1 ah, and that is why I love living in Texas.

2 http://movies.crooksandliars.com/com_ds_gay_marriage_ruins_state_051103a.wmv

3 I'm a proud Texan. If the left had any smarts all, they would have commercials running with video of the two Carolina cheerleaders. If anything could sway the minds of male voters, it would be lesbian cheerleaders going after it. The problem is that when they want to make a point on gay marriage, they trot out the likes of Andrea Dworkin and Ellen Degeneres. Ain't gonna do it for me.

4 The arguament for/against same sex marriage depends on what you think marrige is about in the first place. If marriage is a religious ideal, sanctioning sexual relations & forming a strong family unit in which to raise children, then same sex marriages have no purpose. However, the State/Federal legislature also have no right to legalise/criminalise religious activities (something about the seperation of church & state in the constitution I belive) If marriage is a legal contract between two people living together as partners in all financial & social responsibilities, then that contract should be valid, irrelevent of the gender of the two people (something about te freedom of religion, culture & beliefs) Our problem is that we like to merge the two things together, when they are intrinsically opposed.

5 There's really no point in marriage between gays (bis maybe, but not just-gays). Why should there be any legal choke chain, when there's no naturally acquired kids to be fed?

6 The only problem I have with gay marriage is that the next step will be that they want to adopt children. Not that I think two loving parental figures would be bad regardless of their sexual preference, but that it would be unfair to the children. Regardless of the idoctrination already in process in our schools with short films and story books named "Tommy has Two Dads" or "Billy and Sally have Two Moms", there will be those families who are devoutly religious and will teach their children, outside of the school environment, the opposite; that homosexuality is a sin and should be rejected. These children with "two dads" or "two moms" will be treated badly by those students who have parents that teach them homosexuality is a sin. We all know how cruel children can be. This is just fact. Not an endorsement. There are far reaching implications that some people just aren't considering.

7 Well, here's a couple of cowpokes who aren't gonna be too happy about that. Cowpokes, (snicker).

8 All children who are taught that homosexuality is a sin will not treat children with "two dads" or "two moms" badly. Most children just accept others. It's not fair to lump up those that teach their children homosexuality is wrong, as bigots. It is wrong, but I would never condone or tolerate my children being mean to other children regardless of what type of home life they had or have.

9 Yes, homosexuality is absolutely normal, except in nature of course, otherwise none of us would be here.

10 Mrs Aginoth: Separation of Church and State were originally setup to stop Government tyranny against a particular religion, not to remove the word God from everything, but to avoid a situation like the Catholic purge, (something to do with Britain I believe) Secondly the people that came to America, came to avoid smug British nationals whom have an opinion on everything, and therefore believe they can quote the law to them. (something about "Independence" I believe...)

11 God bless Texas.

12 Marriage optional form gays ??? I think it should be MANDATORY !!!

13 Thirdee: I did not say it to imply that all children would. Enough will though. Not all children are bullies. But enough are to make life pretty miserable for some. In many ways, not even related to religion, but just because they're bullies, they will make others the target of their ire. The problem is that some bullying behavior is targetted by teachers, administrators and parents, but not others. There are children that get mistreated by others for anything from not wearing the current styles to having freckles. When our schools indiscriminately target all bad behavior for whatever reason instead of a strict agenda of homosexual parenting, I'll feel differently. Let me give you a quick example: My daughter was hounded and intimidated by a group of three boys whose behavior toward her escalated over time to the point that they threatened to rape her after school. I couldn't get the school administrators to do anyhing about it. The principle's reasoning? It was only her word against theirs and THEIR rights had to be considered. The principle wouldn't consider their guilt at all and feared more that even questioning them would infringe on their rights. But if they teased her for having "two moms", well then, by God, with current standards, something would have to be done about it. Unless I start a powerful special interest group against school bullies in general and hold marches on downtown streets and get enough people to withhold their votes from school board candidates, nothing is done. Just being right or wrong doesn't hold any clout anymore. It's who has the biggest mouth and the most influence. I'm getting off on a tangent here and digressing a bit so I'll just let it rest with that.

14 Of course, as a Texan, what bothers me about Prop 2 (and the main practical reason I voted against it) is that it could, depending on interpretation, also outlaw common-law marriages. This is a community property state. Just exactly what do we tell the widow who was with her man for 60 years as his common law wife when she finds out she keeps none of the property that was in his name, because "they weren't really married"?

15 God bless my beautiful state of Texas.

16 dave - I deliberately didn't quote law you, not being too sure of the exact wording, hence "something about" I made an observation on the nature of marrige. It wasn't meant to upset anyone, just express my opinion as to why this is such a difficult topic.

17 Jeff, I recall one of the lawmakers on TV address your problem with the law. He said it was written such that common law marriage would not be affected. Common law marriage is already recognized as a legal marriage. I know there is a politician or two out there who may tell lies but that's what he said.

18 Here am I deep in the Heart of Texas. And damn proud of it! Gay marriage ain't marriage, hell, anybody knows that. The liberals want us to believe in evolution and all that, well, it seems to me that all the higher forms of animals pair off as male and female. Enough said.

19 Dave is uninformed. There is tons of examples of homosexuality in nature. Bonobos, one of the great apes, engage in homosexual behavior all the time. They are, if you don't know, very close to the chimpanzee (or may be a kind of chimp, they used to be considered a sub-species of chimp, but I think they are being reclassified as their own separate species of great ape) Dolphins also engage in homosexual behavior. I know there are many other examples of species that engage in homosexual behavior, but much to my inconvenience, I am not remembering. Homosexuality is very prevalent in nature. What is it's function? Not sure. But I do know that in most animal groups, there is usually an imbalance between male and female populations. Yet, those without a "partner" have no less a desire for sex (and for the more intelligent animals like dolphins, who by the way, mate for life) love and companionship, so perhaps homosexuality is nature's way of compensating for the imbalance between male and female percentages of a given animal population. But there is also the possibility that homosexuality simply exists because nature by design creates, to quote Star Trek, infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Perhaps nature has created homosexuality (and bisexuality) simply because it is possible. Look around, nature is seemingly unending in its diversity. And slug...gays want to get married because they love one another. No one has any desire to help guys like you get off. If you need masturbation fodder to support gay marriage, then we don't need your support. Finally, for those who reject gay marriage because the next step would be gay adoption, I hate to break it to you, but gay people are already adopting children, without being married, in those states that allow it. What are you afraid of? There are more children in the foster care system then are currently being adopted. Yet so many states still forbid gays to adopt. Well I suggest you take the time to interview older children who have been "in the system" for many years or those who "graduate" from the foster care/orphanage system, meaning that they turn 18 are are on their own having never been adopted (or, for many, hever even having a foster family.) I bet many of them would rather have two same sex parents than be stuck in the system, passed from foster home to foster home, trapped in an orphanage with no family, or finding themselves on their own at 18 again, with no family.

20 Oh look here comes mighty lefty, to tell everyone how wrong they are! Hey, these animals that display homosexual tendencies are they the rule? or abnormal? how were they born? why are they still around if they don't procreate? Always some Hippy wants to say how right it is, except if it was normal behavior there would be no more species, but hey don't let facts stop you labelling everyone misinformed.

21 Most animal specials have homosexual sex at some point during their life. Some use it as "practise" for procreative sex, some to realease sexual tension when there is an inbalance in the genders, some just for fun. Go down to your local farm/ranch & watch the cows in the field, or the dogs in the kennels. As humans we are the strange ones by placing a spiritual meaning on sex, rather than just a physical one.

22 Uh, Mrs. A, I don't condider it strange that I put a spiritual meaning on sex! I would think it strange not to. Otherwise, we are just animals ourselves, aren't we, and what then would be the purpose of anything?

23 Mrs Aginoth: I especially liked your "Just for fun" comment, so how did you figure that out, do you have a little "Dr. Do Little" in you? do the animals communicate their desire to have sex with each other for a bit of the ol' gay hanky panky ? nice speculation on your part to back up your "facts"

24 Jesusland jo - strange in the animal kingdom. I absolutely agree that our understanding of sex=procreation & the concept of love are part of what differentiates us from animals. dave - "just for fun" was meant to express "for no apparent reason, as they will do it when there are plenty of more suitable mates avilable"

25 Now let me see... As a Drag Queen, I can tell you that the need for "Attention" is paramount! However, there are times in life, that one has needs that are beyond explanation. The need to settle down and be with someone that you love and that loves you! Now, I do not deny that those of you that are "Straight" and want to raise a family and have your idea of the perfect life, are more that welcome to do so...but remember where you are! What country do you live in! Because, here in the USA there is something that grants ALL US Citizens, certain INALIENABLE rights! The Bill Of Rights...Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness! Now why should you be allowed to live a happy life, have the liberty to do so and the legal right to pursue your dreams, when I cannot? When ANY Gay, Lesbian person cannot? What make you so special? And don't bring religion into this POLITICAL mess! God has NO place in politics! Perhaps the Divine Creator doesn't care to be President someday... Perhaps everyone should remember something...FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GRACE OF GOD! Just as I am no more or less better than you are, you are no more or less better than I...Just because I am GAY, does not make me different than YOU... ps. Food for thought...Jesus said: "I give you a NEW commandment, Love one another, as I have loved you...". Just keep in mind that the Great Commission, invokes the followers of The Lord Jesus Christ, to bring to HIM all that will, through LOVE AND TRUTH...Not with Hate, Intolerance and FORCED BEHAVIOR THRU LEGISLATION, spurred on by religious fanatics! The more people like you that believe you can "Save our Souls", by forcing your will and beliefs on the world, the more people like me will RESIST! Primrose South Florida

26 As a Texan, I've been ashamed to hear others proudly crowing at having passed legislation specifically aimed at denying "them dang homos" equal legal status. Primrose, I thought you did an excellent job of stating the opposition viewpoint. I'm pretty conservative on many issues. But this one comes down to personal liberty; pretty much a civil rights issue. It's just too bad that we conveniently view homosexuals as people who don't deserve the same rights as heterosexuals.

27 Jesus told the prostitute who he saved from the crowd about to stone her: "Go and sin no more". He did not tell her to continue to sin, but to turn away. Let's not confuse things here too much.

28 Thanx Reverse Vampyr! If everyone would just realize that, "Equal Rights" not "Special Rights" is the issue here! Just because a person is: From a foriegn country, different in skin color, has different view points on "religeous values", etc...should not make them the target of a "WITCH HUNT"! How many of these "religeous right", have a real grasp on history? During the 1690's, here in what was to become The USA, INNOCENT people were branded as "Witches"! They were hanged, chrushed to death... Now, I don't know about any of you but it seems to me that situations like this, ie. "religeous fanatasizm", spurned on by the "church and its leaders"...IS WRONG! Not only does it show the stupidity of such blatant disregard for "your fellow man" but how dangerous it is to have uncontrolled religeous systems, involved in the matter of government! An earlier comment, by a poster, to this sight, stated that the reasoning for the "Separation of Church & State", in this country was to not have a repeat of the religeous tyrany and corrupttion that was so common and ALL CONTROLLING, in early Europe. While this is true...let us not forget, the early days of this country! Each year we celebrate a national holiday called Thanksgiving. The common myth is that it is a time of to give thanks for what you have. While this is only partly true, we like to forget that the Puritans were a horrible wretched people. They tortured and murdered the indians, and indeed other of their own kind, from neighboring villages...the feast that we now call Thanksgiving was a "Peace, a Truce" basically that was held between the Puritans and the Indians! Now that I have gone off on that tangent, let me bring it all together... When we think of value systems and their consequences...we tend to think of things like, wright and wrong, crime and punnishment etc...This is a very different world today, as compared with history. Should the USA digress, back into its own past and begin treating its citizens as it did all those many years ago? You see, it has always been the beliefs of a few that have forged the future...not the majority! I guess if the church and the cristian coalition and the fanatics get their way, we will all soon be living in a Puritanical society! I guess we are not all that civilized after all! Just keep in mind, that if the religeous right aka moral majority aka christian coalition, continues to point the finger of holy indignation at me and those like me, who just want and need the the same things ALL Americans want, they will face their God and have to answer for their sins! And yes Inhospitality is a SIN! Primrose South Florida

29 To all of the Religious Reich-- er, Right here tonight, I humbly ask thee: DON'T TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now I shall return to making hot passionate love to my wife. Yes, my wife, and I shall call her my wife whether you like it or not, whether the government wants to acknowledge us as married or not. Still, expect me to stick around and piss you off as much as humanly possible without even trying, because I'll be damned if some idiot's going to tell me that I can't have my wife on my work health insurance plan or in my will because one of us has the wrong plumbing downstairs. I could give a damn what your church has to say-- I don't go there, and I never will-- but I am an American, and I'm staying here cuz my ancestors lost their lives so I could live here in FREEDOM. So, get over it and get a life. Thank you, and have a lovely evening. Signed, your friendly neighborhood shameless lesbo. ;D P.S. Jesusland Joe-- obviously, you've been too busy jacking off to Pat Robertson to actually read the Bible, cuz the woman who was about to get stoned to death was accused of adultery, not prostitution. What's more, Jesus had also said then, and far more importantly, that HE WHO HAS NOT SINNED SHALL CAST THE FIRST STONE. Typical fundamentalist bull, take what you like from Scripture and leave the rest! Good work, poseur! Of course, if you were to at least watch "Jesus of Nazareth" you'd know what actually happened in that part of the New Testament! Guess it's true that folks like you are less about God and more about manipulating and abusing Christianity for your own selfish gain. P.P.S. And yes, I do know the Bible-- after having a father who has a M.A. in theology and going to Christian schools and taking religion classes and going to church most of my life, one would hope I know what's in the Gospels by now. Shame that you claim to be Christian and clearly do not! You're too busy hating other people to remember little else!!

30 In any event, this is bad news for greg. He always wanted to be a June bride.