see the passage of Prop 8 for what it is: a slap in the face of equality and an ugly mark on our state and federal constitutions respectively.

I believe voting Yes on Prop 8 shows us how behind we really are as a nation, even in a time of such great change. Voting Yes on a proposition due to your religion is no excuse. In America, we are free to whatever religion we choose. Giving someone else the RIGHT to a happy, loving life... I doubt there's anything God would want more..

And saying that it's not so bad here in the U.S. is a terrible point. America is supposed to be a beacon of hope, a symbol of freedom.. And what are we doing? Oppressing people.

It's very sad.

Richard- the black man who says discrimination to gays is not the same as discrimination to blacks. Shame on you. Discrimination is discrimination, no matter what color you are.

I am a gay man who voted NO on 8! The idea that gay rights are not civil rights is unfathomable to me. To the African Amercian gentelman who voted "yes on 8" for religious reasons, I would say three things. First, it was not very long ago that you could not marry a white woman and she could not marry you, no matter how much you loved each other. The LAW would not permit it. This has NOTHING to do with religion, it has to do with civil rights. Second, suggesting that I should go into the closet instead of publicly being who I am is not just insulting, it is mean spirited. You do not have to like who I am but don't tell me I have to hide it. Blacks used to try to pass as white to avoid discrimination. Those hateful days are, thankfully,over. Finally, 1,100 rights go with the status of marriage. I am just as entitled to those as anyone else. Bigotry has NO PLACE in this country, not City Hall, not a lunch counter and not a closet.

I wanted to take the opportunity to say how much I appreciated your comments regarding the loss of GLBT rights made during the CNN entertainment session – the one regarding the View – and for your comments here. For GLBT's in this country Barrack Obama's victory was tempered by sadness and disillusionment. When you feel your time has finally come it is difficult to be reminded that you are still a second class citizen.

My heart breaks, not only for us as GLBT's but for the children – the children who have been told their parents are dangerous to society, to the children – gay and straight – who have been subjected to ads that will further foster an environment that resulted in the death of more Larry Kings. Most of all my heart breaks for the childen in foster care in the state of Arkansas who will now lose the homes they have known or will be forbidden the opportunity to have safe and loving homes because a group hated us enough to prevent them homes in straight or gay abodes. It is disheartening enough to be hated but to have others suffer for the hatred that is directed at my community, that is an extra burden to carry.

Thank you again for your comments.

I oppose gay marriage. Although I don't consider myself a religious person, the Bible is explicit in its condemnation of homosexuality. I am weary of the whining that gays/lesbians are denied a "right" to marriage. Since when is marriage a "right"? It is a religious ceremony by which the union of one man and one woman is recognized by God.

All these claims about being denied the right to have one's "partner" at your bedside while hospitalized, being denied the right to leave one's assets to a "partner", etc. is bunk. Anyone – homosexual or heterosexual – can leave his/her assets to WHOMEVER he/she wishes by having a last will and testament drawn up. Anyone – homosexual or heterosexual – can have a health care directive drawn up granting his/her "partner" the right to visit at the hospital and/or to make health care decisions. Anyone – homosexual or heterosexual – can have drawn up a power of attorney granting to his/her "partner" the right to act on his/her behalf in the event of his/her inability to do so.

As for coverage under an employer's health care plan ... unmarried heterosexual couples are GENERALLY not both protected by the covered employee's health care plan.

Unmarried heterosexual couples are unable to file joint tax returns.

Unmarried heterosexual couples can purchase property together and, in many states, upon separation, must "divorce" and "split" property acquired together.

So, if a gay and/or lesbian couple wishes to live together for the remainder of their lives, they may do so – in the same fashion as unmarried heterosexual couples!

And, by the way, why has no organization formed to FORCE the acceptance of polygamous marriages upon the American population?

Everyone here is comparing apples to oranges. There was no reason to treat black Americans and other minorities as second class citizens. There is NOTHING that says any race is better than another. It was just ignorance that caused us to oppress black Americans. That was a civil rights issue. However, gay marriage is wrong. That is why people don't support it in California. It's not because they hate gay people. They just believe marriage is sacred, to be between one man and one woman. I do mind my own business and think people should do what they want to do most of the time, but there have to be limitations in some areas. You can't marry someone of the same sex just like you can't be married to more than one person at the same time.

DOES ANYONE READ THE BIBLE!!!!!!!

Nathan Bernstein got it rignt in one, a yes vote on Proposition 8 was not a vote against gay rights, but simply a vote that marriage is between a man and a woman. It was simply voting one's believe on the subject of marriage.

I am not against gays, have pride in yourself and do as you see fit as long as it does not harm or infringe on my rights or violate any laws.

Marriage has always been and should always be defined as being between a man and a women. It is what God intended. He created us to fit together in certian ways that only make physical sense for a man and women. The bible is not against homosexuals, but it is against the act of homosexuality. It is a sin, and I stand by God and his word until death.

Our countrys legal system and values are based on the christian values of our founders. These values are still held by the majority of citizens which is why Prop 8 passed. If put to a public vote, no matter what the state, gay marriage will always fail.

Stopp pushing your queer values on us......

I HOPE THAT IT COMES A TIME THAT WE AS GAYS CAN BECOME EQUAL WERE PEOPLE

My partner Jim says that God is a God of Love. An act that promotes love follows the spirit of Christ and an act that promotes hate and fear follows the spirit of anti-Christ. Jim and I are in a committed relationship but we haven't married because we were waiting for the moment to be right and we wanted a ceremony with our religious community, who are in support of our marriage. A few years ago, interracial couples could not marry, years before that blacks and women had partial votes in elections. Now is the time to end bigotry and treat each other with tolerance and compassion.

Thank you, Lisa, for such an eloquent article! I'm always deeply touched to have someone on our side who truly understands the struggle. I think it's disgusting that hatred against a group of people is alive and well in this coutry and many seem to not mind at all. If gay were a skin color, maybe then people would realize that we're being discriminated against, beaten, and killed everyday. I don't understand the people arguing about the sanctity of marriage, because I think marriage has been disrespected enough by heterosexual couples. I don't see how we could damage it any further. However, if you don't think I have the right to have my partner be taken care of when I die, or let her choose to pull the plug if I want her to without having to scramble to get her power of attorney, then I think it's fair to say I shouldn't have to pay taxes, being that I'm a second-class citizen and all. And for those of you who insist on making this a religious issue, one of the most important things to take from the Bible is that only He can judge. If I'm going to Hell, I want to hear it from God Himself, none of you religious fanatics who pick and choose which sins are unforgiveable and which can be overlooked. Because as far as I can tell, you have no problem with a murderer, pedophile, or Atheist getting married, but I'm the one who's going to burn. Let God do His job, and let our country do its job of making sure its citizens have rights because we're all "created equal."

Lisa,

Thank you for putting into words on a national news website what so many of us who are either gay or have gay friends and family have been wishing the rest of the world to hear. The past couple of days have been a whirlwind of emotion, from ecstatic to disappointed. I ask everyone out there who voted "Yes" for this unlawful amendment that never should have been put on the ballot, but instead deliberated in courts. I want you to a take a good long look at yourselves int he mirror and ask "What if it was me? What if I were gay? or my child? Wow would I feel if I were denied a basic HUMAN right?" The right to be seen in the eyes of the LAW (not your god) as a couple with rights that every other couple share?

And in response to everyone who invoked god and religion in your comments, take your bibles and go back and hide in your churches. Come back to society when you can have a conversation that relates to humanity, not a religious fanaticism.

Beautiful article, couldn't have put it better myself.

Anyone is free to choose who they want to spend the rest of their lives with. However, that doesn't mean that it is right or that we should all be forced to accept them. Just because something is common it doesn't make it normal.
Human beings are the only beings with a brain to rationalize things. We can think and differentiate right from wrong. Animals, can't.
But, how many gay animals have you seen in your lifetime? Where on the bible does it state that God intended marriage to be between men & women? God makes no mistakes. If you were born a man or a woman it's only because that is how he intended it to be.

Every time someone states that they do not think gays should be married, then your anti-gay................. Get Real. stop trying to force your life on us. I do not think that mankind would have survived, if being gay was the right way to live. It is against nature. if you have a clan of gay people than you would not have a next generation.

they would have to go back to a man and a woman to have any offspring.

I love how the pro 8's all think that the people have overwhelmingly chosen to ban gay marriage. Do you not realize that the victory was by a small margin and that every Californian that did not vote couldn't care less if Gay people were married. Polls show 67% of people under 30 were NO on prop 8 while 65% of those over 60 were Yes on prop 8. All the Mormons, Catholics and Christian radicals showed was that almost just as many voters were opposed and that the youth of this state and our future will soon do away with discrimination. This was no victory for pro 8. You have accomplished more for the equality movement than if prop 8 were defeated and more than ever you have brought this issue into the spotlight. Obviously some people have forgotten that this country though sometimes flawed has a history of always righting the wrongs that are made against the civil liberties that all Americans are given.

I am a Connecticut resident and fiercely proud of the fact that my state is open minded enough to support gay marriage. Opposing it based off of your religious beliefs is fine. . . so long as you don’t impose those beliefs onto other people, which is what a lot of people did Tuesday. There is a seperation between church and state for a reason and I think it’s deplorable that citizens of this country, who are falsely claiming we have overcome adversity when there is still so much prevalent in our society, would deny two people who love one another the right to be married.

Additionally, homosexuality is not a choice. There’s no switch in the brain that someone can flick to “turn off” the way they feel about certain people. The human brain does not work like that and it’s naive to think that it does.

In closing, I think that a lot of people are simply hiding behind religion as an excuse for something bigger. People generally fear what they do not understand and a lot of Americans are simply too frightened of what they may discover about themselves or loved ones to actually take the time to educate themselves. Just because someone does not have the same lifestyle as you, does not mean they deserve less rights.

In the infamous Civil Rights case “Brown vs. The Board of Education,” African Americans fought for their rights to educate their children in the same institutions as white students. In the spirit of their fight and Barack Obama’s recent victory, I ask the nation this: How can we call ourselves the land of opportunity and freedom, when we deny the basic human right of happiness to law-abiding and upright citizens? Proposition 8 (and the other bills that were passed Tuesday) is nothing more than a repeat of the past and I say to you all that, “separate but equal,” is not equal.

I do NOT support gay marriage... but let me credit you for this piece... I am a Christian, but I must say this article touched me and I do have compassion for the gay community. After reading this article I don't know how I feel... I do still believe that being gay is a sin but I think gay people, just as straight people should be given a choice of right and wrong. If they so choose to marry, then let it be...

It's the same way with murder and all other sins... we give everyone the choice to decide... I say, we need to give them the choice! If they marry, let's not judge them but rather leave that to God...

The fact is, you can continue to deny God and live in sin, and you can despise me for saying this, and call me a bigot or whatever, but when your time here on earth is through are you prepared for judgement? For all of you supposed Christians that support gay marriage, you are obviously not reading the bible. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike gay people at all, but I do recognize that God has the power to change those who are and I will continue to pray for all of you who struggle with this perversion.

Eleanor Holmes Norton:
The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don't agree with.

Bertrand Russell:
Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.

RHammond:
People who believe they know what God wants, are showing their ignorance. How sad.

To Clarence: Sir your ignorance is showing. Choosing to be gay is not unlike choosing to be black and living in the south during the 1950. Why the hell would anyone choose to be look down upon, discriminated against, be beaten or murdered for whom they love. NO, it is not a choice, it is what it is. I was born a lesbian...I did not choose to be a lesbian. Yes, I chose to be honest about my sexuality, to not live a lie...those sir were my choices. Become educated before you speak.

To Richard: If marriage is so very sacred, than why do 50% of all heterosexual marriages end in divorce? Why do married men and women continue to cheat? Sacred? Please. As a lesbian woman, you can keep your sacred marriage...I want something better. Something I know will last and that stands for the love that I have for my partner. Thank you for not sharing your sacred marriage stuff.

One last thing? Whatever happened to separation of church and state?

Why does someone have to hate to be against gay marriages? Marriage is an institution defined as being between a man and a woman. You can get married whether you are gay or straight, as long as it is with someone from the opposite sex. So there is no discrimination taking place.
We live in a democracy. The people have voted to protect the nature of marriage as it has been defined for centuries. If two people of the same sex want to be happy living together, fine don't let a piece of paper get in your way. Don't let others determine your happiness. But, don't try to change an institution to fit your desires, when you don't want to change your desires to fit the institution.
I love America, and am so thankful that we have a democracy where every person has a vote NOW, and where the majority determines the law. So, I don't understand how homosexuals feel persecuted just because they didn't get the votes.

Back in the early 70's I typed a document for someone fighting Anita Bryant and in that document was the idea that a subject called
Alternate Lovestyles should be taught in schools. I believe there is a gay agenda that exceeds normal standards of decency. Any civilization that has embraced sodomy has not survived. Gay people have all the same rights under the law as married couples – they simply insist on being accepted as normal as everyone else. They are 4% of the population and I wish they would just settle down and be happy they can have civil unions. Their demand for "marriage" is a demand for full acceptance and there are a lot of us who do not believe this is "normal"

There's an easy answer to this: Get government out of the marriage business. Make the legal life partnership between two people a "Civil Union." The church can then define marriage as whatever it likes but it has no legal standing.

Obama is against Gay Marrige.

I'm Asian and straight.

To the blacks who think discrimination that the gays face are not that same as the discrimination that blacks face:

I agree that it is not the same. Blacks face far worse discrimination. But, i think the gays don't want to compare themsevle to you. They just though you would understand that life suck when you're being discriminate just because you're different. They seek your help because they though you would understand that. Please have a little compassion.

This measure will eventually be overturned because it violates seperation of church and state. Everyone seems to have a god, buddah, allah, jehova and for some even satan. Why should we be forced to follow your beliefs and what makes you think your god is more deserving that other peoples?

With the further help of Lisa and her mom we will get there, we will have our moment too.

What makes the biggots on this site mad is they know this election was a sign that we are all equal and their days of oppression based on a bible written by man are numberd.

The right to marry for anyone else is NOT a matter of a popular vote. It should not be for gays, either. It is a fundamental right that everyone else enjoys. The US Supreme Court, in a case aptly named Loving v. Virginia, struck down anti-mysogination statutes, the LAWS that prohibited blacks from marrying whites, and vice versa. The California Supreme Court, hardly a bastion of liberal thinking, ruled the same way as applied to same sex marriage. It was an oppressive majority that imposed restrictions on blacks and hispanics – "coloreds" to use the term from that hateful time – and the same happened to gays on Tuesday. Shameful ad the laws that stop us from marrying the partner of our choice should go to the same dark place in history that anti-mysogination statutes have gone.

In addition, the idea same sex marriage will cost the general taxpayers money is ridiculous. The very point of marriage is to provide an environment where you care for each other. I WANT to do that for my partner and he wants to do that for me. If saving tax dollars is really a motivator, then allow us to get married so his pension and mine are available to each other, just like an opposite sex couple's is.

Finally, the idea that only marriages where procreation is the goal should be sanctioned by the government (religions can do whatever they want!) is just mean and hardly is an argument to stop same sex marriage, anyway. Opposite sex couples who either do not want or can't have kids can get married and same sex couples can have children in any number of ways. A marriage is not any more worthy simply because the couple can have kids.

What is confusing is whether or not a person's sexual orientation has anything to do with whom the new President is. True that people have gone a long way in this world: Black presidents, women CEO's, female pastors... Now there are people who say that because they prefer to be with the same sex for the rest of their lives, they have a right to change the definition of marriage.

Did everyone forget who defined marriage to begin with? People cannot overrule God's word! Thats it, no ifs ands or buts about it... People can change a man's law, or re-word it, or add to it, but God is absolute, and no one can change that. Who are we as a people to judge what another person does, we are not perfect ourselves, and those who say they are liars.

What proposition 8 was doing was to re-define what marriage means. If gay people want to be in a union that is similar to marriage thats fine. They can have the same rights the government gives "married" couples, but in the eyes of the Lord they will not be considered as such. The way things are going, there will be a new law that will allow gay and lesbian couples to have a wedding, and enjoy the same rights as "married" couples. That's really all the complaints are about anyway. Their rights.
So let them have it, but you just can't change marriage's definition.

Equal Rights For Everyone !
Stop Discrimination !
Equality For All !
Stop The Hate !
We Are Equal !
God Loves Us All !

it has been a while since i have read such ignorant comments from religious people. people are born gay, it is only the religious leaders who say it is a choice. these people use fake science to prove it is a choice. nobody just turns gay as nobody ever just turns straight. you would not believe how many of these right wing christians have gay kids. evidently they were all really bad parents.

why don't you all just come out and say it, marriage is permission to have sex granted by a religious entity. guess what folks, people have sex anyway. they always have. you claim tradition, well, those traditions have changed over and over again. you really need to learn some history.

marriage is a CONTRACT, therefor it is contract law. you are denying two people the right to have a contract where they can equally share property and make decisions. benefits are just that, benefits. marriage does not in any way shape or form mean you are going to get shared employment benefits just because you are married.

this is going to end up going to the supreme court when they try to invalidate all the marriages that already took place. the religious reasoning and all this stuff about kids and tradition are not going to be accepted as legal reasoning. gays are going to get the full rights accorded under the law. it will take a little more time, but things have changed drastically in my 50 years of life. gays have gone from being totally marginalized and criminalized to legal equals. you can't lock people up anymore simply because they are gay.

as for those who say the people have spoken and the courts don't have the right to change things, i have to wonder what planet you live on. ALL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN GRANTED BY THE COURTS. birth control and inter racial marriage laws were thrown out by the courts. all of the anti gay laws have been thrown out by the courts.

i am really getting sick of the bible says stuff, the bible says magic is real too. well, it isn't. you are using the supernatural as an excuse for bigotry. you want people to deny who they are and pretend to be like you because you say they are choosing. well folks, it is you who are doing the choosing. it is your choice to be a narrow minded religious bigot. we didn't force you to join you church or your beliefs. IT WAS YOUR CHOICE.

sorry for the typos and spelling errors.

I have cried the past day as I watched our first African American be elected to the Presidency. I cry because I feel so much pride in this country and hope in the goodness of people. I can't abide hatred & discrimination of any kind and I am ecstatic we have begun to heal and close this horrible chapter in our history. But my joy is tempered quite alot by hearing that the largest group who voted to remove our rights were African Americans. My partner of 17 years and I donated, and donated until we risked not being able to pay bills...just because we believe so much in Obama's message. Jewish people who survived the Holocaust are often the first to stand at our sides and defend our Civil Rights as gays and Lesbians. What on earth will it take for some African Americans to grasp that oppression is never okay?? Very maddening and sad footnote to such an amazing event in our American history on November 4th.

My problem is that they left it with the voters and they lost, not they are trying other ways to get around it. Look you lost deal with it, get over it.

Dont act like a bunch of cry babies and act like poor sports cause you lost.

I am glad it was voted down and hope other states vote to not give them marriage rights. A lot of companies already offer gay's the option to have their partner or partner's on their insurance. If I wanted to do the same for my girlfriend I would have to marry her in order to get her on my insurance.

No double dipping and I am soooooooooo glad it was voted out!

Again, just because someone does not agree with your views they're not the "decent people". There are a lot of decent people who voted yes on prop. 8 – many of them my neighbors and co-workers. Do I agree with them – no! But are they "decent people"? Yes – very much so. This is the United States Of America and our voting process is our most prized reality as a citizen – how dare you label hundreds of thousands of people with a different opinion than yours as not being decent.

Gay marriage has nothing to do with religion. Our political structure relies on the fundamental belief that one religion's views will not be held above another's. Not all religions believe in discriminatory practices. Therefore, it is unpatriotic of anyone to deny equal rights to everyone.

Do you want to be unpatriotic?

Forget the bible; you cannot force your religion on everyone. Please read the federal constitution; in this country the federal constitution is more important than the bible. It gives us all equal rights under the law.

The only other reason to vote yes on 8, aside from religion, is bigotry to some degree. One may neither be afraid nor hateful of homosexuality, but that does not mean he is not without bias.

Besides; marriage is screwed up beyond immediate repair to begin with.

Gay marrage should be banned everywhere. It is an abomination in the sight of the lord and it will only bring distruction upon our country.

Whatever happened to separation between church and state? Religious beliefs are what fueled the proposition in the first place, should we not be more concerned with the power that religion has in government? There is a separation to avoid these things, moral beliefs should not cloud one's judgment into thinking that it is okay to deny someone a right simply because they do not agree with their lifestyle choices. The religions that funded yes on 8 would be up in arms and fighting tooth and nail if any of their rights were taken away from them simply because they are associated with a specific religion. How can people preach acceptance, and love yet fail to follow the most simple rule... "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

To Nathan,

I think you may have missed a point about our particular democracy in the United States of America. We have the Bill of Rights, which is in place so that a majority of people cannot infringe on the rights of a minority – which is just what as occurred in CA. Regardless of one's personal belief, the amendment that passed on CA constitution is Unconstitutional according to our federal Constitution.

Just like at the federal level, it should not be so easy to amend a state's constitution – a super majority should be required to make amendments. I hold out hope that our democracy, which guarantees the rights of minorities regardless of the personal belief of the (what is this case was a small) majority.

Further, to those that make this about religion. You all have completely valid points – but what we are debating here is a legal institution. Perhaps, to be fair, we should eliminate the definition of marriage in the legal sense. Only people who are married in their house of worship and have been vetted by their minister (etc) can be married. Civil unions would be the only legal institution.

Thanks Lisa & Thanks to your Mom too ! : )

What does the author mean by "constitutional rights granted by the courts"?! Constitutional rights are granted by the Constitution, period. And it passed by majority of voters. End of discussion.

what happened to the nation of no discrimination?
how is not allowing someone something because of anything, not considered discrimination.

AND JUST SO THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS dont care if its for religious purposes, that means your god is discriminatory...

The laws of our country should not be set down to support religious views, as our country is made up of many people from broad spectrums and all types. I do not think that marriage is strickly something that is religious. Sometimes the needs and the rights of the few or the one, out weight the vote of the many.

As a few have pointed out, gay marriage is not about religion, it is about our rights as American people.

And for the record, being GAY is not a decision, we were born this way. We were born the way God intended us. Consider this, God created all of us, and he will look at the hatred, bigotry and discrimnation that others have displayed towards those who were different, and make his decision of weather you did right by him. Consider that, how you treat people, gay, black, asian, buddist, catholic will come into play on your judgement day.

Treat life as you wish to be treated. No matter how great or small it is, treat it with the same respect and decency that you wish to recieve.

what happened to the nation of no discrimination?

how is not allowing someone something because of anything, not considered discrimination?

AND JUST SO THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS i and all others dont care if its for religious purposes, that means your god is discriminatory, intolerant, and a mythical "person" who determines what is right and who goes to "hell"...

WELL FOR SOME PEOPLE, BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IS A HELL IN ITSELF, AND YOU'RE PUTTING THEM THERE. ARE YOU GOD?

It's a shame when peolple use the bible as something that GOD wrote when he or she did NOT. It was writen by many as an interpetation of what they thought or felt he or she meant. What GOD did write was the 10 commandments, and if we were to abide by those rules ALL would be equal. So i bless that GOD that does not judge....

Hm. Equality.. It refers to the idea of equal treatment. Now, since We the People can't all agree on gay marriage being right or wrong (mostly, I think, because so many people are still sucking on out dated religious texts), I think we should just.. Take all marriage away. What does it do? What purpose does it serve? You can still get pregnant without being married. You can still live together without being married. There you go, heteros, you still have what you want. Homosexuals just want to be considered equal citizens. Let's take a look at this definition.. "Marriage is a social, religious, spiritual, or legal union of individuals. " It says nothing about male/female.. The BIBLE may say it's a union of a male/female couple.. But last time I checked, this country had this little thing calledseperation of church and state. It's for a good reason, as well.

In the words of a great performer from San Fran: "if they take it away again some day....this beautiful thing remains...."

The gay community are the ones who are trying to destroy people's rights!!! THE PEOPLE of California have spoken on this ballot measure and what they spoke was: "NO GAY MARRIAGE"!

It seems that the gay community feels that the will of THE PEOPLE should be completely disregarded! I can see from their attitude that they believe in the Constitution as long as it agrees with what they think. But when THE PEOPLE excercise their Constitutional right to make a decision on the issue, and it does not agree with the gay community, then all of the sudden Constitutional voting rights are to be ignored and disregarded by the gay community. Gays are clearly demonstrasting by the actions and attitude that they are not part of the Constitutionally-based USA. They have shown that they are against anyone who doesn't agree with them.

THE PEOPLE of California have made it clear that the gay lifestyle is filthy, unnatural and should remain in the closet. Gays can live their filthy lifestyle all they want! They have their right to do that! No one is stopping that! The MAJORITY of California voters have voted that they do not want acceptance of the filthy gay lifestyle FORCED ON THEM!!!

The gay community has no understanding of being a gracious loser in a legitimate Constitutional vote, as Senator McCain, and accept that THE PEOPLE have spoken!

Let's be clear here all you self righteous bible bangers. The "Good Book" is NOT the word of God. It was written by MEN approx 3,000 years ago. It had about 40 different authors who were MEN and was a compilation of about 66 different books written by MEN.
These same MEN thought the world was flat, thought the sun revolved around the earth, had little to no concept of quantum physics, chemistry, biology, geography, advanced mathematics, geology, or astronomy. These same MEN gave zero rights to women and stoned homosexuals to death. A 12 year old in today's world is more knowledgeable about how things work than any of the MEN that wrote the "Good Book". If you learn to read more than one book and keep an open logical mind, you'll know this. Quite glossing over your own ignorance with the so called word of God.

marriage was created by God, not by man. Therefore we have noright to define it. Its that simple.

all I have to say is- heckish– I did not choose to be gay. I was born this way–who would choose to have someone like you and others who want to hate due to ignorance. My family loves me and so do my 'straight' friends. My 88yr old grandmother supports me and "God made me just right"–according to her. Oh I am a Veteran, too! I served to protect you and yours, proudly. Go Lisa and Gloria thank you!

I find it entertaining when individuals bring religion into a sexuality issue and it irritates me how they continue to preach the "The Bible says that homosexuality is wrong, adn so therefore it is a sin" philosophy. Why is this funny? The original word of God was first written by the Greeks...not the Catholics, or the Anglicans, who only revised/altered it, but the Greeks. And guess what? The majority of them were homosexuals.

Very well said!

To Richard above, who voted Yes on Prop 8: (See the fourth comment above at November 5th, 2008 2:16 pm ET)
I think you are incredibly selfish and narrow minded, and it's sad. I don't know your age, but I hope you weren't an adult in the '50s. If you were, I hope you didn't fall in love with a white woman. If you were, I hope you only had one choice of schools to attend, or to send you children to. If you were, I hope you weren't too fond of your own self respect.
Since you probably weren't an adult in the '50s, you didn't know to fear the public's reaction to who you fell in love with. You didn't know the hate in other's eyes as you walked to your voting place, or entered a formerly whites-only school. No, it's likely that others fought your fight for you. Like "W," you were born on third base, but told everyone you scored a triple on your turn at bat.
Please step aside and let those of us still needing to fight do so. Don't you have a religious addiction to feed? Go to church.

Lisa – Thank you for this. I am a heterosexual woman who can't understand why so many people fail to see that this is not an issue where religion is relevant.

Many of the above commenters mention "god's plan" or will, or intention. But what you are ignoring is that god has no place in law. Our government is separate from our religions. You have no right to force your religious beliefs on anyone – and certainly not on a legal level. You can think homosexuality is a sin and that god never intended man and man/woman and women to marry but that is NOT the point. Your religious edicts are irrelevant. Why do so many people fail to see this?

There are two types of marriages – legal and religious. This proposition dealt solely with LEGAL marriage. It would not have forced any church to perform marriages they were ideologically opposed to. Perhaps you all should have put down your bibles and read up on the laws and rules that are the foundation of this nation (and don't give me that "US is a Christian Nation stuff – our founding fathers were deists!)

CA got it right. Attempts to legitimize an illigitimate lifestyle can never be accepted. The term "gay marriage" itself is an oxymoron. The people saw through a bad court decision and corrected it. Good for them. The people have spoken.

This world has become seriously obsessed with this topic when it's truley a matter of common sense. I love all people. I have gay family members and know many who are gay and treat them with the same respect I would my best friend. Common sense says when you have an out'ey that fits in an in'ey they just go together. Common sense says that if it was meant for a man and a man to be together, then they could reproduce after their own kind. Does anyone think it was by a faulty design that when a man and a woman sleep together in the union of marriage they are able to reproduce and stay free from STD's? Or maybe it's by man's faulty design that when a man and a man or woman and woman sleep with each other they cannot produce and run higher risk of STD's? Come on people, quit drinking from the cup of deception.

As a gay male in Florida, I am thrilled about finally being in a blue state and the new views and perceptive Obama will bring to a historially always white house. Many have said the black movement has been achieved. Now many may be able to realize that gays are the next in line. I have often said the same bigots that thought of women and blacks as less than equal are the same ones who dump on gays. The say silly mindset of mis-informed people. If looked at people who voted for McCain, mainly people from the pews and pastures of America, where they do not interact with different times of people and also less educated. I really Obama and most of those who support him understand how is feels to be dump upon by the majority. Now is the time to stop making gays sit at the back of bus.

On a different note, does anyone else think that being allowed to change your CONSTITUTION my the vote of a mere majority is a bad thing? It takes a far greater super majority to do it on the federal level, shouldn't it be tougher than obtaining a mere majority to do it on the state level? Not only does it subject its citizens to the tyranny of the current majority but it seems to seriously destabilize the law. If the law (and I mean MAJOR law involving rights, etc.) can change back and forth every year dependent upon the whims of propositional politics, it will be very hard to plan one's life or business. I'd be much happier if Constitutional changes required at least a %67 majority. And perhaps my ignorance is showing, because I thought the legislature and Governor had to also approve a constitutional change. Can anyone enlighten me?

After reading a whole number of these remmarks I have come to the conclusion that people are confused on a number of levels. Firstly has no one heard of the seperation of Church and State???!! Good heavens it's what our founding fathers wrote so that everyone had a fair and equal place in society. Our country is steadly growing tolerant of others, however, Europe is still far ahead of us.

I think, in my humble opinion, EVERYONE who posted comments to Ms. Bloom's blog post need to watch the documentary "for the BIBLE tells me so." It's an enlightening film that teaches you about how the Bible has been mis-represented for amny years. Not just with homosexuals, but with many "different" things. It brings a tear to my eye knowing that an openly gay bishop was elected into the diocese and EVERYONE in his congregation was absolutely THRILLED to have a gay bishop. They looked at him for the man that he is, and the gifts that he can bring to his church. Not by his sexual preferences. The stories enmeshed within this film are both enlightening and heartbreaking. Go rent it, or buy it online. You'll think about many things differently after viewing!

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Diana,

In response to your comment: "I don’t care that you are gay and I don’t try and get you to turn straight or force my lifestyle upon you so STOP! trying to force yours upon me!"

I am confused. How exactly is allowing gay marriage "forcing" anything on YOU at all? I would like to know: in what specific ways will gay marriage directly affect your life, family or marriage? How does gay marriage infringe on YOUR rights, turn you gay, or force a homosexual lifestyle on you?

Your comment does not ake sense. In my opinion, the only people "forcing" anything on anyone is those people voted in favor of prop 8.

One day I hope that gays will have the right to marry.
Like Chris Rock said, "they should be able to suffer like the rest of us."

Lisa, thank you so much for your kind words during the video entitled "The 'View' on Obama." I was also overjoyed when Obama won and every time I see a personal reaction to the victory I tear up. But I really appreciate the fact that you remembered how civil rights were taken away from me and other same-sex couples. It was such a bittersweet day for me. I had no idea what to feel – happiness for Obama, sadness for gay people. All of my friends are celebrating Obama and I feel like we've been forgotten almost. Thank you for remembering us.

Also, I wanted to put my two cents into the argument for gay marriage. Some people say that being gay is a lifestyle choice, but I ask you to reconsider that statement. Try to look at it from our perspective. When we are born, people tell us that men and women are supposed to go together. It's just the natural order of things. Then, when we are at a certain age (18 for me), we begin to realize that we're not attracted to the opposite sex anymore. And we fight it at first. We think to ourselves, "I'm not gay. Being gay is weird." But after a while, we find that we are unable to suppress this impulse within ourselves, in the same way that straight people are impulsively attracted to the opposite sex. We can't choose to be gay or straight. It's just who we are. You may not be able to visibly see that being gay is a natural characteristic of some people, because it doesn't show like the color of our skin. However, just like some of us are hard-wired (genetically) as white, black, asian, latino, male or female, LGBT people have no more control of their sexuality than we do the color of our skin. You may disagree, but I'm absolutely positive that people will soon begin to see where we are coming from. Same-sex marriage ban passed by 22% a few years ago. This time it passed by 4%. Very soon, we will be counted as equal citizens under the law.

if you voted yes purely on a religious factor, you have gone against the constitution. you know the clause seperation of church and state??? yes, you broke the rules. religion should not play a role in making laws. and the government does not belong in peoples personal lives. how dare you tell someone who they can and cant marry.

Lisa, you are my new best friend! You have no idea how deeply your article touched me – you summed up the exact feeling I had on election night: excitement for Obama, soon to turn to anguish over the California (and the other states') results – my partner of four years and I had hoped to get married there next year. So many people don't realize how it feels to be considered less than the rest of society. Yet one group that should understand this – African Americans – voted strongly in support of prop 8. Disgraceful. Remember when similar laws were in place to keep blacks and whites from marrying?

For Spider and the rest of the people who supported it on religious basis – this is not a religious issue! It's a civil rights issue. Gay (civil)marriage has nothing to do with your church or your faith – it's about being able to enjoy the same rights straight couples do under the law: hospital visitation, inheritance, adoption, tax equality, etc. If you look into the history of marriage, you'll find the historical purpose was more about property than any spiritual bond. There's nothing traditional about your "traditional" marriage, either!

Keep up the good work, Lisa! We appreciate your voice and your support!

I hurts me, as a Christian, to see so many people hiding behind "biblical principles" in their arguments supporting Proposition 8. OK, semantics aside, why shouldn't GLBT individuals be allowed to share the same benefits as heterosexual couples? Please don't tell me that your "tax dollars are going to go up" if this is allowed. BS. Plain and simple. These people pay taxes just like hetersexual couples–why, then, should they not be entitled to the same benefits as all other couples? Double standards and hypocrisy have, for years, left a bad taste in my mouth with "Chrisitian Principles" in general. We allow all faiths to worship, whether they are Christian or not. We allow groups to gather, whether they are founded on Christian principles or not. This country was founded on the the premise of FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR ALL. Not just Christian individuals. The sooner this fact is realized, the sooner this country can hopefully become the "land of the free" that our forefathers truly envisioned.

very well put! thank you for writing this!

I totally agree with Richard. Absolutly no one is above God, so therefore we can not change Gods law. We are not to hate the individual but only what they do. I do not believe in gay marriage. Marriage is sacred. Once again NO ONE IS ABOVE GOD and no one can dispute that.

I voted for prop 8 simply because i do not feel we need to change the law to cater to such an extreme minority as the gay population is.We have serious issues to face in this country and the gays need to stop being so selfish and realize we have better things to worry about like our economic troubles and several wars going on overseas.

What i don't get is why you chirstians are all freaking hippocrytes, So people can't be gay because it's agianst the bible seems to be your main argument, but yet you yourselves can't stick to the bible 1/2 of the time, so why should they have to? Heck our soon to be former president can't even stick to the bible, and half the country voted on him. why then are you up in arms because OMG gays might get married, you can vote for a white man who hides behind weasel words and lies because thats how politics works, but you can't vote in favor of ordinary people. I know a lot of you will contradict this, but being gay doesn't mean your any different on the inside, and thats whats supposed to count isn't it? Heck it's even plausible if not true to say that they were born that way because of deficient genes. (thats not confirmed in humans but such genes are a theory.) So if your god made some people with their genes hardwired to be gay, how can it be against the bible? because if your god exists then wouldn't he stick to his own rulebook, just a thought or two on the subject from myself. I know some people have decided to be gay, but those cases are very few and seem to be related to a very bad part or their childhood. that might be because i haven't looked hard enough or just because its fact, i still puzzle over that every now and then.

Though if your god has a preference and possibly creates gay people then why doesn't he just give you a new addition to the bible because the issue has been so contested.

I really don't understand the whole "God intended marriage to be between a man and a woman" argument. We live (thankfully) in a country where we have the freedom of and from religion. Some people don't believe in God. Should they be denied the right to marry? No. I have a lot of gay friends who are religious and believe God loves them no matter their sexual orientation. They should be allowed to live their lives in the way they see fit. No one should hold their opinion over the lives of others. Marriage is a legal process, not a religious one, as dictated by the constitution.

I am deist, like many of our founding fathers, meaning I believe in God but I don't believe he cares what we do. I also believe all written word (Bible, Torah, Qu'ran, etc) is inherently flawed because it was written (and mis-translated many times) by man. How can you believe a document says being homosexual is wrong when historians and linguists can't even decide if people 2000 years ago translated it correctly from Hebrew to Greek? Or Greek to Latin? Or Latin to vernacular? I'm even skipping the fact that the Torah was an oral tradition for over 1000 yrs before it was written down. Things had to have changed at least slightly in all that time.

And finally, to Kristie: There is a lot of evidence of homosexuality in other species. Take penguins for example. Gay penguin couples will care for rocks in place of eggs b/c their drive to raise young is so strong. They also adopt rejected young from "straight" penguin couples. And yes, the penguins they raise do turn out to be heterosexual. You cannot tell me being gay is a choice when it so clearly is not.

Such a hypocrysy that African Americans are the one that supported Prop 8 the most. My guess is maybe since they have been discriminated and looked down the most by other races, one way for them to feel better is lower "the weakest". and that mentality keeps growing and spreading. I truly would not care less if i did not get married but the idea of being a second class citizen in a country of Equality is an insult to gay Americans and the ones hiding behind the cover of God to discriminate is shameful. sounds a lot like radical muslims in a way. The Bible is only good how you interpret it. I'm myself from Europe and California kind of remind me of how Europe used to be 10 years ago. It will be a matter of time before Gays get all the same rights than everyone else, the only question is how many people have to suffer before we get there

Reading these comments is disturbing. To all of the gay and liberal people out there attacking those with different views, people have a right to vote any way they want. Just as you have a right to vote so do others. Just because you might not agree, does not mean you should start slinging mud. I do not support gay marriage but have many friends who are in gay relationships. I want gay people to have the same joys and happiness in life. To Debbie Brinkofski, it is obvious that the Catholic church and the Mormon Church feel strongly against gay "marriage", identifying marriage between a man and a woman. If they choose to spend money expressing their beliefs that is their choice. Both churches spend millions each year serving the community and giving to others. They express Jesus' love to all people. Their stance on this issue does not change that. So, if that is your argument, then why do all of these gay/lesbian organizations not give to others, but spend their monies funding/lobbying for gay rights. Or why does Barack Obama, who has raised millions in dollars not give to others, build houses for homeless or anything else you sight in your bitter tirade. I am sorry you are disappointed and feel bitter about this, but you voted and so did others and unfortunately it did not turn out the way you wanted.

My comments to HATTIE,

You were born Black ,i was born Gay and White , idid not get to choose either one . About your comments of suffering more than any others races or group , Jews to my view suffered way more than Blacks. Maybe Obama will change this world for the better for all of us where regardeless of our race, religion or sexual orientation we will be truly equal. Stop making gay jokes and people will stop making black jokes. got my point?

Well... like it or not the people spoke... which is how it should be...

Over a million Cali Obama supporters voted for Prop 8....

Can't simply blame this on Republicans because they couldn't have done it alone... or McCain would have won the state...

Many believe in this prop that is certain... I don't care one way or the other... but I am glad to see the people make a choice rather than a single judge.

The problem with our society now is that we, meaning "man", thinks that we know better now all in the name of "enlightenment". We attempt to redefine the institution of marriage to include anyone who demands. We allow the killing of unborn children because they're inconvenient.

To anyone who's a Christian, this is cause for great concern though not surprising. I have a sister who's gay that I love very much, along with other relatives who are also.

In this case the people of California have spoken. Since this decision was arrived at democratically, that should be good enough for people but it won't be.

the trouble with you liberal democrates is..you cant see beyond
your own thoughts of what you want..doesnt matte what the other
people voted, the majority, you are only concerned with what you
want and think..hopefully your children will not have the same
political thinking as you, then you can think differently and be more
open..and think of what other people want...but knowing the way
you and your mother are, you would probably beat down your
own children to make them see your point..remember everyone has
openions..your isnt necessary right....

i read a billboard somewhere that said if there was no religion there would no war and i truly believe that if everyone was not fighting all the time and trying to impose their religous beliefs on other people this world would be far less dangerous. Religion to me is a personal belief and we should not judge other lest we want other judging us. because no one is perfect. I think that in a free world everyone should have the same rights and equalities it is only fair and what is wrong in the eyes of your god does not make it wrong for everyone else so as long as you do not do it then you are fine, dont' worry about everyone else.

I am a married straight white woman whom if I lived in Ca again, I would have voted NO on 8. I have a gay brother, 2 gay sons and many gay friends. Oh, I am also Pagan.

It saddens me that people hide beyond the bible, it was written by man. As a Pagan, I know that Pagans were BEFORE christians and that they, the christians made their own laws up.....so do not include me in that lump sum that so many have posted in here.

EVERYONE deserves the right to live and love whom they choose. Who is anyone, no matter what religion to tell them differently? Isn't that called 'judgeing' and from your bible be left to your god?

As for the mention of taxes, gays pay taxes just the same as we straights do. They live the same way we do and most importently they are human and deserve the same rights as anyone else.

Until you are appointed to judge anyone, look in the mirror and be sure that you are following your own rules, by-laws, commandments and decleration before you pass judgements onto others.

Richard,
I too am a Black man AND a Gay one and trust me, when discrimination occurs there is no "closet" for gay people either. Why should I deny who I am? Why should I internailze the prejudice and indignities inflicted on me by a hostile society? Your comment shows how, even if you are Black, you have learned nothing from the struggles of African-Americans for all of these years. Even Julian Bond, who was certainly on the front lines of the civil rights movement, and, I would venture to say, has done more for the freedom of African Americans than you have, has spoken out against the injustice of Prop 8. Discrimination is discrimination, plain and simple and one person's pain cannot be quantified against another's. Just because a person is "in the closet" they do not stop being gay so their suffering continues. Your religious beliefs are just that, your beliefs, and religion should not be legislated. The Dutch Reform Church used it's bible to justify apartheid. The Mormons have text in their doctrine implying that people are born with dark skin because of their association with the devil. If your intepretation of your bible says that gay marriage is wrong (and please share the passage that specifically addresses gay marriage, by the way), then I'd suggest you don't marry another man. But you have no right, under the US Constitution to discriminate against another person for any reason. If that was the case, then both you and I would still be working the back forty on ol' Massa's plantation and not even having this conversation.

Proposition 8A: Ban divorce between one man and one woman.

Dear miss bloom,

Your candor is not only commendable but it will go down in history as one of the true speakers against injustice and discrimination against minorities in general. Let us forget for a moment the issue at hand. Let us not assign gender to the sacred institution of marriage. What we need to do as a society is to recognize that two human beings residing in this great country of ours as contributors and tax paying citizens; have as much right to exist in blissful and harmonious marriage as anyone else in this nation.

I wonder what will happen if all those citizens who feel betrayed by this law; truly unite and abstain from paying their, business, property and state taxes for 6 months after the deadline. Considering the number of gay people existing in those states. I can assure you fellow citizens that the impact will be paramount. Unfortunately and if I may use the gaudy term. You gotta hit em where it hurts. Then and only then they will listen and comply. Sad, but proven true. Past history is witness to this.

ENOUGH of the pious and hypocritical self righteousness of those who try to instill unfounded fears in the gullible population with their megalomaniacal stands on conservatism by condemning and out casting human beings based on their sexual preference. This law will not stand for long. It is just one last desperate attempt by the very few and rapidly disappearing sector to try and exercise their insidious need to control. Their grip is only temporary and soon it will cease to exist. It will be burned away, like a fog in the warming Sun.

Thank you and your mother for being the shining beacon that so many seek comfort and light in.

Sincerely,
A true Christian

What's the big deal with the gays and lesbians about have a "marriage certificate." Ask Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie and Susan Saradon and Tim Robbins, they don't think a "piece of paper" makes them married. I think giving gays the right to marry makes a mockery out of my marriage.

I have a brother who is gay and lives with his partner for 8 years now. They go about their life living it as they wish and are as happy as can be and they are not running around, screaming and protesting for something that doesn't make them legitimate or not.

Do you know how many hetrosexual couples are living together without a marriage certificate and don't feel that they are any more or less committed to one another than any couple with a marriage certificate.

Why is it so important for homosexuals to obtain an institution that is made for a man and a women? You want to be different, you reject heterosexual relationships but what a heterosexual institution so you can be the same? Give me a break. Just stick with your civil unions and stay away from my kids.

Ms. Bloom,
This evening I watched your appearance on Anderson Cooper 360 where you discussed the California Propsition 8 issue. I am an attorney writing from California and I write to imform you your analysis of the potential of California courts to ptentially overturn Prop 8 was incorrect.

During the interview you continuously stated that in California, to AMEND the constitution, a two thirds vote of the legislature is required. That is incorrect. What you are referring to is a REVISION of the constitution. A passing of a proposition ballot is all that is required to AMEND.

If you are going to go on TV as a "legal expert", I would hope that you can do with correct legal advice.

By the way, there is no chance that the California Courts will consider Prop 8 a Revision.

Stephen Borgo

Lisa Bloom,

Thank you for arguing the case for gay marriage so cogently and forcefully on tonight's program. I have watched you weigh in on various issues on AC360 before and you have always impressed me with your intelligence, but the additional empathy you demonstrated this evening earned not just my respect but my admiration and gratitude.

Separation of church & state.

Since we need to keep those two subjects separate, Can someone give me an intelligent argument on WHY gays should not have equal rights WITHOUT including God (christian or otherwise) or religion??

I am not going to argue that "the people have spoken". You're right...they have.

I do, however, agree that homosexuals deserve EQUAL rights. Then again, I also agree that men, women, White, African American, Native American, general Joe-Citizen, deserve equal rights.

Gays didn't try to term themselves as "heterosexuals" and similarly there is no reason to hijack a term that holds a distinct meaning to the majority of people in the US (including apparently the all-holy President elect). Call it "garriage" and demand the same rights and laws that heteros get under the term marriage. Garried couples deserve it. I guarantee that the majority of Americans will vote in favor of it. And then both sides can shut up and get on to more substantial issues, like returning all of us to financial health or ridding the world of terrorists.

Lisa, you are so right. I saw you on Anderson 360 tonight, and what you said really resonated with me. Prop 8 is a horrible restriction on freedom, dare I say love. We have no right to tell people how to live their lives. People should be judged on who they are morally and not because their sexuality doesn't fit into what religion or generations of hate say they should. Families come in all shapes and sizes. And more importantly so does love.

Four points I'd like to make:

What's with the gay apocalypse everyone's projecting if same-sex marriage were legalized? Do you really think that allowing us this right, so we can feel like we belong, means we're going to take over the world and turn everyone gay? Every other group that was discriminated against in the past was eventually given rights. I don't think we've been overrun by any of them. To be honest, I wouldn't want that anyway. We have to embrace and appreciate diversity. Without it, I think Hitler's ideas would've turned out much more popular.

If you're discriminating against gays because we can't reproduce, then you should also take away the rights of married couples who cannot or choose not to have children.

For those of you who say we should shut up and give up because the "people have spoken," if we always stuck to that theory, then things would be a whole lot different today. Slavery seemed pretty popular at one point, didn't it?

My last point: I agree that there are very important issues out there that we should focus on. But you have to understand that until I am considered an equal, it's hard to care. This country has no problem taking my taxes. Nobody seems to mind my "gay dollars" paying for schools, unemployment benefits, etc. But when it comes to marriage, I'm supposed to be okay with second-class treatment?

You're right Lisa.. Denying gay/lesbian CITIZENS violates the equality clause of the US Constitution( the 14th Amendment). People's bigotry knows no end. Using God as an excuse to be bigoted / prejudiced /discriminatory is BS. Its the same as discriminating against non-Christians,blacks,Asians,Latinos,handicapped,etc. America is NOT a very welcoming country.Other nations have legalized same sex marriage:Canada,Holland,UK and they haven't gone to hell( that's one of the scare tactic BS arguments the so-called religious extremists use to try and instill fear in Americans. Same sex marriage will happen in the US and we'll be the BETTER for it. Heterosexuals have ruined the institution of marriage:look at the 50% plus divorce rate. I think that straight people don;t want gay/lesbian the right to marry is because gay/lesbian marriages would last longer....Obviously straight people have many issues they need to resolve before they go slandering/libeling gay/lesbian citizens.

There is no difference between being racist and being bigoted. You cannot argue that it's okay to discriminate against gays but not okay to discriminate against the color of a person's skin. They are BOTH prejudice. If we want everyone in this country to be truly equal, we need to stop ALL forms of discrimination. I am a straight, white, single mother and I abhor these decisions in which gays cannot legally marry or adopt. How in the hell is it possible that Scott Peterson, a convicted killer of both his wife and unborn son, can LEGALLY marry WHILE still in prison and yet two people who love each other and have been in a committed relationship for decades cannot legally marry? Yes, our country took a giant step forward on election night but make no mistake, we still have a long, LONG way to go towards equality among all people.

To Kyle: I'm sorry to say this but you are extremely ignorant. Gays may be a minority but last time I checked they were roughly 10% of the entire population. Honestly I couldn't care less if they comprised only 1% of the population – gays deserve to be treated the same as anyone else. No one chooses to be gay any more than someone chooses who their parents are or what the color of their skin is. Heck, people CHOOSE what religion they want to believe in and we have laws that protect against discriminating against someone based on their religious beliefs. So how on earth is it possible that people can be allowed to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation, a very, VERY private issue that is decided by one's genetic makeup?! The motives of the people who voted against gay marriage must be SERIOUSLY questioned. Maybe they just want to feel superior to someone, anyone because they themselves have felt put down for so long? Or they want to impose their religious beliefs on others because they can't handle a world in which there are shades of gray? Tolerance, friends, tolerance. We must start having more tolerance for those who are different if we truly want an inclusive society. That is KEY.

Same-sex marriage is a violation of all religious law all over the world. Religious law is the foundation and basis of all law through all the ages of man. Societies have been built and have flourished on the foundations of these laws.

To allow such an abomination, such an unnatural act, as same-sex marriage to get into law is to allow sytematic breakdown, not only of law, but, of the cohesion of the social fabric of society itself.

Keep in mind that laws, particularly those from religious origin, were designed and established to protect man and society from his and its self.

So, this is a resounding NO to same-sex marriage or same-sex anything that degenerates down into the sexual arena.

If the United States is truly built on egalitarian principles, then both Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage act are unconstitutional. In the eyes of the state, marriage is a legal union. We are not seeking to marry one another in association with any religious organization. We have our own. We simply want the same legal rights as other Americans. It is people of this mindset who kept propertyless persons disenfranchised, kept the vote from women and minorities, instituted Jim Crow Laws, and outlawed interracial marriage. One day, equality will prevail, because we will persevere.

Shut out?? Explain how I could add my gay partner to my health insurance policy but my two flesh and blood children over 18 are living on the edge with NO insurance. PLEASE! Get a grip people, live together and get on with your lives, marriage is BS anyway.

As I read through these comments, i am struck with one glaring reality. Religion itself is the problem. I love how "religious" people like to pick and choose what they enforce as "God's will" If we enforced everything in the bible, then we would be living in a very different society indeed.

Oh, and religious laws weren't design to protect man from himself, they were created to keep man inline. Which is fine by me. You go ahead and be just another sheep in the flock...you'll hardly be noticed.

It hardly matters...change will come and if your still alive, there wont be much you can do about it except to gripe, moan and complain.

Change WILL come.

This is what Elton John said about this subject.

ELTON JOHN, SAYING:
"I think the word 'marriage' puts a lot of people off, David and I have a civil partnership, and I am very happy with a civil partnership, it protects us, we have everything that we want, and we had the best day, and I think marriage, a lot of straight people, and I understand, I think that a marriage is between a man and a woman, I think people should have a right to commit to each other, but if they called it a civil partnership, it would be a much easier passage for them to get through."