Government is not made up of the smartest people - the last 8 years should've taught you that.

I am all for gay marriage - I dislike civil unions because it has that, "Separate but Equal" feeling to it.

Jeanie are you suggesting that Heterosexuals do not participate in Oral & anal stimulation/sex???

Hell, my wife and I do and we were allowed to marry. 

OH!!! I know - 2 people of the same gender can't have a child naturally.  That's your next response right?

Well, I had a vasectomy - If my wife and I have children it will be because we adopt, yet we're still allowed to be married.

Let's turn  this around - Republicans shouldn't be allowed to marry. 

1) It's a lifestyle choice

2) It's a lifestyle I don't agree with

3) It teaches children hate and intolerance

Just sayin...

 I have read all your comments and I am approaching this issue from a unique perspective, I am gay and have a partner for 15 yrs. My twin brother has been married his wife for 20 yrs.

 I also live in MA, where gay marriage is legal. We can legally marry state-wise but not according to the federal government.  It is like having “dual legal standard.”  Filing taxes can be unique. When one fills out a legal application, and the question is “Are you legally married” how should it be answered?

The comments here are quite unique.  I think this an excellent forum to hear ones opinions and/or observations. I believe that the legal aspect has to be separated from the religious one.  One can get a marriage license separate from the religious ceremony. As of the signing on the state license, all federal benefits are granted. The fact you one weds before a Justice of the Peace, allows them full federal recognition.

Should Common Law marriage be recognized as having a federal legal standard?

“Separate but Equal” to me means “Dual legal Standards” 

Homosexuality is a SEXUAL DISORDER. It is an Addictive Perversion of Normal Human Male-Female Sexuality. DO NOT allow such a Sexual Perversion to DESTROY MARRIAGE and RUIN THE AMERICAN FAMILY

PART 1

As a Society, we attempt to base our LAWS on STANDARDS of HUMAN BEHAVIOR, and on MAJORITY CONSENSES, and when possible, on REASON and SCIENCE.

This Legal tradition is in danger of failing us now in the case of concerted attacks by groups of Homosexual Sexual Addicts - Entire Groups of Homosexuals and Homosexual supporters who constantly seek to Rationalize, and Justify their Sexual Addictions by any and every means possible. Most especially by MANIPULATING Psychological Science, the Mass Media, Education, AND THE LAW ITSELF to provide unwavering support for their addictive sexual perversions and disorders.

The following website provides a useful over view of some of the Typical Defense Mechanisms of the Addictive Personality. ALL of these can be seen in DIRECT and CONSISTENT OPERATION by the "Homosexual Community."

http://www.erikbohlin.net/Handouts/defense_mechanism_addiction.htm

Homosexuality was known (in the vast majority of cases studied >95%) TO BE AN AQUIRED A SEXUAL BEHAVIORAL DISORDER - A TREATABLE and REPAIRABLE Disorder, and it was correctly DEFINED as such right up until about 1973 -75 (1) when SEVERAL PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALS gained control of the American Psychiatric Association, and then the American Psychological Association, and PURPOSEFULLY RE-DEFINED Homosexuality so that it was "No Longer a Disorder." The definition was abhorrent to their Addiction, and rather than RESOLVE AND CORRECT THEIR DESTRUCTIVE AND ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS - THEY WENT TO WORK TO CHANGE THE "OFFENSIVE" DEFINITIONS, and subsequently organized to GAIN CONTROL OF THE MASS MEDIA, EDUCATION, and Key Aspects of the US Government (most especially the Legal Branch thereof.)

Ref: Note #1:

D'Emilio, John. "The Gay Liberation Movement." The Social Movements Reader: Cases and Concepts. Jeff Goodwin and James M. Jasper, eds. Malden, Massachusetts: 2003. 32-37.

In his essay, D'Emilio traces the progression of the gay rights movement. Within his depiction of the history of the gay rights movement, D'Emilio recounts an example of how gay activists protested in the medical community. According to D'Emilio, "Chicago Gay Liberation invaded the 1970 convention of the American Medical Association, while its counterpart in Sand Francisco disrupted the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association." During this event, D'Emilio states that "a young bearded gay man danced around the auditorium in a red dress, while other homosexuals and lesbians scattered in the audience shouted 'Genocide!' and 'Torture!' during the reading of a paper on aversion therapy." The effects of such displays were to "thrust gay liberationists into the public spotlight."

D'Emilio's essay allows us to understand some of the actions of gay activists that led to the removal of homosexuality from the list of disorders. In order to bring about change, there needs to be a strong enough opposition to the current situation. In this case, the gay rights activists used protest during the medical convention to force the psychologists to question their views and their methods of treatment. The actions of the gay rights movement gave an opportunity for those who support the cause to come into the public spotlight, and the increase of attention to the matter forced the ApA and other medical organizations to question the validity of the classification of homosexuality as a disorder.

End Ref. Note #1

End Part 1...  SEE PART 2

Substantial work and volumes of detailed studies were done by many eminent and fair minded Psychological Scientists, and Psychiatric Medical Doctors on the Topic of Homosexuality AS A SEXUAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDER.

Here are Two Excellent Examples that are a MUST READ to Know the TRUTH about Homosexual Addiction and Behavioral Disorder.

Ref Note #2

Bergler, Edmund. Homosexuality: Disease or Way of Life? New York: Hill & Wang, 1957.

Dr. Edmund Bergler believes that homosexuality is not a way of life, but rather a "neurotic disease in which extremely severe and unavoidable self-damaging tendencies engulf the whole personality". He asserts that it homosexuality is caused by an "unsolved masochistic conflict with the mother of earliest infancy" (291, 263). Bergler also states and stresses that homosexuality can be cured because it is not an innate characteristic, but rather a psychological disease.

Bergler's book exemplifies the medical field's view of homosexuality during the mid twentieth century. Berger theories differ from his contemporaries who shared his opinion because he urged that homosexuality should be publicized, rather than silenced, to expose the non-glamour factor of being a diseased homosexual and deter indivudals from homosexual b

Caprio, Frank S. Female Homosexuality: A Modern Study of Lesbianism. New York: Grove Press, 1954.

Similar to Edmund Bergler, Frank Caprio states that homosexuality is a disease that could be prevented and treated through therapeutic management. He uses clinical data and case theories to support his theories on the psychogenisis of female homosexuality. Most importantly, Caprio believes that he has the authority to make generalizations about homosexuals and separate the truths from the untruths regarding homosexuality. He discredits the following myths: that lesbians are born lesbians and cannot be cured, and stresses that "lesbianism is acquired, not congenital or inherited, and represents the behavior symptom of a deep seated and unresolved neurosis" (13). Therefore, homosexuality is a psychological disease rather than biological with genetic origins, an attitude shared by many of his contemporaries in the mid twentieth century

End Ref Note #2.

End Part  2 SEE PART 3

NUMEROUS IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES WORKS (just such as these two above) WHICH SHOW HOMOSEXUALITY FOR THE ADDICTIVE SEXUAL DISORDER THAT IT REALLY IS HAVE BEEN DERIDED, MINIMIZED, AND WHEN EVER POSSIBLE LIED ABOUT so as to Deny and Falsify the TRUTHS that they so clearly present. This is NOT "Good Science" but Rather the CONTROL OF SCIENCE MADE TO FIT POLITICAL AND SOCIAL AGENDAS WHICH SUPPORT HOMOSEXUAL ADDICTION AND DISORDER.

The inescapable TRUTHS of Scientific Works such as these have been withheld from our Brightest Young Minds. INSTEAD Our young Students - children in most cases - are having their Minds POISONED by the CONSISTENTLY PRO-HOMOSEXUAL EDUCATIONAL AGENDAS in Western Universities and Public Schools. These Academic institutions are now virtually UNIFORMLY CONTROLLED by a Pro-Homosexual Elite who in many ways seem to act as Liberal "Neo-Fascists" in that that attempt to strictly control and influence WHAT and HOW their Students think, to include their Moral Values as to "Right and Wrong Behaviors, RATHER THAN TEACHING THERE STUDENTS HOW TO ANALYZE AND THINK RATIONALLY AND INDEPENDENTLY FOR THEMSELVES.

I have first hand knowledge as to exactly how MUCH these people are beginning to control and influence our Children. RIGHT NOW, this VERY DAY, when you walk down the Halls of virtually ANY HIGH SCHOOL IN AMERICA you will WITNESS almost as many Homosexual Acts in progress in the HALLWAYS - Girls kissing / "Making Out with" and Fondling OTHER GIRLS as you will Normal Boy-Girl Heterosexual Acts. Why is that??? Are children "SOMEHOW" magically being BORN THIS WAY NOW???

OR ARE WE ACTIVELY TEACHING THEM TO ENGAGE IN HOMOSEXUAL ADDICTIONS.

I would strongly argue that THAT is the Case. Our Children are CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED BY PRO-HOMOSEXUAL MESAGES FROM TV, MOVIES, EDUCATORS, and EVEN Children's Books, and now from Science Fiction and Fantasy Books.

The Facts or this matter are simple. As Mammals we exist as Males and Females, and the NORMAL Sexual behaviour is for Sexuality to exist exclusively between Males and Females. We are "Hardwired" for this event to be "Pleasurable" to encourage reproduction, and LONG TERM FAMILY STRUCTURES so that Our Children have VIABLE MALE AND FEMAL ROLE MODELS when growing up through their formative years. Because SEX affects the PLEASURE CENTERS of the Human Brain, it can become ADDICTIVE... and it is prone to perversion and disorder.

Homosexuality is a BEHAVIOR - an aberrant sexual DISORDER and IT MUST ONCE AGAIN BE TREATED AS SUCH, and NOT SUPPORTED or "PROTECTED" in any way - No more than we would any other Destructive Addictive Behavior like Drugs, Alcohol, or Gambling. Homosexuality is a DESTRUCTIVE SEXUAL DISORDER which strips away the fundamental functions of Human Male-Female Sexuality, and reduces it's VICTIMS to Less than Lustful Rutting Animals - Animals controlled by our lowest sexual addictions, doomed to live in self loathing, self-demeaning lifestyles.

PLEASE, STOP THIS MADDNES NOW!  Enforce the FCC DECENCEY LAWS. REMOVE THE PRO-HOMOSEXUAL MESAGES FROM OUR NATIONS TV's, MOVIES, and EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHILE WE STILL CAN. STOP THE BRAIN WASHING OF AMERICAN CHILDREN TO "ACCEPT HOMOSEXUALITY" as "NORMAL" when clearly IT IS NOT.

I put it to you Mr. President. IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT FOR AMERICAS CHILDREN? FOR AMERICAS FUTURE.

A very wise and wonderful man once said... YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.

Perhaps he knew something that we have forgotten...

This information is NOT presented to be accusing or “hurtful” in any way. It is NOT AN ATTACK. It is presented to be STRONGLY HELPFUL for ANY one who feels the PAIN of their addictions, and who wishes to BEGIN to seek a way OUT of the Terrible and Destructive CONTROL that these have over their Lives.

“Addicts have an accounting system that justifies why they don’t have a problem. The addict will spend the counseling hour telling you why they don’t have an addiction, while the person who struggles with it less is more open to the idea that they could have an addiction. The addict holds up a picture of what they would be like if they were a 'true' addict. “

Denying – There is not problem. The problem lies outside the person’s conscious awareness, or they refuse to admit it and TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
Alcoholic: “I am not an alcoholic. I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Homosexual: Homosexually is "Good" is "Normal" is "Natural" I was BORN a homosexual. I CAN NOT CHANGE.

Lying - We lie, distort the truth, leave out important details.
General: “I don’t really have that much of a problem.”
Homosexual: To Others:  I am NOT a Homosexual.  To SELF: Homosexually is "Good" is "Normal" is "Natural" I was BORN a homosexual. I CAN NOT CHANGE. (Lying is Denying) “I LIKE being a Homosexual."  "It's OK to BE GAY"  (See. It EVEN RHYMS.)

Manipulation - We argue, tease, mock, become silent, cry, etc. when confronted about the problem.
Sexaholic: Pouts, complains, “makes” others feel guilty. THEY are the Victim
Homosexual - CONTROL the ApA, CONTROL the MEDIA, CONTROL the EDUCATION SYSTEM, CONTROL the GOVERNMENT. CONTROL FREEDOM OF SPEECH - Define any antagonistic comments as "Hate Speech." Find every way I can to RE-MAKE Society to FIT AND APPROVE OF MY ADDICTION. 

Accusing - Attacking the person and pointing out there problems.
General: “Well, you have problems too.” “You lie as well.”
Alcoholic: “You drink yourself.” “You are just overly sensitive because your mother drank.” “You think everyone is an alcoholic.”
Sexaholic: “You are cheating on me.” [to deflect attention off of themselves]
Homosexual - You are Taking Away my RIGHTS. YOU ARE A HATEFUL PERSON. You are Guilty of “HATE SPEACH”

End of Part 1

Threatening - Using threats to make the person stop talking about the Addictive problem
Judging – Being Judgmental of others who point out the Addictive Behaviors
Projecting – Pointing Out the Problems of the Person who is seeking to help the addict escape Denial, or Accusing THEM of Having “The Problem” rather than face their own Destructive Behaviors.
Blaming - Making others responsible for one’s Addiction and Addictive Behaviors
Humor - We make light of the situation and turn it into a joke.
Intellectualizing -  The use of an “accounting system” or False Logic to demonstrate that "are not an Addict."
Rationalizing - (See Intellectualizing)Mental Self Talk that equates to "I don't have a problem." or "This Behavior is actually OK, or not really as bad as they say it is."
Silence – Being quiet and withdrawn. Unreachable.
Withdrawing - We avoid and leave physically or emotionally. Doesn’t respond to questions. (See Silence)
Compliant - Outwardly compliant, while inwardly rebellious, Seething, Angry and Hateful.
Minimizing – Addict Agrees, but makes it a smaller problem than it really is.
Cockiness – Flamboyant “in your Face” behavior. Disregard for Normal or Socially Appropriate Behaviors
Justifying - If you had ___ Happen to YOU, then YOU would behave this way too.
Explaining - Telling a story that is not really accurate and uses false logic to explain. No real remorse, empathy or sorrow.
Analyzing - We come up with excuses, explanations, and defensives that justify our Addictive Behaviors.
Defiance - Using verbal force and stubbornness. Self Destructive Behaviors despite very REAL Consequences.
Attacking - We raise our voices to intimidate. Yelling, screaming, and shouting. Arguing, Name calling, Getting angry.

No, that does NOT end the Science Debate. 

The Scientific Psychological Establish ment  (and Media, and Educational system) has been HiJacked BY Homosexuals. 

once again... The APA was taken over from within by Homosexuals and Homosexual supporters and sympathizers. This was the first part  of a PLANNED movement, Teaching our children - Like "Aaron!" to have a completely confused and backward misunderstanding of what is good, normal and healthy, v.what is sick, perverted, and just plain wrong.

see PART 1 above on HOMOSEXUALITY AS A SEXUAL DISORDER

esp. Ref Note #1

D'Emilio, John. "The Gay Liberation Movement." The Social Movements Reader: Cases and Concepts. Jeff Goodwin and James M. Jasper, eds. Malden, Massachusetts: 2003. 32-37.

In his essay, D'Emilio traces the progression of the gay rights movement. Within his depiction of the history of the gay rights movement, D'Emilio recounts an example of how gay activists protested in the medical community. According to D'Emilio, "Chicago Gay Liberation invaded the 1970 convention of the American Medical Association, while its counterpart in Sand Francisco disrupted the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association." During this event, D'Emilio states that "a young bearded gay man danced around the auditorium in a red dress, while other homosexuals and lesbians scattered in the audience shouted 'Genocide!' and 'Torture!' during the reading of a paper on aversion therapy." The effects of such displays were to "thrust gay liberationists into the public spotlight."

D'Emilio's essay allows us to understand some of the actions of gay activists that led to the removal of homosexuality from the list of disorders. In order to bring about change, there needs to be a strong enough opposition to the current situation. In this case, the gay rights activists used protest during the medical convention to force the psychologists to question their views and their methods of treatment. The actions of the gay rights movement gave an opportunity for those who support the cause to come into the public spotlight, and the increase of attention to the matter forced the ApA and other medical organizations to question the validity of the classification of homosexuality as a disorder.

End Ref. Note #1

Mr. President, all we want are civil unions on par with everyone else. Leave marriage (ceremonies) to the religious institutions. Protect us from discrimination. Strengthen our commitments. Love should have no borders. Love should have no hindrances.  One federal law and your stroke of the pen would free up all the resources now currently used by the states, counties, cities, corporations, activist, religions and lawyers working to combat, overturn, interpret, promote, defend and amend the patchwork of state, county and sometimes only city legislation. Please make it happen. Soon, please.

First of all, there is an attack on couples who choose to have children.  Marriage is about responsibility; about the possibility of producing a biological baby.  No marriage should be about anything other than that.  Only a couple (man and a woman) who chooses to reproduce has there healthy baby stolen at birth.