Lez Keep It Real

As most of you know, I was in North Carolina this past weekend visiting my best friend from childhood. She and I have known each other since we were nine years old. I feel very lucky to have that kind of friendship in my life. We’ve been through all of the awkward moments of high school, the learning experiences of college, the reality of “real” life, relationships, my coming out, her parents divorce - basically everything - together. This time last year, she got married. And her husband whisked her off to North Carolina about five months later. No, I’m not bitter. I’m happy for her. And I was happy to see a little glimpse of the new life she is living.

ANYWAY, her husband and I were talking about gay marriage one night out on their patio with a couple of beers by our sides. He said that he believes our generation is much more accepting, that views have changed. So, after he went to bed at about 1 a.m., I went on to the 451 Press forums and started a thread. I wanted to take a poll out of the 451 Press writers to see who thought what, and to put my best friend’s husband’s theory to test.

Here is what some people said …

I support gay unions, with all the legal rights as married couples. I don’t like the term “marriage” because in the Biblical sense marriage is between a man and a woman–but I think there should be something equitable for gay couples.

(Actually, I support two choices for EVERYONE–marriage if you want to be married before God and union if you don’t or if you are a non traditional couple that wants the marriage rights. Maybe even three choices, so there is marriage, a religious ceremony for gay couples, and a non-religious ceremony for everyone else.)

I think the problems today come with people trying to fight everyone in the box under “marriage.” I’m a complicated person I guess. My views change on this regularly as I explore new ideas lol. ~ Allison of Find Religion

I wholly support gay marriage as gay people should be afforded the same rights as straight people.

In Britain, we have civil partnerships now which is kind of like what Allison suggested, a legal coupling without the religious aspects of a traditional marriage.

It’s a step in the right direction and should one day allow the transition to full gay marriages taking place. ~ Dave of Pop Buzz UK

I am of the same mind with Allison. For me, “marriage” is a Biblical union before God between a man and a woman. However, I think recognition as a “united” couple, i.e. civil unions with all the legal rights, should be allowed. I know several gay couples, and only one of those couples believes they should be allowed marry. The others do not believe in gay marriage even though they are in long-term relationships. They also feel that marriage is union before God. Civil unions are simply for legal rights. ~ April of Life as a Christian Woman

I think all individuals should be accorded the same rights.

The basic right of an individual is the right to one’s own life, i.e., “to take all the actions required by the nature of a rational being for the support, the furtherance, the fulfillment and the enjoyment of his own life.”

Working from that basic premise and definition, the correct answer to the question of whether gays (or anyone) should be allowed to get married is, IMHO, is virtual a no-brainer. Of course, they should. ~ Mark of Environmental Talk

I fully support gay marriage 100% (and was SO proud to live in Iowa for that one day last week when it was legal in Polk County).

I don’t equate the word “marriage” with any sort of religious ceremony. I was married in Vegas. Since I wasn’t married in a church does that mean that I’m not really “married” in the eyes of God?

I don’t want to get into a religious debate, but “married” men in the Bible usually also had concubines and mistresses…should men now have that as well? So why do we have to follow the Bible for everything else? There were LOTS of things that were “illegal” in the times the Bible was written that we all do now…so why use that as an excuse for banning gay marriage?

Again, I don’t want to get into a religious argument (I am a Christian with a minor in Comparative Religions and I fully believe in God), but it seems silly to me to use the Bible as an excuse why gay people can’t marry. ~ Heather of Watching VH1

Support. Very much so. For all of the legal reasons that have been mentioned here and more. Health benefits and particularly when it comes to kids … it drives me CRAZY to see states trying to prevent stable homosexual couples from being foster parents when I have spent most of my adult life working on behalf of abused and neglected kids and know what horrors all people, regardless of sexual orientation, can inflict on helpless kids. If gay marriage can get us closer to the day when more kids have good homes then … okay, I will get off my soapbox before I really get started. ~ Margie of Battlestar Galactia

For me…its not just about wanting the same rights, its about wanting to be treated like I’m no different than someone who is straight. I want to be able to introduce another women as my girlfriend(or wife) without being judged or feeling like I’m being judged. And yes, even lesbians dream about their wedding day when they’re little girls. But they’re not thinking about what rights they’ll receive, they’re thinking about the dress, the cake, the flowers…every moment looking beautiful and perfect as they share it with the ones they love, especially that One Person in particular. The Wedding day can be one of the most important days to a woman, and though it may not be for all women, it still includes some gay women. So when I find the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, I’m gonna marry her. And ain’t nobody gonna stop us! Only God can judge me and y’all politicians and haters can butt the F*ck out! …and I’m spent. ~ Meg of Philadelphia, PA

Thanks to all the blogger who participated, honestly, in this poll. This just goes to show what kind of community 451 Press is and why it is continuing to grow and be successful.

Now I toss the poll out to the readers … do you support gay marriage? Why or why not?

gay marriage, 451 press, find religion, pop buzz uk, life as a christian woman, environmental talk, battlestar galactia, philadelphia, pa, watching vh1