Tag Archives: same sex marriage

Ask a Marriage Blogger: Do You Know Where Civil Unions Came From?

I was hoping you wouldn’t mind answering a question about civil unions. You’ve referred to them in a few of your blogs and I was curious as to where this term came from? To be honest, it seems like in the last couple of years this issue is suddenly the front page everywhere and I don’t honestly recall where it came from. I get the impression I may be on the fringe of the issue, I’m divorced and considering remarrying a lovely woman that I’ve been seeing for some time now. Can you help me out here? – Curious George … Continue reading →

Gay Marriage Debate gets Heated at Families.com

Wow. Where to begin… Perhaps I should start with the comment I intended to leave on Heather’s latest gay marriage article: I agree that the Indiana legislation is somewhat vague. Legislation is to be written in a way that allows a person of reasonable intelligence to understand its meaning. If reasonable people question what is allowed or denied, it can be declared unconstitutionally vague, and clearly, people are questioning the meaning of this particular measure. Then I read the rest of her article, and all I could say was, “Wow!” Heather went on to write: “I can’t say I’m surprised, … Continue reading →

Marriage Debate? No Debate Here

Heather and I agree on a marriage debate topic! How did that happen? Well, it took something extreme, but nonetheless we agree. Heather discussed the issue, requiring proof of procreation to maintain a legally recognized marriage. She mentioned how nonsensical the arguments for this initiative are, but I’ll go one step further. Not only is it ridiculous to attempt to force procreation, but to also demand a certain timeframe is more than absurd. Government functions do not include telling people they must have children or when. The hypocrisy here is not on the side of those who maintain that marriage … Continue reading →

Marriage Debates: Wyoming Tackles Two Tough Issues

This week, Wyoming’s lawmakers will address two of the toughest issues in politics today, or at least two that tend to generate a great deal of emotion and controversy. State Representative Bob Brechtel (R), and Senator Gerald Geis (R) are in for some heated debate and confrontations. The House Judiciary Committee has endorsed Representative Brechtel’s bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee has endorsed Senator Geis’s bill. Both are slated for debate on the respective floors throughout this week, which promises to bring both those that support and those that oppose these bills to the state Capitol to be heard. Brechtel’s bill … Continue reading →

How Did Your Senators Vote on the Marriage Amendment?

Whether you agree or disagree with a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage is not really the question for this discussion. The main question is do you know how your senators voted? Next, is the question did they vote in a way that represented the will of the people in your state? Both of my senators, Mark Pryor and Blanche Lambert Lincoln cast “nay” votes according to the most recent Senate roll call vote. I found this curious since in 2004 voters in Arkansas overwhelming voted to ban same sex marriage in this state. In fairness, that doesn’t necessarily mean … Continue reading →

Appealing the Will of the People, Part II

In the previous article, I addressed some of the legal issues surrounding gay marriage. In this article, I’ll address Heather’s statements in the “Why does it matter to me?” section of her article, Marriage Debates: California Gay Marriage Ban to Be Appealed. Comparing sexual preference to skin color is a common gay rights argument. Modeling the cause after the civil rights movement seems to give it more credence. There is no comparison. Slavery and being treated as less than a person because of one’s skin color is not at all the same as being prohibited from creating extraordinary, special statutory … Continue reading →

Appealing the Will of the People, Part I

Let me start by saying that even though Heather and I go back and forth on marriage debates, we’re not fighting or trying to “one-up” each other. I know it may seem that way to some, since one of us usually comes along quickly to counter the other’s arguments after such issues are posted. Heather and I have very different views on these issues, (obviously) yet we agree to disagree. One thing we do agree on is that it’s important for both sides to be heard, so with that said, let me address Heather’s latest article, Marriage Debates: California Gay … Continue reading →

Make Your Voice Heard on Marriage Debates and More: Vote!

There’s a lot going on this election season, and some voters are finding themselves confused. In fact, that may be the whole idea in some cases. When ballot initiatives are written in legalese and doublespeak, it should probably send up a red flag. If a referendum or ballot initiative is a good thing, why hide the true meaning in unclear language? Why not use plain language, so every voter knows exactly what it means? Too often, the title, description, or first few paragraphs sound good, but the “meat” of the proposal is hidden within definitions as used in a particular … Continue reading →

New Jersey Supreme Court Ruling on Same Sex Marriage

The same sex marriage debate is being decided in New Jersey. A case came before the New Jersey Supreme Court yesterday, and ironically, some people on either side of the debate see the ruling as both a victory as well as a disappointment. How does that work? Let’s look at what the Court ruled. The state Supreme Court, correctly, could not find a fundamental right for same sex marriage. However, it did find that gay couples should have the same rights and benefits extended to married couples. What does this mean? It means that although the argument over certain rights … Continue reading →

Courts and Marriage

What is your opinion when it comes to courts deciding the definition of marriage? Do courts have the power to make such decisions, or do you believe that protected institutions and the rule of law should be defined by the legislature? You probably have a good idea by now how I feel regarding the same sex marriage debate, but I think it’s important to stress why. I firmly believe that such important issues must be decided in the legislature instead of the courts, and there are two main reasons for this opinion. They have to do with checks and balances. … Continue reading →