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Marriage Equality!!!

Started 11 months ago by feefeelarue
Latest reply from dawsonct

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feefeelarue
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I am so proud and happy as a former NY'er to see the Marriage Equality bill pass in New York State tonight. I hope that here in WA State we can get to a place where all people have equal rights as well. (I secretly wish a Cuomo could run for Gov here) :D

Posted 11 months ago #
datamuse
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I <3 NY!

Posted 11 months ago #
Cait
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WOOHOO! :)

Posted 11 months ago #
WorldCitizen
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Good Job New York!

Posted 11 months ago #
JoB
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Sure beats the heck out of our partnership laws

Posted 11 months ago #
dhg
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Why is it that with a Democratic Governor, House and Senate we do not have marriage equality here?

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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dhg: could it be because big money trumps democracy, and the more self-righteous among us are more organized?

or is it because our politicians are afraid to take a "controversial" stand, even though a majority of their constituents support marriage equality? afraid of the sound bites that portray them as godless heathens? afraid that good christians won't give them campaign donations?

no matter how you slice it, it's all about money and advertising.

Posted 11 months ago #
Jiggers
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here we go again..

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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jiggers: care to elaborate? where are we going that we've been before?

Posted 11 months ago #
Zenguy
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Debating everyone's right to equal treatment under the law would be my best guess.

As a number of prominent conservatives, incuding Pat Buchanan have stated, it is not a matter of if, but when marriage eqality will be the law of the land.

My best guess is that politicians want to take baby steps on this issue and allow people to get used to the idea of civil unions and marriage equality is not far behind. New York voting to make marriage equality the law, with some Republican support will go a long way. I see the tipping point off on the horizon...California, is that you...again?

Posted 11 months ago #
happy hour
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Bravo NY! I heard that with same-sex marriages, partners are not able to have/collect 'federal' benefits. This info came from a government employee Anyone else with knowledge of this information?

Posted 11 months ago #
happy hour
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Now I remember. It was a representative from the civil liberties union. They were outside safeway a few weeks ago. They suggested going on line to their web site.

Posted 11 months ago #
kootchman
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I will support it...conservative old fart Republican that I am. , Will the state, county and city only give domestic partner benefits to "married" couples? Sounds like a good referendum agenda.

Posted 11 months ago #
charlabob
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The "Defense of Marriage" act specifically fobids federal agencies from giving support to same gender partners (unless it's been changed.) I know this because when I worked at a Large California Computer Company, HR would give benefits to same sex partners, but not to opposite sex partners, because OSPs could get married. (I was trying to get benefits for one of my engineers...we wound up losing her to Apple.)

Posted 11 months ago #
TDe
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Yes, and you think Conservatives are angry about paying taxes? What about gays who are forced to pay social security taxes their entire working lives but are denied the same rights as everyone else when they become elderly and need assistance. Gay partners who have been together for 30-40-50 years but cannot marry are then denied access to their partner's social security when the other partner dies. And our noble President, who was supported by all liberal and gay communities, dances around the issue of gay marriage, refusing to take a stand against blatent bias and discrimination for American citizens. Good job New York for taking a stand for equal rights for all citizens.

Posted 11 months ago #
waynster
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Hmmmm when Alabama and Mississippi and the rest of the south pass a gay marriage law. Then either hell has froze over or they finely relize that being gay is a way of life and won't hurt their inbreeding conservative programs.....Will Washington be next? WTG N.Y.

Posted 11 months ago #
kootchman
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TDe ... if you act married, talk married, and walk married...U should be treated married. I was just curious if "married" changes domestic partner benefits if or when WA state finally passes a gay marriage act.. NY may be the watershed state. If we can't attract businesses, or people of talent because we do not grant equal rights... bad deal. TDe .. go for the wallet... that brings the most conservative of conservaties to heel. Lots of NY'rs in law, finance, advertising, business have been recruited here.

Posted 11 months ago #
kootchman
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WTF is everyone raggin on AL for? AL is a great state... Auburn, NASA, U of A, HOME of the civil rights movement, Muscle Shoals a founding mother of great music... y'know..AL probably has traveled the longest distance for civil rights in the last 50 years. Bet gay marriage would pass there faster than Spokane County!

Posted 11 months ago #
KBear
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Um, yeah, there's are reasons why Alabama's the home of the civil rights movement. Not that Washington is blameless on that count, but just sayin'...

Posted 11 months ago #
maude
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Remember, Iowa had gay marriage before Washington. Some of the southern states may surprise us. And on the issue of what happens to domestic partnerships after same sex marriage becomes law in WA, I think the only group it would be offered to would be those on Social Security/Retirement who would lose that income if they were to become married. Like it is now for opposite sex domestic partners except then it would include same sex domestic partners. But I don't know for sure.

Posted 11 months ago #
singularname
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Amazing. A thread to celebrate a victory against bigotry sprinkled with bigoted snipes.

Posted 11 months ago #
HMC Rich
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1. There should not even be a Federal Law about the Defense of Marriage. This is silly just like Roe v. Wade.
2. This is why the states should be dealing with this type of issue. Let the local populace or state populace deal with their own community standards.
3. Spokane had a black mayor before Seattle. I guess Seattle was behind the times.
4. Although I support gay marriage, I do not usually trash those who do not favor it. They are entitled to their opinion.
5. In corporate America, gay partners had more rights than opposite sex individuals living together. This will help clarify things in the future.
6. Now they can be as miserable as the rest of us and gay divorce rates will sky rocket in about seven years.
7. More gay marriage divorce lawyers will make a ton of money.
8. End of life issues will be cleared up more effectively.
9. Once accepted by many more states and citizens, more LGBT citizens will finally become Republican and disown the Democratic party.
10. This was voted on, not decided by a judge.

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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4. Although I support gay marriage, I do not usually trash those who do not favor it. They are entitled to their opinion.

but they're not entitled to their own bible-infused laws that prevent others from having equal rights.

they deserve to be mocked whenever possible.

Posted 11 months ago #
TDe
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1-2. So where do we draw the line? What issues get to be decided by individual states and what issues get to be decided by the federal government? If individual states were left to decide discrimination, there would probably be some states still practicing segregation. Are we the "United" States or just a bunch of small bordered nations? If the issue of discrimination is left to individual states to decide, then I think individual states should provide and tax their citiens for their own social security plans instead of the federal government... and that could be even more of a mess than we have now. Some states would probably have to defend their borders to keep the hoardes of elderly from moving in and using up all the retirement funds.

3. Good for Spokane...
4. Good for you...
5. If heterosexual couples living together want more rights granted to them by corporate America, maybe they should get married. Because they CAN.

6.-7. Sure, divorce rates will probably go up just like marriage rates will go up when gay marriage is approved. So what? Are you OK defending discrimination in order to protect one sector of American citiens from what might happen if they don't carefully choose their lifetime mates, while allowing other American citizens the right to choose their life pathways and screw it up like the rest of us? We should all have those same rights.

8. Yep, if same sex marriage is approved, end of life issues probably will be resolved more easily for those who choose to marry.

9. There are gay Republicans now and their relationshiip to the Republican party in general creates uneasy bedfellows I'm sure. OK, slight pun intended.. :) If Democrats under the current President don't stand against inequality in this country, the gay community will probably abandon them anyhow. Since a large number of Republicans do favor inequality, I doubt there will be a stampede to the other side though.

10. Laws and policies are made in several ways. Judicial, executive order, legislative, voter approved. We don't vote on every single issue, law or policy. If we did we'd be voting every day.

Posted 11 months ago #
kootchman
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Log Cabin Republicans..... soon as they have assets to protect. (sarcasm)

Posted 11 months ago #
kootchman
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Back to Alabama...there is a reason we were all taught to be gracious in "victory". We can all yell through a megaphone...and as one suggested ridicule. If dialogue, persuasion, activism, etc.. bring about a result...ie civil rights in Alabama, and then one continues to hold a stereotypical perspective... foolish. George Wallace died a repentent, apologetic man. That was the result we wanted. Lester Maddox however, did not. The two men were different.

Posted 11 months ago #
Jiggers
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I really don't care if you're gay because I've become tolerant of gay folks unless they're of the obnoxious type, but I'm straight, and I don't feel the need to throw a parade and wear thongs and play loud music to let everyone know that I"m heterosexual. I find it ridiculous that grown men have to wear a thong and show their junk in public and be loud about it. Its kind of childish to me. Im also not insecure either.

Posted 11 months ago #
maude
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Jiggers, where do I begin? I don't think you are tolerant of gay folks. If you were, you wouldn't be bothered by a parade or thongs on adult men. One doesn't need to be a gay man to wear thongs, btw, plenty of you heterosexuals do too. If you had been discriminated against for your sexuality you may feel differently about the need to have a parade.

Posted 11 months ago #
Jiggers
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I don't wear tight thongs and it does bother me whether they are GAY OR NOT. Thank gawd its not sunny enough here to see them year round at the beach. Anything that I, or we say about gay people out of context, we're going to be labeled as intolerent/bigots unless I say something that pleases you. I'm not the type to sugaroat my thoughts, ask the folks around here. I am tolerant, very much so. I treat people the same as they treat me. I don't change myself for anyone regardless. Anyways, I'd like to see more babes in W.S./Seattle in thongs...:)

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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methinks the lady doth protest too much.

Posted 11 months ago #
kootchman
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Ahem... it is a glorious thing to see a great butt, as scantily clad as is legal...ditto on the headlamp holders...if ya got flaunt it... if however like myself..the canvas is no longer tight in the frame... it's not artwork anymore. I dare to stare....dark glasses.

Posted 11 months ago #
waynster
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Just imagaining that thong now if a another women or a man to a man came to up and said you look hot in that. Do you take it as a compliment or a insult?... as for the south now they have made large strides to right the wrongs on civil rights still not like New York has. Yes spokane-astan,Ida-raq and montana-ran they have their ups just as any southern state has granted. Yes Spokane, Idaho and montana and the south have good people. It's still hard for gays and lesbians to live in the south let alone minority's. Someday just maybe all bigotry and hatred will be gone from this country. Sad thing is maybe not in our life time.

Posted 11 months ago #
JoB
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not while the fires of hatred are being fanned for personal gain:(

Posted 11 months ago #
tanyar23
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I love New York!!!
Thong Power! More power to those who can wear them without it feeling like butt floss!

Posted 11 months ago #
feefeelarue
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Seriously 'Headlamp Holders'?

Posted 11 months ago #
JanS
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feefeelarue....consider the source ;->

Posted 11 months ago #
dawsonct
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Jiggers, I'm impressed with your detailed description of some of the participants in the gay pride parade. Did you take pictures, or is it more of a photographic memory thing?

Posted 11 months ago #
metrognome
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wonder if Jiggers truly understands what the 'T' in LGBT stands for, speaking of hot babes in thongs ...

Posted 11 months ago #
Jiggers
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Please explain metrognome..I'm pretty ignorant.

Posted 11 months ago #
Elizagrace
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I aw this post on FB and think it is a good one to share: I for one am pretty excited about this "gay marriage" bill, or as I think of it "marriage". That is what it is after all, marriage. When I got lunch yesterday I didn't get "gay lunch" and when I parked my car I didn't "gay park" it.

Why we are all so hellbent on sticking our noses in other people's business is beyond me.

Posted 11 months ago #
maude
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Wouldn't a headlamp holder be...a head? Helmet?

Posted 11 months ago #
datamuse
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I would think that one would be disinclined to tolerate obnoxiousness from anyone. Why single out someone who's being obnoxious just because they happen to be gay? Personally I don't think thongs look good on anyone but I'm not going to stop people from wearing them. What, you're only going to "tolerate" people who you find aesthetically acceptable? Must be hard to leave the house.

Posted 11 months ago #
miws
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Why we are all so hellbent on sticking our noses in other people's business is beyond me.

FTW

Mike

Posted 11 months ago #
Jiggers
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I did not just say gay people in thongs, read my #29 post again. I'm done with this topic.

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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jiggers: we're just pointing out that not all of the "babes" that you're ogling at alki have XX chromosomes, despite appearances to the contrary.

Posted 11 months ago #
Zenguy
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PRIDE is not just a gay parade anymore, there are many straight groups and others too...all are welcome even ideas contrary to PRIDE's goals and stated objectives.

And while we are at it, there are plenty of parades for being Irish, Italian (Columbus Day)and Chinese New Year.

Posted 10 months ago #
kootchman
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Hmmmm.... we have a Supreme Court to decide just how "united a sates we are"... that damn federalist thing ... we are a confederation of independent states, ... don't tell citizens of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( that always gives spell check a work out) they are a state... the crux behind TX, NC, AZ, immigration laws are, the federal government has abrogated its constitutional duty to protect our borders and enforce federal powers.... so they as independent states will... I assure you this... the Fifth circuit court is history in 2012..while judicial appointments are for life.. Congress can eliminate, consolidate, or add a district as Congress sees fit....

Posted 10 months ago #
kootchman
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You can't legislate how people feel.... but this is a no brainer....equality under law ... anything else is none of my damned business. Where is my Lithuanian, gun rights, pot smoking pride parade?

Posted 10 months ago #
redblack
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kootch:

<lebowski>what in god's name are you blathering about?</lebowski>

the federal government should be big enough to regulate - or dissolve - anything within its borders, including wal-mart and GE. sure, anything not delegated to the federal government is the states' jurisdiction, but there's a lot delegated to the federal government. as it should be.

Posted 10 months ago #
dhg
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kootchman: "Where is my Lithuanian, gun rights, pot smoking pride parade? "

You have to organize it. These things don't happen on their own! You have to get people together, collect money and make plans.

This is easier to do if the family kicks you out for being Lithuanian, or you lose your job because of it or you get spit on, or if Congress passes a law that says Lithuanians can't get married because it violates Christian tradition.

Posted 10 months ago #