Same Sex Marriage

mccarm, I think it is so wonderful that you and your partner are having just as much of a wedding as the rest of us. I know too many couples that just accept the 'situation' hoping that one day things will change. Bravo to you two doing it up right.

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Posted by mccarm

Thanks - we're done waiting....It's our turn!

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100% support it. Inter-racial relationships were illegal back in the days too.
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I never posted to this thread. 110 % FOR same sex marriage. I don't see why it makes a difference as long as it's two people getting married. I hate that some people think it's their business who other people love and get married to. It's not! If two people love each other and want to make the committment, then I think they should, regardless of sex or race!

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Posted by heidla

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Posted by mccarm

Thanks - we're done waiting....It's our turn!

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FOR IT

What is a commitment ceremony exactly?

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Posted by BMD'sPeanut

What is a commitment ceremony exactly?

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This question is a bit tricky to answer since it is like asking what a wedding is 'exactly.' The tricky part is that it can mean/be a lot of different things to different people. In short, the difference between a wedding and a commitment ceremony is the legal aspect. Because same sex couples cannot be legally wed in 49 of 50 states, the phrase wedding is typically not used. For more information, check here: Link

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Posted by BMD'sPeanut

So you're saying you can get some sort of offciant to carry out a ceremony, but that (considering all 'laws') it won't be a legally recognized union?

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Marriage is a civil matter that is legislated by lawmakers. Historically, lawmakers have granted officiants (religious or not) the power (by the power vested in me yada yada yada) to form legally binding unions between different sex couples as a part of a marriage ceremony.

For a commitment ceremony, the same officiant (could be a reverend, rabbi, judge, etc...) performs the same rites but there is no legal authority behind his or her actions because 49 of 50 states only recognize a marriage as a legally binding arrangement between a man and a woman.

In Massachussets, same-sex weddings are possible because the state lawmakers have granted officiants the power to form legally binding unions between same sex couples.

Other states have created alternate legal structures which confer some of the rights & responsibilities of marriage. Vermont has civil unions, NJ has domestic partnerships, etc... All of these alternate arrangements do not offer the full legal protections of a traditional civil marriage. Legal marriage confers over 1,000 rights/responsibilities/benefits to the parties who have entered into the arrangement.

Hope that this is informative and not too terribly boring...

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Legal marriage confers over 1,000 rights/responsibilities/benefits to the parties who have entered into the arrangement.

Hope that this is informative and not too terribly boring...

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Not boring at all, in fact quite enlightening. You have obviously done your research on all the legalities of marriage in this country. I am embarrassed to admit that I do not know half of what you know about what rights I will have when I get married, as you do about the rights you are told you aren't entitled to. Its such a shame.

Mccarm-I say congrats to you!!!

I have a hand full of gay friends and some of them are in LOVING, CARING relationships...there is nothing wrong with it and I am completely for it.
If you love and care for someone there is no difference-man or women-we dont love our S/O any differently then you do

I wish you two the VERY best that life has to offer...Good Luck!

I am so definitely FOR IT! I cannot even comprehend any other way...

this sums up my feelings on it:
watch and learn