Readers Debate "Gay Marriage"

Readers Debate "Gay Marriage" 

FOR...

I think all people should have equal rights and no one's rights should be subject to a vote. Gay or straight, we should all be able to get married anywhere we want and no one should be able to take that away from us or even decide in favor of that with a vote. We are all entitled to the same rights. It should not even be a question.


AGAINST...

Yes, all people in the country have the inalenable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. An with that comes the ability to file a joint income tax return, collect SS survivor benefits, hospital visitation rights, etc. Hence, we should all embrace public legislative efforts to "legalize" relationships between two adults irrespective of the fact that they may happen to share a particular gender.

However, based on our culture and community standards, a marriage is between a man and a woman. To suggest that it is not is to deny the fact that there is a fundamental biological difference between a union between those of opposite sexes and those of the same. Hence, we should endeavor to identify a new, legal term that adequately and respectfully acknowledges this difference and would permit this very decisive issue to come to a logical and proper end. Those who have been intensively lobbying this matter, in my opinion, would better serve their constituents by finding a middle ground that respects the long standing cultural and religious foundations of the institution of marriage while guaranteeing the rights that all people deserve. Until this happens, we will never see closure on this issue. The Legislatures, politicians, lobbyings etc. may be able to legislate how we are supposed act, but not how we feel.

New Jersey voters want referendum on gay marriage—poll

New Jersey voters want referendum on gay marriage—poll

A majority of New Jersey voters say same-sex marriage should be decided by popular referendum - something Republican Governor Chris Christie has suggested, but Democratic leaders have pointedly refused to do - a poll released on Tuesday said.

Fifty-four percent of New Jersey voters said same-sex couples should be allowed to wed. By about the same margin, voters also thought the issue should be placed on a ballot, according to a survey by the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University.

New Jersey's Democratic leadership, which controls both houses of the legislature, has made gay marriage a top priority this session, saying the state's civil union law does not adequately protect same-sex couples.  (Honan, Reuters)

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/02/14/us/politics/14reuters-gaymarriage-newjersey-poll.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=jersey&st=nyt

Sen. Bateman proposes bill to let voters decide if N.J. should legalize same-sex marriage

Sen. Bateman proposes bill to let voters decide if N.J. should legalize same-sex marriage

Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset) announced Thursday that he has introduced a resolution that would, if approved by the Legislature and voters would amend the state Constitution to permit same-sex marriage in New Jersey.

The resolution (SCR-88) is supported by Gov. Chris Christie but opposed by the Democrats who control the Legislature. Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) has declared the type of legislation proposed by Bateman will not be considered.

Instead, the Democrats are preparing to approve legislation next week that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Christie has stated he will not approve the measure.  (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/sen-bateman-proposes-bill-to-let-voters-decide-if-nj-should-legalize-same-sex-marriage

Analysis: How Christie trumped Dems once again on "Gay Marriage"

Analysis: How Christie trumped Dems once again on "Gay Marriage"

Democrats looking for a signature issue to start the new legislative session resurrected gay marriage, thinking it would galvanize their base and hoping it would push Republican Gov. Chris Christie into uncomfortable political territory by forcing him to sign the legislation or veto it.

But Christie, a masterful political tactician, isn't so easily boxed in.

The day before Senate Democrats were to conduct the first public hearing of the term on the bill, Christie stunned almost everyone by nominating a gay black Republican with a 32-year partner and a Korean immigrant to fill two slots on the state Supreme Court, unusual picks for a Republican governor that helped defuse possible criticism about his social views.  (Associated Press)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/Analysis_How_Christie_trumped_Dems_once_again.htm

N.J. gay rights advocates fight a vote on same-sex marriage

N.J. gay rights advocates fight a vote on same-sex marriage
 
Gay rights advocates in New Jersey have been pushing for a decade to get state courts or lawmakers to recognize same-sex marriage. But last week, they demurred when Gov. Christie called for a public vote to settle the topic.

Their main reason is based on principle: It's not fair, they say, to let voters decide a civil rights issue.But there's another consideration: It would be a costly and divisive fight, and the advocates know the odds are against them, even if recent polls have shown the majority of New Jersey voters support allowing gay marriage.  (Mulvihill, Associated Press)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20120130_N_J__gay_rights_advocates_fight_a_vote_on_same-sex_marriage.html

Outrageous teachings by new Ground Zero(aka the Mike Bloomberg) Victory mosque

Outrageous teachings by new Ground Zero(aka the Mike Bloomberg) mosque big
By ISABEL VINCENT and MELISSA KLEIN
Last Updated: 1:19 PM, January 30, 2011
Posted: 1:19 AM, January 30, 2011

The new imam at the Ground Zero mosque and cultural center believes people who are gay were probably abused as children and that people who leave Islam and preach a new religion should be jailed.

Abdallah Adhami's remarks on homosexuals, religious freedom and other topics have brought renewed criticism of the proposed community center and mosque near the World Trade Center site, which purports to be an inclusive organization.

Adhami, in a lecture on the Web site of his nonprofit, Sakeenah, says being gay is a "painful trial" caused by past trauma.

"An enormously overwhelming percentage of people struggle with homosexual feeling because of some form of violent emotional or sexual abuse at some point in their life," he says. "A small, tiny percentage of people are born with a natural inclination that they cannot explain. You find this in the animal kingdom at some level as well."

He says gays must fight this "propensity."

"When a religious leader of his standing opens up his mouth and spews this kind of ignorance and hateful statements, it does put his greater judgment into question," said Fred Sainz, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay-rights group.

Adhami also notes that if a Muslim leaves the faith and "preaches their views, they're jailed."

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/gz_imam_gay_flay_K8wAYsyKlADqlz8Et5CuTP