If Ireland can do it, and we know how Ireland is on being CATHOLIC.... Then so can the USA. About damn time.
I have a friend who is gay and has a beau. He was very happy about the ruling. Of course, when I flipped through channels and saw Huckabee on Fox complaining about it, I wasn't surprised.
I also wasn't surprised that Texas and a few other states decided be little brats about this whole thing and REFUSED TO DO ANY MARRIAGES. PERIOD.
Cry me a river. Pete's sake. When something doesn't go their way they throw a grade A hissy fit that would make certain celebrities run in the other direction. I think we know who those are.
So with out further adu...ado?..adue... Bah.. I saw this post that a friend shared on facebook: Taken from
http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/a-30-second-guide-to-how-gay-marriage-ruling-affects-you/
If You Are a Homosexual and Are Already Married:
If you had been lucky enough to live in a state that allowed gay marriage, the federal government already recognized your marriage as a thing, and you were eligible for tax, health, and pension benefits under federal law like any other married couple. Previously, if you had moved to another state that didn't recognize gay marriage, that state didn't have to recognize your marriage. Now, your marriage is recognized everywhere, the same as anyone else's.
If You Are a Homosexual and Want to Get Married:
Where before this came down to whether or not your state had legalized it, now you are free to do so regardless of which state you live in.
If You Are a Heterosexual and Do NOT Want to Enter into a Homosexual Marriage:
You will not be required to marry a gay person. This is a common misunderstanding. This decision actually does not affect you in any way.
If You Are Currently in a Heterosexual Marriage:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are a Heterosexual Who Is Not Currently Married:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are a Heterosexual Who Hopes to Eventually Marry:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are a Member of a Church That Performs Wedding Ceremonies but That Does Not Believe in Gay Marriage:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are a Religious Official Who Performs Wedding Ceremonies but Who Thinks Gay Marriage Is Wrong:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are an Individual Who Believes Gay Marriage or Homosexuality in General Is Wrong for Religious Reasons, and Wish to Continue Expressing Those Beliefs:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are an Individual Who Believes Gay Marriage or Homosexuality in General Is Wrong for Non-Religious Reasons, and Wish to Continue Expressing Those Beliefs:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are a Heterosexual Who Fears This Decision Adversely Affects Your Marriage or the Concept of Marriage in General:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are a Heterosexual Who Fears This Decision Negatively Affects You in Some Way:
This decision does not affect you in any way.
If You Are a Heterosexual Who Suffers Anger or Anxiety at the Thought of Gay Couples Getting Married as an Abstract Concept, and Believes the Only Cure Is to Legally Prevent Gay Marriage:
This decision will cause you some degree of anger or anxiety. Otherwise, this decision does not affect you in any way.
Hope this helps!
--------------------- Courtesy of David Wong
Now, onto my own views.
If you are voting against gay marriage because it goes against your beliefs.
You are voting against someone that you have never even met, probably will never meet, and forever changing their life because they don't agree with your PERSONAL or RELIGIOUS VIEWS. Something that EVERYONE HAS and is/are DIFFERENT. Think about that. You're being a jackass to someone that you have never met that lives 1000 miles away. Good job!
EDIT: Think about this as well. If you are forcing your beliefs on someone else regardless if you know them or not, or say "Gay marriage isn't viable because it isn't in my bible or part of MY religion"... What about Athiests? People who practice other religions? Might want to check the First Amendment while you're at it...
If you think that it is against moral code or nature because gays cannot reproduce.
It's been shown animals doing homosexual activity. And we are animals. And those people live alone. In their house. Away from you. Without harming you... How is this affecting you? Seriously?
If you believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman due to reproduction reasons.
You're an ass. Holy crap. My dad married twice and his second wife died whom he loved very much. Would you walk up to a Widow or Widower and say, "Hey, get married. God says you must get married to love and reproduce." Seriously? Now, probably wouldn't happen due to age but, what if a young man/woman had their heart ripped out with their loved one getting in a fatal accident? Would you walk up to them and say, "God says you should get married. And have babies." When they just suffered something horrible? Some people can never get over their death and go on the rest of their lives not married again.
EDIT: And also... you do realize we have a population problem... right? There are KIDS TO ADOPT. No one complains about that!
Or what about single parents that have got along fine? Which leads to....
If you believe gays shouldn't get married because children need to have a 'mommy and a daddy'.
The hell? To heck with you! My dad did just fine raising me. I don't go around doing stupid crap and getting into trouble with the law. And kids around here do. And you know what? They have a mommy and a daddy too!! If a single parent needs to get remarried to raise a kid 'correctly' according to your 'views', to heck with marriage. Honestly? Two dads and two moms can do the job just fine. In fact, I wouldn't dare bully a kid with two moms. Two pissed off moms? Or two pissed off dads?
Yeah, that kid is definitely safe. I call BS on this logic of one mom and one dad needed. (No offense to all the great moms and dad's out there that have awesome kids!! Good job!)
If you're this person... "GOD SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO HELL FOR YOUR SINFUL ACTS AND HORRIBLE CRIMES YOU DISGUSTING PERSON! WHAT'S NEXT?! BESTIALITY? PEDOPHILIA?! GAAAAAAAAAH!"
*long sigh* I just... I can't even... I'm not gonna even touch this failure of human logic. Your God gave you a brain didn't He? Kind of an insult to waste such a 'gift'. Then again, if your stupid brain is the equivalent of a gifted turd, then... You must be the snot and mud crusted bow on top, eh?
If you are NOT religious or are religious but are uncomfortable with the idea of marriage for whatever reason aside from above...
Just go with it. They aren't gonna bother you. They aren't going to go around lopping peoples heads off or going to do horrible crimes and such. Talk to a gay couple, socialize. You may make new friends. They aren't aliens that are going to abduct or 'convert' you.
If you are religious and think this is awesome and full of love...
Awesome! Great! Next!
If you think Marriage should only be between a man and a woman...
Here is the real debate. Now, where did the term or concept of 'marriage', come from? I've read a lot about it and I have seen/heard different answers. Taken from Wikipedia-Marriage (may or may not be taken seriously because it's Wikipedia..)
"The word "marriage" derives from
Middle English mariage, which first appears in 1250–1300
CE. This in turn is derived from
Old French marier (to marry) and ultimately
Latin marītāre meaning to provide with a husband or wife and
marītāri meaning to get married. The adjective
marīt-us -a, -um meaning matrimonial or nuptial could also be used in the masculine form as a noun for "husband" and in the feminine form for "wife."
[5] The related word "matrimony" derives from the Old French word
matremoine which appears around 1300
CE and ultimately derives from Latin
mātrimōnium which combines the two concepts
mater meaning "
mother" and the suffix -
monium signifying "action, state, or condition."
So, one for marriage between man and a woman would say to this: "bingo! I win". However, the concept of it goes way back. Further than religion I would say. The 'barbarian' tribes from what I read (so don't quote me on this) would have ceremonies held to join a man and a woman in a diplomatic way. In short, if two tribes were at war, on rocky edge, or simply wanted to improve relations, they would have someone get married to that clan/tribe member. Marriage is still used as a political tool today. It hasn't lost its roots.
There is also the term, marry. Which comes from the latin word, maritus. Which means husband, lover, mate, nuptial, spouse, suitor. Or together. To be married. Union. Although it says husband and one might say "Aha!" still goes for gays... And what about the terms 'together', or... suitor? Or spouse? One might say, "Well I think" or "Well it's always been"... Man and woman. Well, it's your opinion. And culture. Or custom. Someone can have a different view of the word/term.
See where I'm getting at? Gay used to mean happy, joyful. Now it's something else. Cultures and custom are different everywhere. And they CHANGE.
So to cap off... To define marriage indefinitely based on personal views, (in my humble opinion) is folly. Tradition isn't a bad thing. Neither are customs, beliefs, person opinions. However, to quote a common internet saying...
"It's ok to have a wang. Or a vajayjay. Everyone has one. Just don't wave it around and stuff it down peoples throats without asking. That's not ok. That's just rude."
What I find amusing is this. When I was little we were taught many lessons. The important ones were:
-Treat others the way you wish to be treated, not how you want them to be treated.
-If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.
And yet, the elders in all their glory shove their doohickeys down peoples throat. Without asking. Gee, thanks man.
And for the final one...
If you think you know what's best for someone because of your experience or personal or religious belief, ie, believing you are 'saving' gays from a 'horrible lifestyle'...
I worry for your children if you have any. One mistake that I have seen parents or people in general do that is potentially damaging is, don't live your expectations through other people. And don't live your life to the expectations of other people. Everyone is different. So suck it up, spit it out, brush your hair, clean your teeth, pull up your big girl/boy pants, and quit whining about how people aren't living your life views. Quit being alive and living in
fear.
Live! No, that's not the same as being
alive. And I think that's what the LGBT community were asking/fighting for. Living, while being happy.
Deal with it.
(PS: I'd say sorry to anyone I offended. But y'know what? I'm tired of people being offended. Deal with it.)
(PSS: I have Christian friends who pretty much live their life by the bible, and they welcomed the ruling with open arms. So I'm in no way saying that religious people are bad. There are good guys out there.)