Comments on: Spark: Update from the Gay Marriage Files

By: xJane

xJane — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:40:11 +0000

wren: this podcast (near the end) discusses the poll results in light of the prior proposition to ban gay marriage (which passed, I believe)—a major reason people don't like it is the "new" wording that removes a right.

By: xJane

xJane — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:08:51 +0000

Looks like just enough people are against it: 54% in August. That appears to be the most recent poll. Now, if only those people vote…

By: wren

wren — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:44:20 +0000

I’ve been having long email discussions with an lds friend in CA who is actively garnering signatures for prop 8. She threw out the “marriage is a sacred union” line as well as claims of lawsuits by gays which would force churches to marry them. Is there some big problem in CA with lawsuits of that nature or is this what I suspect – a smokescreen for discrimination, a red herring.

Unfortunately read yesterday about an lds member from my home state having his membership threatened for actively opposing prop 8. link

What’s the viability of this prop? Any polls there recently?

By: xJane

xJane — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:52:40 +0000

I recently saw a comic that I cannot for the life of me find online right now that was titled “Traditional Marriage” and there was the classic bride, groom, and preacher. The preacher was saying, “I now pronounce you husband and property.” Two major arguments against the “marriage-is-tradition-and-therefore-good” claim: just because it is tradition doesn’t make it good and traditions are frequently changed. It seems to me like a red herring to even make the claim.

By: wren

wren — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:40:03 +0000

It’s just like Tevye rattling on about the value of tradition. Tradition has sentimental value. Tradition has power over those it marginalizes.

Marriage is a tradition. As far as I’m concerned, it can stay in churches as a religious ceremony and whoever wants to make a legal union can make a legal union with all the govt perks. Dare to dream, I know.

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:05:42 +0000

It’s silly for them to get in a tizzy, but perhaps almost as silly of the state to make it a big deal. However, it is very nice to have a government erring on the side of inclusivity and gender neutrality for once.

By: Shelly

Shelly — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:44:33 +0000

I don’t even know what to say. I think I have to agree with PZ Meyers and say it’s an utterly absurd whine.