Where do you stand on the topic of gay marriage?

I am in full support of civil unions with the full legal rights.. of insurance, etc.. And I'm not for changing the definition of marriage. This does not mean I don't love gay folks, because I do. And I am in support of free-will and for tolerance and respect of all people (unless they are violent criminals of course). I think trying to force everyone to change the definition of traditional marriage is being aggressive, just as denying gay rights is.

I am a lesbian and do not support gay marriage at all. All for the wrong reasons. It seems like the gay community just wants to be noticed, to have the hype over this issue. In the long run, it does not make your life together better or happier... and why do we need a legal piece of paper to say I love you??

I am of a mind that the government has NO right to tell us who we can and cannot marry. The argument that 'marriages are for reproduction' is paper thin, since many heterosexual couples don't have children, and don't intend to, and are married anways. Whether or not you aprrove of gay relationships is irrelevant. My heterosexual sister is currently in a relationship I don't approve of...with a man who controls her decisions in a subtle and dangerous way ... but that doesn't give me the right to fight against their relatopmship, or try to stop them from getting married. We each have the right to chose our partners, and there is no logical, justifyable reason to prevent it.

i like the idea of it. it isnt exactly equality but its a stat. i find that a civil partnership is a lot better than a normal marriage as there is no religion involved, no having to attend so many church visits, having your paper signed by the priest. Its so new that you can invent it how you want it. Black and White people are equal in everything now, why cant heterosexuals and homosexuals be equal.

As an out lesbian for over a quarter century, I do have some thoughts on the matter. I agree with the other respondents, the gov't has no business telling us whom to marry or not. Virtually every argument against gay marriage comes down to religion. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, but their beliefs cannot be used to define my civil rights. Freedom OF religion also has to mean FROM religion, or it is meaningless. It is un-Constitutional to use a religious standard to deny me the same rights of inheritance, medical decisions, tax breaks, etc, as enjoyed by straight people. It is unfortunate that the Bible-thumpers who lobby against my rights are too blind or tiny-minded to see the end of the road they're on, because, eventually, the Supreme Court will have no choice but to strike down ALL MARRIAGE as a state-sponsored institution. Then all gov't-licensed couples, straight and gay, will have Civil Unions, and marriage will be a function of whatever church you attend, without secular meaning. How do you think they'll like that?