Controversial Topic Discussion

I've been reading this thread, and first of all, allow me to congratulate everyone- no screaming or name calling has happened! I'm impressed, and I appreciate that.

Okay. Now to add an interesting new perspective.

Hello, I'm Raymond, and I am a homosexual. A married one. :)

I was married in Vancouver, BC while I lived there. I fell in love with a one-legged construction foreman (I kid you not) and we were married.

Naturally, I support same-sex marriage. However, I'm also Catholic (though at this time I no longer receive Eucharist, I do attend Mass weekly.) and that makes me see it from a religious standpoint.

What I believe is this- it's called marriage when two drunk folks in Vegas stand in front of an Elvis impersonator and recite vows. We may not agree with their choice, but alas! It's VALID- even if they divorce the next day (Yes, Britney, I'm talking to you!) Now let me make one point clear- my best bud is having a Vegas-style wedding- Elvis and all- and maybe it's not what I'd choose, but she and her fiance will be just as married as the folks who have the quarter-million-dollar church weddings, preacher and dress and flowers and all. They just chose to do it differently. As such, we cannot refer to marriage within the constraints of a religious or moral viewpoint.

If we were to consider marriage within the particular boundaries of religion, then "shotgun" weddings must be banned. Non-virgins getting married would be illegal. (In fact, we would have to go back to the tradition many places held "back in the day"- upon consummation, the bride must bleed as a result of a broken hymen in order for the marriage to be valid.) Anyone getting married outside of a church would be illegal. And certainly, we couldn't allow homosexuals to wed, either.

But wait a minute! Lots of folks get married when the gal finds out she's pregnant. And many of them lead very happy lives ever after. People who have lost their virginity previous to their wedding night get married, and we celebrate with them. Lots of folks have beautiful outdoors ceremonies, and we still congratulate and wish them luck.

So why are homosexuals any different? With all of our posturing to make the sexes feel equally important- equal employment, equal voting rights, everything, all regardless of gender- then why is it suddenly MORE valid to have a representative of both sexes during a wedding? We're all of equal worth. It doesn't change the formula to have same-sex marriages. It only changes their sex life.

All I'm saying is, if people want to use their beliefs to "safeguard the sanctity of marriage", go for it! I respect you for standing up for what you believe in! But at least go all the way with it. You can't single out one group and say, "You's two can't get hitched." You have to use ALL your beliefs- so no pre-marital sex participants getting married. No pregnant brides. No outdoor ceremonies. No divorces. None of that.

But we don't want that, do we? We WANT parents to get married and raise their baby together! We want people who made a stupid mistake back in high school and slept with the jock/cheerleader/whatever to marry their true love! We want people to celebrate their wedding in such a way as they want to- in a church, in Vegas, in the great outdoors, anywhere they desire!

And I, personally, want to keep my husband.

I love him.

Peace, everyone!