Since Prop 8 in CA, I have thought a fair amount on why a gay couple would wish so much to have legal recognition of the fact that they are same gender people living together. I doesn't make any sense to me because they can't produce children, have no reason the government should give them tax benefits for living together (especially since they do it with out the benefits already), don't normally build a stable enough enviroment to adopt children...all the reasons to get married just aren't present in a homosexual marriage. Infact, in conjunction with the homosexual support, I've heard the marriage is too restrictive.

Then I thought about it, and it became more apparent two other reasons that someone would want homosexual marriage recognized.

The first is extream bigotry. By having homosexual marriage, they could force religions to recognize their marriage. Which is wrong. A religion is a religion and the government has no place dictating it. That is in direct opposition to the Constitution. There are points where the government should not exterminate, but should intervene about a religion. I.E. the KKK. It's a religion and they do believe that blacks are inferior (what nonsense!). But the government doesn't say they can't believe that, just that they can't kill or enslave.
Unfortunately, I can see with homosexual marriages, people insisting, taking to court, and forcing religions to recognize, accept and perform homosexual unions, against their beliefs. This is wrong.

The second, and this is just as disturbing as the first, is the eventual abolishment of marriage and the family, in their traditional and historical sense. While I can see this being a goal (and an unfortunate eventual certainty should homosexual marriage be accepted), I don't understand WHY this would be a goal. Historically, it's a proven doom for any country. Oh, wait, that could be a reason why.
In case you want proof, I site Rome, Greece, and England. I wish to point out that in each of these countries, either when tyranny, or when the Family was the center of the society, it was strong. When the family, honor, and justice was the center, they flourished. When degredation, unnatural appetites, whoredomes and politics became the focus, conquest, fighting and "holy wars," they began to fall. Once prostitution, irrisponsible family life, and even the disregard of marriage all together were considered almost honorable, the nation falls.
Yes, those weren't the historically sighted reasons the fall of these nations happend. But the timing, in each nation, is uncanny.

"

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."
~The Family; A Proclamation to the World.

There is my stance, in a nutshell.

I know that I am risking a lot of heat for this...but I have some strong feelings about Prop. 8, the document, it's passing, and the aftermath.

Marriage is a long standing tradition, one which, until recent times in comparatively few countries, was more often used as a means of sealing an alliance than for love. Love is something only the idle, prosperous and determined can consider.

However, until recent years, the definition has never been challenged. To quote the Webster Dictionary, it is the "legal union between a man and woman. A contract..." The discrepency, only withing the last 75 years, has been whether a marraige was "between a man and woman" or "between two consenting individuals.

Now...I am a solid, religious woman. I do not support the appitites and tendencies of the gay and lesbian communities, but I do not discriminate either. They have the same right as any person in this nation, "...the pursute of happiness." They have the rights to a common law union, to do with their bodies as they wish and to seek pleasure how they desire.

That does not mean that I want my children to be taught that to be gay is all right. That does not mean that I wish to find on my childrens required reading list a book about a gay union. That does not mean that I want to have to watch the childrens shows in movies and on TV for gay content before I let my children watch.

I respect the right to happiness that these people have, but I do not see how the State could recognize such a union.

The state and federal government give certain tax benefits for unions, marriages, and childbearing. Mainly, for producing and providing and enviroment for the next generation of tax payers to grow up in. Considering that in these unions, the only ways to HAVE children are to adopt or to break the contract and participate in adultury to produce children, it doesn't seem as though the State has any reason to recognize the union.

The only actual benefit that I could see for the State recognizing gay marriages is for the gays to then require their marriages to be recognized by religions. That, my friend, is a horrific idea. Religious beliefs should not be tampered with by the political scene.

In addition, once gay marriage is recognized by the State, there will be other people wishing for changes. Such as plural marriage. In combination with gay marriage, perhaps a company could forcefully suggest that all it's applicants be required to marry within the company so that the company could recieve tax benefits. It would also severly complicate any in-company harrasment charges, because in a marriage situation, certain standards of behavior are relaxed, and the marriage contract could be called upon to justify the actions.

And what of incest? If gay unions are recognized, then why can't a brother and sister marry? There are physical ramifications to both situations, so why is one recognized and legalized while the other is not?

The change to the constitution simply makes it so that the California government does not have to recognize and give benefits to a group of people that are still free to seek their pleasure, participate in common law marriage, and their unions may be recognized at a religions discression, but do not provide children by any natural way.

As to the aftermath of the passing of Prop 8, my heart goes out to the Mormons who have been attacked. I also am sorry for the African-Americans who were brutalized because of their race. For a minority that wishes to overthrow a majority in the name of "tolerance" and "free-will and speach," some of you sure could use a mirror. Like anything, if you want it, give it.

May I recommend http://www.xanga.com/TrainTrack/683239060/california-proposition-8.html a post containing words from around the world.

I'm sorry that you feel you are being wronged. I simply don't know how, as you have the same right as any of the rest of us to marriage to the opposite gender, as well as the right to a common law marriage to whomever you will, and even for a religion to recognize your union at that religions discression. Please try to channel your frustration in a productive direction, not picking on poor individuals. Terrorizing people only proves them right, you know.

Thank you.