Last week Kansas became the 18th state to adopt a marriage amendment specifying that legal marriage can only be between a man and a woman. And, much to Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family's delight, it passed by an overwhelming majority. So how much of a threat would be posed to the rest of us if gay people were allowed to marry?
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Renee Gurley
Patty Jewett
ESL teacher
Does same-sex marriage undermine the sanctity of marriage? Heterosexual marriage has a 50 percent success rate. If gays can have a successful marriage, it sets an example for us all. I don't have a whole lot of belief in marriage, anyway, straight or gay. We have better things to worry about in this country than gay marriage.
How is gay marriage a threat to American society? I suspect that view involves a rigid reading of the Bible, but marriage is a legal partnership.
Who is pushing this issue? It's a way to get people with middle-American belief systems to vote for Bush. It's a smokescreen to divert attention from the Iraqi war, the Bush administration and our economy.
Name a more threatening social issue. The war in Iraq. Why on earth are we there?
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Marilyn Borom
West Side
Educator
Why does gay marriage threaten heterosexual marriage? It doesn't. Marriage in this instance is a civil right that should be extended to all people, including minority groups who are ostracized. Any two people lovingly committed to each other should have that right.
Why is it such an issue to some people? People in power sometimes have a hard time sharing their rights and privileges with those they don't like or disagree with.
Do you know any gay couples? I'm part of one. My partner and I share a lifetime commitment.
Would you marry your partner if you could? Yes, as a civil right. I'd enjoy the tax break that comes with it.
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Damola Alonja
West Side
Tax professional
Are you married? Yes.
Does same-sex marriage threaten your marriage? There's no correlation between any problem I have in my marriage to gays getting married.
Does gay marriage undermine our nation's "moral fabric"? One of the things that makes America great is freedom of speech and guaranteed freedom to exercise our rights and to choose our lifetime partners. I don't see how that threatens the nation.
Who is pushing this issue? Mostly conservatives. They think it's un-biblical, which it is. But there's a separation between church and state that prevents us from imposing the Bible on the rest of society.
Do you know any gay couples? I have neighbors who are a gay couple. To be honest, I see them behaving more loving and respectfully to each other than most heterosexual couples.
