civil union vs marriage?

Okay, as far as I'm concerned, organized religions can be as backwards and exclusionary and disrespectful all they want. Gay people be damned, that's fine by me - organized religion can get by on the "tithes" of the mindless robots they call their "congregation". Government should not force them to do anything, they need to wake up for themselves and treat EVERYBODY with respect.

But the government sure as hell should not disallow a civil union, "marriage", or any other form of equal rights status against homosexuals. Otherwise it is discrimination or worse.

And we, the homosexuals, need to show everybody we can be in serious relationships as well. That's part of the problem and it is not based on stereotype whatsoever.

We can't change everybody's minds, but we sure as hell can make sure we look so comparatively respectable that the actions of the people against us end up looking like the disgraceful troublemakers.

Is it really the acts we do (namely the yucky anal sex) that make us reviled? Or the fact that many gay men prefer the promiscuity and random acts of casual sex, which understandably is the basis for lots of slander against all homosexuals? I say it's the latter becuase, from what I've seen, the homophobes use the "inability to form partnerships and prefer promiscuity" argument FAR, FAR more often than naming any specific act.

Just my two cents, and if you're offended, good. Now you know for one post how I feel on a CONSTANT basis. Does it feel good when somebody bashes you, please note I'm still trying to be even slightly civil?

even though I don't condone str8 marriage.

I can tell you that if anything about the gay lifestyle bothers straights, it's not the anal sex, though some may use that as an excuse (btw, if sodomy is called 'an abomination' in the Bible, so is eating meat and milk at the same meal-put the word in its proper context, conservative Christians!). As far as I can tell, a lot of the problem, especially among certain Southern conservative groups, seems to be that they mix up homosexuality with sexual abuse of children and with sexual predatory practices, which are as prevalent among heterosexuals. In other words, part of the problem is plain old ignorance.

My husband says that another factor, at least for straight men hating gay men, is that many straight guys have homophobia. They have equated 'being a man' with being emotionally cold. When straight guys have feelings towards other men, or want to hug another man, they freak out, thinking this isn't normal. Really sad, that's what I say.

I just heard Asscrotch on FAUX Sunday saying that they were "studying the issue" of civil unions. Pretty much an evasive answer, but at least the hint of possibility, which is more than I expected to hear from a rabid homophobe such as Asscrotch.

I've been debating this issue with the reich wingers on another board and even among Republicans there's a difference of opinion from the "live and let live" to the "It's an absolute affront to the moral fiber of America" types.

that people do not have so much of a problem with lesbians, not even straight women. All the hatred seems to be geared towards the men, and from the straight men in particular. The straight women in this society seem to be a hell of a lot more tolerant about things, and I wonder why that is so.

women in patriarchal society have been considered "property" of men in those societies. Lesbians are considered less terrifying to straight men who are homophobes, because many of them think lesbians are their property to fantasize about..(lesbians I know think of these men like they are insane, and would kick their ass if a man mentioned that to them)
as for straight men who are homophobes about gay men...these guys are totally insecure and archaic in their own personal definitions of male-ness. My husband is straight, and he is not a homophobe, but a good man who has a healthy definition of what being a man, woman, and decent human being is.
Hopefully, in time, it wont matter to any of us who is gay, straight, bi, or transexual...all that will matter is we are all equally citizens in a society that allows for civil liberties for all.
In the meantime, we all fight for those rights.

many gay people don't need you telling them how to be "respectable".
they live normal lives just like the majority. you falling for the fundie hype of the gay-pride antics as typical?

and have you ever been to spring break? how can you say casual sex is the perview of GLB's and not that of hetros?

finally, not all GLBs engage in "yucky" anal sex but many hetros do.

any more steroetypes you'd like to advance?

It is the aparent prodomient amount of promiscuity that seems to pervade the gay community. This is what the public is fed, this is all they see. I know that this community does exist, there are so many gay men who are only after one thing. I do believe though that it is the same way for the straight community.

I do believe that there is a large (relatively speaking) community of gay and lesbian couples who are living out their lives very quietly. Now these couples aren't being quiet on purpose (ie trying to hide their actual relationship) every day life has just gotten in the way. My partner and I really have a borning life, it sounds so much like the lives of my co-workerers. This is the message that we need to get across to the public.

While I was part of the gay-singles community, getting sick and tired of so many guys just trying to conquer as many guys as they can, I would often wonder, what every happen to? (some couple's name). It seemed that many couples would just drop out of site to be rarely heard from again. We have to find a way to promote our stable relationships and show the public that our day to day lives are virtually identical. We really need to show the public just how boring our lives really are.

Or Blind Date, or any of those other dating shows? You heterosexuals are tramps! Sex, sex, sex, that's all you think about!

Seriously, if you're only exposed to heterosexuals by watching that type of television, you'd stereotype them as sex addicts, just like right-wingers force-feed their followers with such tales.

Way back when, I did an internship at a tv station in SF. A woman called in to complain about all the stories on the news about gays and lesbians. "I'm tired of having all these homosexuals shoved down my throat!" she said.

I wanna know what bars she hangs out in.

Class, can anyone tell me the precedent on "separate-but-equal" treatment of groups of citizens?

That's right - the Supreme Court finds it unConstitutional by a 9-0 vote!