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What Makes Gay Marriage a Civil Rights Issue?

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I'm asking with sincerity and please don't read anything into my question. Can somebody please explain to me how SSM is a civil rights issue (or is it)?
 
It's not that gay marriage is. Marriage as a whole is. And denying the right to marry in an arbitrary fashion that serves no other purpose is unconstitutional. Fundamental rights are like the limited powers of congress. People have the liberty to do whatever they want, except for the specific checklist of things that congress can regulate. Likewise, people have the liberty to marry whomever they want, except for the specific checklist of things that government can regulate, which is limited by the strict scrutiny test for constitutionality. Marriages that government can regulate are those with lack of consent, of incarcerated criminals (sometimes), and of people who are already married (which prevents the polygamy slippery slope that some fear from SSM). Each of those serves a purpose. Regulating marriage by gender does not.
 
YoungConserv said:
Not true there are restrictions that vary from state to state on age of consent, iq and family distance on marriage.
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Ok, all consenting adults and some teenagers can do it depending on state law. Is that better?
 
Is this a civil rights issue? It doesn't prevent anyone from getting a drink?

segregation-drinking-fountain.jpg
 
Dragonfly said:
Is this a civil rights issue? It doesn't prevent anyone from getting a drink?

segregation-drinking-fountain.jpg
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Since you want to bring race into it...Interracial marriage bans were a violation of civil rights so why aren't same sex marriage bans? Is sex or sexuality not as much a status as race?
 
CriticalThought said:
Since you want to bring race into it...Interracial marriage bans were a violation of civil rights so why are't same sex marriage bans? Is sex or sexuality not as much a status as race?
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No...
 
CriticalThought said:
I cannot change that I am male.

I cannot change who I am attracted toward.

I cannot change my race.

Seems like it is all status to me.

What rational do you use to disagree?
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Then why would you want to change the definition of marriage?
 
Dragonfly said:
Nobody wants to change any definition.

Most just want to allow more people to be able to enjoy the benefits of it.
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Exactly, it's all about the money. My gay friends freely admit this. They would be satisfied with Civil Unions if those were recognized by the federal government for benefit purposes...
 
Dragonfly said:
Nobody wants to change any definition.

Most just want to allow more people to be able to enjoy the benefits of it.
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So, are you saying if gays marries and it is not called marriage, but civil unions and they receive the same benefits and straight marriage couples, they would happily just go away?
 
So as long as a civil union = marriage and marriage = civil union then everybody is happy?

Which means anybody can call it whatever they want because they both mean the same thing?

So what's the issue?
 
Perotista said:
So, are you saying if gays marries and it is not called marriage, but civil unions and they receive the same benefits and straight marriage couples, they would happily just go away?
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No. Not what I'm saying.
 
Dragonfly said:
So as long as a civil union = marriage and marriage = civil union then everybody is happy?

Which means anybody can call it whatever they want because they both mean the same thing?

So what's the issue?
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There is none except for activists who insist on it being marriage...
 
AlabamaPaul said:
Then why would you want to change the definition of marriage?
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Because we CAN change the definition of marriage. We cannot change a persons gender, race, or sexuality.

Marriage has meant many different things throughout the course of human history.
 
AlabamaPaul said:
Exactly, it's all about the money. My gay friends freely admit this. They would be satisfied with Civil Unions if those were recognized by the federal government for benefit purposes...
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So all this hoopla is to get a $255 check from the government when your partner dies? Please list what else the government does for you because you're married. It seems I may have missed out on a few things.... :(


'Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by Americans themselves." Albert Einstein
 
polgara said:
So all this hoopla is to get a $255 check from the government when your partner dies? Please list what else the government does for you because you're married. It seems I may have missed out on a few things.... :(


'Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by Americans themselves." Albert Einstein
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Tax benefits.
 
captainawesome said:
Tax benefits.
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Good afternoon, CA.

I'm not being obtuse, but I don't understand. What tax benefits? Many married couples are penalized when filing a joint return, and opt to file singly, as an example.
 
polgara said:
Good afternoon, CA.

I'm not being obtuse, but I don't understand. What tax benefits? Many married couples are penalized when filing a joint return, and opt to file singly, as an example.
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There are an absurd amount of benefits available to married individuals ranging from SS to inheritance...
 
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