N.Y. Democrats criticized for pro-gay stand

[davidinalameda]

http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=9976&sd=09/24/03

The chairman of New York's Conservative Party berated the state Democratic Committee Tuesday for approving a resolution calling for the recognition of gay marriages. "The Democratic Party has slammed the door on family values," said Michael Long one day after the state party leaders, meeting in Buffalo, backed legislation that would recognize civil marriages between same-sax couples. "They have slammed the door on the institution of marriage."


Looks to me that they want to open the door a hella lot wider than it is now!

[Not a robought]

1. Could someone, anyone...

explain to me how it is that gay marriage threatens straight marriage in any possible remote way?

[LeftCoast]

2. Um, cuz they're gay?

That seems to be the extent of the "threat" argument.

[im4edwards]

5. I don't see any threat personally but if you want a case for it...

... think of it as a lessening of the significance.

Along the same line of thinking, the Green Berets of the Army were adamant that the Army should not switch to having all soldiers wear berets as it was insulting to the extra rigors that they endured to "earn" their berets. Now the berets that the regular troops wear are black and not green so why the distinction ? They say it wasn't so much the color as the totally different headgear.

So after much rambling... hertosexual couples who see marriage as special to the notion of man/woman with the enherant extention to children could very reasonably see the union of homosexuals with its impossibility of children involved as a lessening of the inherent meaning they hold.

Like I said it makes no difference to me and I can see the need for a way to facilitate the legal aspects of marriage for all couples (passage of estate, etc). But theres a potential threat scenario.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. There is a threat only to teeny tiny minds

who believe Dick Sanctorum.

[Caution]

3. just once

I want one of these bigoted assholes to define "family values" to me!

Most gays i know dont give two shits about the "institution of marriage" this isn't about that it is about equal protection under the law when one enters into a loving partnership with another. If I were gay I would want to know that my partner could visit me in the hospital if i became sick, that my partner could partake in insurance benefits due to my death, that my partner would be protected under the inheritance laws, that we could enjoy the same tax benefits as any other two people involved in a loving, committed relationship. If it were only about the so-called "institution of marriage" then they could form a church that sanctioned gay "marriage"

I'm so sick of these people and their fear that somehow two people who love one another will shatter their belief system. Get a clue you stupid bigots.

[piece sine]

6. I got a lawyer!

I agreed whole-heartedly with all the concerns you raise in your posting. Every one. But rather than wait for society's approval, my former and I protected each other with legal agreements drawn-up by a trustworthy lawyer. Each of us empowered the other with power-of-attorney -- in writing -- so except for tax benefits -- we basically created our own domestic partnership.

And when we amiably split-up last year, we found another advantage -- we didn't have to through a complicated and messy "divorce." We just mutually destroyed the paperwork and let the lawyer know.

I admit, it ain't perfect... but no one need be a victim of our homophobic society.

[im4edwards]

9. I wondered why people don't consider this

if you want to be married then it goes south, "shacking up" is a whole lot cheaper than tying the knot. If you're smart you can even sidestep the lawyer and draw up the forms yourselves.

Doesn't cover all the bases but it keeps the cost of failure way down.

[IrateCitizen]

4. I really find it hard to debate subjects like this...

because I can't, for the life of me, understand how in the hell allowing committed homosexual couples to enjoy the same legal rights and protections as heterosexual couples threatens "families" or the "institution of marriage" in any way, shape or form. :shrug:

Then again, I DO realize that all of the rhetoric from the RW about "family values" is really all just a bunch of inflammatory rhetoric meant to inspire blame and hate for the failure of their OWN policies.

[kayell]

7. One of the ironies of this is that the homophobes

have always criticized gays for being promiscuous, yet can't stand the thought of gays in long term, stable, state sactioned relationships. But then there are SO MANY ironies these days.

And by the way, what about MY FAMILIES values?

[sangh0]

8. Long's family values = selling booze

Long owns a liquor store in my neighborhood. I guess the children abused and/or neglected by alcoholic parents are not within the realm of "family values"

Long si the same guy who railed on and on about the public school for gay kids