Are they serious?!

The Westboro Baptist Church website is beyond belief! The website says that their page “is dedicated to preaching the Gospel truth about the soul-damning, nation-destroying notion that "It is OK to be gay."

“WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, GOD IS NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, FAGS DOOM NATIONS, THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS, FAG TROOPS, GOD BLEW UP THE TROOPS, GOD HATES AMERICA, AMERICA IS DOOMED, THE WORLD IS DOOMED, etc.”

The more and more I browse through this website the more disgusted I become. These people actually make up bible passages stating false verses, they picket outside soldiers funerals, and dedicate pages to gay people who have been murdered and say that they deserved it.

Words can’t even describe what I am feeling right now… just to think people see no harm in these actions is unbeleiveable.

Go and check it out for yourself and see what I am talking about.

Website: www.godhatesfags.com

Ask for the whole package

For the past ten years, bills to legalize gay marriage have been introduced to various states and have yet been approved. Since it is unlikely that the legalization of gay marriage will pass this year besides the state of Massachusetts(only state where same sex marriage is legal); gay rights activists are fighting to have the basic rights that straight couples are given for same sex couples. There are various bills asking for rights such as, giving same-sex parents the right to take family leave if their partner, or their partner's children, should fall ill. Another bill would give gay couples the right to plan their partner's funerals, or to file a wrongful death lawsuit, should their partner die.

I found an article about these current bills and about a lesbian couple named Aronda Kirby and Digit Murphy who were once previously married to men. They state that once they were divorced all of the rights they once had were taken from them. It’s sad to think that these women once had all of these right because they were married to men and now they are gone. All couples should be able to have these rights no matter what their sexual preference may be.

Kirby states that she “isn't sure that she would want to marry again, but she does want the same rights as heterosexuals, particularly when it comes to caring for her partner and children.” Hmm… sounds a bit strange to me. Why would she not want to marry her partner and gain these rights if she had the chance? You can’t expect to gain the same rights as married couples if you yourself don’t know if you want to get married. I feel she shouldn’t just be fighting for these rights, but for the legalization of same sex marriage as well. The gay community shouldn’t have to just settle for SOME of the same rights as heterosexual couples, but for the whole package including and all of the same rights and most importantly the right to marriage.

Article: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/

In dictionary terms

Since my blog is on the topic of same sex marriages it has made me wonder… What is the exact definition of marriage?

Well Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines marriage as “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.” Their second definition was referred to as same sex marriage, which they defined as “the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage.”

I was actually quite surprised to see they mentioned anything about same sex marriage in their definition; I’m positive a few years ago that the second definition wouldn’t have been included. I guess times are a changing and it might not seem like a big deal to see that definition posted, but it just goes to show that same sex marriages are being recognized and that marriage shouldn’t have to only be between a man and woman.

The newest in Mexico

USA Today reported that a new law went into effect just two days ago in Mexico allowing gay civil unions. It grants same sex couples with similar benefits as legally married heterosexual couples do. The article stated, “It reflects a growing acceptance of homosexual culture in what has traditionally been a macho society, as well as Mexico City's willingness to join the international debate on gay marriage rights”. Being of Hispanic (Mexican/ Colombian) heritage I fully understand how big of a deal this is for the state and its citizens. Mexican traditions alone are very customary and this new law is such an immense deal for their gay community.

Antonio Medina and Jorge Cerpa

The first couple to take advantage of the new law was journalist Antonio Medina, and economist Jorge Cerpa. They were united in a plaza in front of the government offices of Mexico City's Iztapalapa borough, signing documents under a banner that read "Civil Union Law: Your right to choose" a wide amount of supporters yelled "Bravo!" and waved rainbow flags during the ceremony. It is so nice to see that Mexico and some of its citizens are in favor of this important issue. I hope that with this new law in effect same sex marriages won’t be too far along.

Article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-03-16-gayunions_N.htm#uslPageReturn

Unsurprisingly surprising

I came across this photo while I was searching for same sex marriages and I just had to post it. Photos just like the one above make me sick! It is so hard for me to believe these women are actually smiling. The most outrageous thing is the fact that one sign says, “God hates fags.” Actually, God doesn’t hate anyone and if they were so religious or into the bible as they display than they should know that nowhere in the bible does it state that.

Make up your mind already

I can’t pin point whether or not I feel Arnold Schwarzenegger a.k.a. the Terminator, is one of my bad guys or not. Reason being that yes he does help the gay community by supporting and signing laws that strengthen tax rights to gay partners, hate crime protections, and domestic partnerships. Certainly those are great actions and help for the gay community, which is a positive thing. Yet, he is also in favor of Proposition 22, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. His actions are confusing at times, well most of the time because when he first ran for office I remember he ran as a pro gay rights Republican.

Those reasons are primarily why I have Arnold Schwarzenegger on my list of bad guys, but even more so because he claims to be a pro gay rights supporter other than his EXCEPTION to gay marriages. Strange…how can he be pro gay rights and NOT support a highly important issue the gay community is trying so hard to pass and long for? Governor Schwarzenegger needs to make up his mind already and fully support the gay community. Going around the bush won’t get him or the those in favor of the legalization of gay marriages anywhere in my eyes.

Stories to Share

Since my last blog was so disturbing and really pushed my buttons I have to admit it had more than just a negative affect on me. It really got me thinking about my topic way more than I imagined. As I was doing my daily routine, I would catch myself thinking of gay marriage issues and topics I was curious about or wanted to get more information on. One of the main things I couldn’t get off my mind was my interest in couples who have primarily been affected by the illegalization of same sex marriage or have tried getting married.

Earlier today, I was doing research online and came across one of the most positive and insightful websites in favor of same-sex marriage I have ever seen. The website is called 10couples.org and their mission is for viewers to meet 10 couples they have selected and to share their stories and lives with us through a video clip. They all share their unique stories relating to topics such as how they both met, how their life is currently affected by not being able to get married and receiving benefits that are important to them. One couple in particular shared their story on how they were able to get married and how it was rescinded a month later. Listening to all these stories truly touched me in so many ways and got my mind thinking even more. There was one story in particular that truly touched my heart and that was the story of Dick and Bob. I encourage all of you to visit this website, listen to at least one of the stories, and try to understand what it must feel like to live in their shoes and not being able to have the same benefits and protection rights as other equally committed and married couples have.

Visit www.10couples.org

Watch for Yourself

DISGUSTED. Is the only word I can think of after viewing this video of a gay man who was beaten by anti gay marriage activists. Only two people were helping the injured man and everyone else was just standing there and even walking over him. Who does such a thing?! It is cruel and indescribably appalling while watching this footage. Those activists are out there protesting because they feel it is immoral and atrocious to have same sex marriage legalized. Yet their hate and actions towards the gay community and especially the injured man is what happens to be IMMORAL and ATROCIOUS!

Equality is the best policy

A local Minnesota news website has reportedhttp://wcco.com/local/local_story_068211623.html that the senate committee has passed a bill offering the state same sex benefits. The senate committee approved the bill that would extend similar health insurance to state workers and their same sex partners. Equal to those of the spouses those traditional married employees receive. The bill is a great advantage to state employees who have always wanted and worried about the concern of their partners’ health. They will now be able to receive and not be troubled by the thought of anything health related were to go wrong with their partner they wouldn’t be able to help them. This a huge step for the state of Minnesota not only because this issue is widely ignored in many other states, but the fact that they have actually approved a bill which will make so much of a difference to those state workers and their partners’.

The only downfall to this news is the fact that this bill is only for state workers and not to the domestic community and their partners. Luckily, the article states, “a parallel bill would give local governments the authority to offer domestic partner benefits.” This is extremely important because that means that all same sex couples would have the advantage of these health benefits and they should not only be offered to state employees. I hope that it all works out and that all same sex couples would have access to these benefits. I hope that in the near future all of the U.S. would take this issue into consideration and offer these benefits to their citizens no matter what their sexual preference happens to be.

Senator Clinton Pro Gay Rights

MSNBC reported http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17469609/ that New York’s current Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton has announced in an unpublicized speech that she would like a partnership with the gay community if she was elected president and stated “I am proud to stand by your side” to the Human Rights Campaign during her speech. I am glad to see that Sen. Clinton is actually standing up for the gay community and isn’t ashamed of wanting to have a relationship with them. Not too many political officials would be caught doing such a thing.

I was surprised to read that Sen. Clinton is also in favor of opposing her husbands “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” which let gay individuals serve in the military only if they kept their sexual orientation private. I very much disagreed with that policy because it was unnecessary and didn’t make any kind of progressive change for the gay community in the military besides keeping their sexual orientation a secret rather than expressing it. Sen. Clinton response to her husbands’ policy was, “it would be safer for the nation if openly gay soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen could wear the uniform. This policy doesn't just hurt gays and lesbians, it hurts all our troops and this to me is a matter of national security and we're going to fix it.” I highly respect Sen. Clinton on her rather positive statements; maybe with a President like her in office legalization of same sex marriage won’t be too far along.

donkey love?... i think NOT

Appalled. Is the one word that comes to mind while visiting the website nogaymarriage.com. Obviously, this sites mission is to ban gay marriages from ever happening, but they do it in such an unprofessional way. First of all, they list 10 arguments that they believe justify why gay marriage is terrible and should never be legalized. As I was reading the immature and quite unbelievable arguments they have posted on their homepage made me upset. For example, argument #2 states, “legalized gay marriages will lead inexorably to polygamy and other alternatives to one-man, one-woman unions.” First of all where in the world did they get this fact from? They don’t even support this claim with any relevant information or sources that come close to justifying why they believe this. Then the worst part is that they say gay marriage would be equal to a judge ruling that it is okay to rule that three men and one woman can get married. The issues of gay marriage and polygamy do not even compare to one another. How does the love and happiness of a same sex couple equal to that of a polygamist lifestyle? Farther into the argument, they have the NERVE to write that gay marriage would lead to “group marriage, or marriage between relatives, or marriage between adults and children? How about marriage between a man and his donkey?” This just blew me off the top. It’s an outrage to think that someone would actually compare a same sex marriage to that of a relationship between a human and an animal. You have to have a rather unbelievable and sickening mind to think of that.

They really crossed the line with their statement regarding marriage between a man and a donkey. How far and immature can someone really go to make such claims? What’s even worse is that this site feels that what they believe is right and makes sense. Don’t get me wrong they have the right to speak on their beliefs, but I don’t tolerate their level of immaturity and mind-boggling comparisons. It’s just flat out rude and offensive to more than just same sex couples who read this. This website is beyond belief.

the good ol' president and his views

As I was researching online, I came across a rather old but relevant news article http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/.
It focused on the time when President Bush tried endorsing a constitutional amendment that would restrict marriage to only couples of the opposite sex. Thought there was a possibility that the states would allow civil unions of a same sex couple, but not MARRIAGE. Luckily, Bush’s hopes for this amendment did not quite turn out the way he expected and also because the constitution has only been amended 17 times over the past 215 years makes it extremely difficult to accomplish.

I am not very fond of our President of the United States for many reasons but as of right now it is mainly due to the fact that he is against the marriage of same sex couples and has eagerly tried banning it. Although, it does make me feel somewhat better knowing that there are in fact some political officials in office who happen to support same sex marriage and have actually tried to make it legal for those couples to wed. Currently there is only one state which allows couples of the same sex to get married and that is Massachusetts. States such as California, Vermont, New Jersey, and Connecticut allow same sex couples to have a civil union, which offer SOME similar rights and benefits as offered to those of married couples but do not compare.

Bush is of course the leader of our country as of right now. He has the ability to make changes in our country, which can help make it flourish and become a better one all around. It’s sad to think that he is against an issue that is of great importance and has become highly recognized over the past years. This is an issue that cannot be pushed aside anymore and is becoming more and more important every day. However, the marriage of a couple who are just as equal as any one else in this country but happen to be of the same sex is prohibited and sometimes even looked upon as taboo. I still find it unbelievably hard to believe what is so wrong with it. Who is it really going to effect besides people who let it affect them?