3 posts tagged “gay”
Revised post. Note Miliary Link
Based on my limited research marriage is more a religious concept about moral and ethical obligations usually recognized by the state. But, not always. A contract or license is a state concept about legal benefits, obligations and privilege. Almost never recognized by the church. A marriage is performed by the church or other individual of faith, Not the state.
It has not been that long ago that the state had nothing to do with or control of the state of marriage. What the state issues referred to as a marriage license is just that. A license, a contract, regarding agreed legal obligations by both parties and the State. No different than a drivers license. The same as a divorce decree which is a statement as to the further legal benefits and legal obligations but does not relieve you of the moral obligations of the church. The state concept is akin to civil marriage contracts or domestic parternerships contracts all with out the moral or religious implications. There is no implied love, honor required in a contract, nor a moral duty. It is a civil duty.
"The official marriage certificate gave them a morale boost because it was a sign that those around them recognized their partnership as a sacred institution." Laura Kanter. Sacred institution: Set apart or dedicated to religious use; Belonging to a god or deity, of religious practice. In a legal sense I see no way the State can grant or deny a contract or certificate that meets those standards or requirements of or for a sacred institution. For the State to grant or deny, I believe would violate the 1st. Amend., 'Make no Law.'
This is the place that I really get lost. From the gay community.. "It is ok to hang a white woman in effigy but not ok to hang a black man". Why should I care what the Jesus freaks think in Utah." Stop the hate; meaning religious morality is hateful and worthy of hate crime laws." When she expressed her religious views I have a right to condemn her." N+@#+#s better not come to North Hollywood if they know what is good for them." The continued invasion of church services and vandalism in Colorado, California, New York and Mich. Thinking and actions that seems to be far outside liberal or religious concepts, beliefs or faith or the concept of marriage. But, it is clear that to use threats and violence to restrict or influence a citizens right to vote and the free exercise there off is a civil rights issue.
And, at the same time wanting a very religious belief/faith/concept, 'sacred institution' applied in a very narrow sense for the purpose of marriage, but nothing else seems to be a very self-indulgent at best and have little to do with civil rights.
My only wish is that the psycho babble from some religious, political, educational leaders and courts would stop.
California Teachers Association believes” the legal rights and responsibilities of marriage and civil unions belong to all adults, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or socio-economic status.” Frank Wells. Sounds great, except in California those goals were already achieved prior to Prop 8 in principal and fact. We just do not call it a marriage which would seem to be the actual purpose of the CTA spending 1.2 million dollars to oppose Prop 8, which they consider pocket change. We have politicians echo the same sentiment with out realizing that common logic is lacking. The actual battle seems to be un-spoken. The church must change their moral views and the legal vehicle is the concept of marriage. The church, by law and ACLU threats, would no longer be able to teach what they consider moral values. The concept of sin could and would land the religious leader in jail for what they think, or preach. How the concept of making all others think like me, act like me, believe like me became a perceived virture is without merit or justification. And should be abandon as quickly as possible before they come for you and your moral beliefs.
The Ca. Su. Ct. rules gay marriage is a fundamental right. If marriage is a religious concept this can not be true. If marriage is a State concept, a benefit granted by the State; the State can, thru the legislature, or by the people thru a prop, adjust or remove or modify that benefit without cause or reason for it is a privilege, not a right. The State can not create fundamental rights. There only job is to protect those fundamental rights. If marriage is a religious concept the State can not make any laws regarding a sacred institution; Again, that would violate the 1st Amend. 'Make nor Law.' The US Supreme Court must first decide exactly what is the institution of marriage. A State concept which they can control or a religious concept which they can not control. No matter the test we need and must demand better educators, judges, religious leaders and politicians who make judgements on merit not emotion. After all we pay or donate very good money to have the very best.
As a liberal, one core value must be "it is never acceptable to enhance the rights and privilege of one citizen (concept of marriage) by restricting the rights and privilege of another citizen (moral values). I think many of us thought we had found the happy middle ground in California by giving legal benefits and privilege to all living together as a couple. Except un-married couples who also should have all the same benefits and privilege as any other permanent living arrangement. That would be a more just equality.
I can not get over the feeling that the organized attacks, threats on people of faith and vandalism on the physical church has a very familiar ring. The Jews in Germany and the Black Churches in the United States. Something I never thought could happen again; Not to Jews, Christians, Humanists, Mormons, Atheists or Muslims. But, sadly it is!
Additional notes on Domestic Partnership at http://lexcorpninja.vox.com/ and http://www.ucsdguardian.org/news/1.1317958-1.1317958
Military http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/11/gay-soldier-dont-fire-me/ http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/SupportDan
Frank Wells, California Teachers Assiciation, excerpt from interview by Lightfoot Letters
Commentary Published in part or whole:LA Times/ Daily Pilot, Sacramento Bee Mar. 13.
Kimber wrote: Very interesting angle on this I haven't heard expressed before.
Mi' kmaq Biker wrote: Interesting blog, Thanks
There seems to be something missing from your post and that is ' What is the reason for marriage in a society'. Marriage is about restriction of freedoms, for very good reasons for the benefit of vulnearable members of society. It is not about one person demanding their rights. You can see this in both a religious context and a civil context.
I was about to respond to your post when I read Michael Gove's comments (Michael Gove is the Shadow Secretary of State for children and families, in the UK.) He put the reasons so much better than I. See Scotland on Sunday 25th Jan 2009. An extract follows.
"Marriage is a constraint, it is a restriction on freedom, a corset or corral in which passions which would otherwise run free are subject to disciplines, and personal satisfaction is subordinated to social expectations. But the reason marriage imposes those constraints is to ensure that selfish adults, especially pleasure-seeking males, are placed within a structure which forces them to live up to their responsibilities towards the next generation. A society which expects men to stay married to the mother of their children is a society which places a premium on providing young boys with male role models who embody the virtues of responsibility, restraint and consideration for others.
Children become mature when they grasp the principle of deferred gratification, the idea that greater prizes accrue to those who are prepared to work, wait and share than to those who wish to eat, shoot and leave. When adults behave like children, seeking instant gratification of their desires, abandoning relationships which no longer serve their purposes in pursuit of new, more intense, pleasure they leave children in their wake who have been deprived of the most valuable of inheritances – stability and security in which to grow to maturity."
Every self-respecting Citizen needs one!
NEWS STORY - LA Times - Daily Pilot Gay-rights activists plan to picket the Mormon temple in Newport Beach on Sunday to protest Mormon support for Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California. Another protest is planned Saturday at South Coast Plaza.
“I think it is a registering of how upset we are about it,” said Sandra Hartness, a member of the board of directors for the Human Rights Campaign, a national group that lobbies for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. Hartness is one of the organizers of the Sunday protest planned at the Newport temple.
“It reinforces that we are not going to go away, and we’re going to continue to seek equal rights,” she said.
Hartness said she and other opponents of Proposition 8 are angered at claims by the Proposition 8 campaign that homosexuality would be taught in public schools if gay marriage were to remain legal.
“It’s not so much the fact that they donated but the manner that the campaign was conducted and the misinformation that was spread,” Hartness said. “To not expect people to be upset when you take away a right from a group of people is probably naive.”
Protesters have swarmed Mormon churches and temples across the state after the passage of Proposition 8 last week. Opponents of the ballot measure claim members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bankrolled the Proposition 8 campaign. A website created by gay-rights activists tracked campaign finance records during the course of the Proposition 8 campaign and claimed Mormons donated more than $20 million in support of the ballot measure.
Another anti-Proposition 8 protest also is planned for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bear Street and South Coast Drive near South Coast Plaza as part of a nationwide day of protest against Proposition 8.
Many Mormons feel they are being singled out from the numerous churches in the state that supported Proposition 8, said Joseph Bentley, Orange County director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Church leaders encouraged Mormons in California to donate to the Proposition 8 campaign on a voluntary basis, he said.
“We’re shocked,” Bentley said. “Everyone I know is really quite surprised, and we find it quite deplorable that these are more than peaceful protests.”
Michigan Protests
Church members across the state have been subjected to vandalism and threats after the passage of Proposition 8, Bentley said.
“We have gay friends we love and care about and support in every way, but we don’t understand why there has been such a horrific backlash,” Bentley said.
The protest is planned for 10 a.m. Sunday, but the Newport Beach temple, 2300 Bonita Canyon Drive, is usually closed on Sundays, Bentley said.
“We usually try to keep the gates open so people can walk peacefully through the grounds,” Bentley said. “We try to keep it beautiful and inviting, but whether they will be able to do that this weekend, I don’t know.”
