Artifact #5:: "What's the Difference between Civil Unions and and Gay Marriage?"

Kathy Belge. "What's the Difference between Civil Unions and and Gay Marriage?" About, Inc. The New York Times Company. 2006. December 20th, 2006.
http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/wedding/a/unionvmarriage.html

"First of all, What is Marriage? When people marry, they tend to do so for reasons of love and commitment. But marriage is also a legal status, which comes with rights and responsibilities. Marriage establishes a legal kinship between you and your spouse. It is a relationship that is recognized across cultures, countries and religions.

What is a Civil Union? Civil Unions exist in only two places: Vermont and Connecticut. In 2005 California created a domestic partnership law that offers many of the same rights as civil unions. Vermont civil unions were created in 2000 to provide legal protections to gays and lesbians in relationships in that state because gay marriage is not an option. The protections do not extend beyond the border of Vermont and no federal protections are included with a Civil Union. Civil Unions offer some of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, but only on a state level."

So apparently there are things out there that resemble marriages for same-sex couples. They are called "Civil Unions." Civil Unions are only legal within the state they are made. You can't move out of the state and still be "married." You must stay in the state for the Civil Union to come into play. Also, Civil Unions, however similar to marriages' legal contracts, it is not the same. There are less benefits for couples in a Civil Union.

"The General Accounting Office in 1997 released a list of 1,049 benefits and protections available to heterosexual married couples. These benefits range from federal benefits, such as survivor benefits through Social Security, sick leave to care for ailing partner, tax breaks, veterans benefits and insurance breaks. They also include things like family discounts, obtaining family insurance through your employer, visiting your spouse in the hospital and making medical decisions if your partner is unable to. Civil Unions protect some of these rights, but not all of them."

This is the reason that many gay couples want marriage and not just a Civil Union.

"The United States Constitution guarantees equality for all."

Questions::

1. What other reasons are there for homosexuals to want marriage and not a Civil Union?
2. If the Brown vs. Board of Ed ruled that seperate but equal is unconstitutional, then wouldn't Civil Unions be too?
   

Artifact #4:: "Arguments Against Gay Marriage: Marriage is for Having Children"

Austin Cline. "Arguments Against Gay Marriage: Marriage is for Having Children." About, Inc. The New York Times Company. 2006. December 20th, 2006.
http://atheism.about.com/od/gaymarriage/a/MarriageKids.htm

This article is absolutely filled with information. It talked about how many believe gay marriage should be illegal because they cannot procreate (reproduce). The author, Austin Cline gave 4 reasons why this idea doesn't work.
One. If gay marriages couldn't marry because they couldn't produce children, then "No infertile couples would be allowed to marry - this would include both younger people who are infertile due to health issues as well as older people who are infertile due to age." He said if this was taken seriously, then all childless couples would be forced to reproduce or adopt. Since no opponents of gay marriage has taken the principle (of all couples having children) seriously, then neither should we.

Two. Not all gay couples are childless.
"Some have children because one or both partners were earlier involved in heterosexual relationship that produced offspring. Some gay male couples have children because they have made arrangements with someone else to act as a surrogate mother. Some lesbian couples have children because they used artificial insemination. Finally, some gay couples have children because they have adopted."

Three. Not everyone marries strictly to have children. "Who gets married solely to have children and not pursue a meaningful and intimate relationship with someone they love?" Meaning, most get married because they are in love.

Four. There are many religions in America. The government can't ban a biracial couple from getting married based on a religion condemning it because banning marriage on those assumptions is against the law. Also, marriage can't be banned from bi religious couples simply because one of those religions condemns it. Therefore, gay marriage can't be banned because a religion condemns it.

Questions::

1. What would happen if all couples were required to have children?

Artifact #3:: Absecon pastor condemns gay marriage in Senate

Lynda Cohen. "Absecon pastor condemns gay marriage in Senate." pressofatlanticcity.com. Friday, December 15th, 2006. Tuesday, December 19th, 2006.
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/story/7021172p-6880466c.html

In this article, Reverend Vincent Fields was called apon by the Senate for help and ended up condeming gay marriage. Before he gave his invocation he heard that the Senate was debating gay-marriage and when he stood for his speech he, "didn't hold back."

"'We curse the spirit that would come to bring about same-sex marriage,' he said. 'We ask you to just look over this place today. Cause them to be shaken in their very heart in uprightness, Lord, to do that is right before you.'
'I had no intentions of saying what I said, but the Holy Spirit truly moved me at that moment and it just came right out,' Fields said Thursday from Greater Works Ministries church on California Avenue. 'God knows who he's going to use and who hears his voice.'
Fields said that he believes God led him to be at that particular session.
'I believe beyond a doubt that I was on assignment to be there at that particular moment at that particular time,' he said....

"'I believe beyond a doubt that I was on assignment to be there at that particular moment at that particular time.'
Fields said he believes same-sex marriage — or anything similar to marriage — is another way society is being corrupted.
'Some things need to stay in the closet,' he said. 'Everything doesn't need to come out of the closet.'
He said same-sex unions can confuse children, especially those who may be struggling with who they are.
'They're going to start believing that's who they are,' Fields said. 'As a pastor, I can tell you that spirit — homosexuality — is a very dangerous spirit.'
He said biblical truth has principle and example: 'We do not see principle or examples of man with man or a woman with a woman.'"

Well, his reasons were very critable and made sense. However, he does not know for a fact that same-sex marriage is corrupting society. He also does not know for a fact that same-sex couples will confuse children. He needs to consult a psycologist for that information.

Besides all this, there is one main reason gay-marriage cannot become illegal based on the believe that it is unholy. And that is because the constitution was based that anyone can practice any religion they choose and that government cannot interfere with religion in any way. And this was specifically stated in Amendment 1.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
I mean that was the sole reason the British sailed over to America. It was so they could practice any religion they wanted, free from the King of England. Therefore, the bill against gay-mariage would be unconstitutional.

Questions::

1. Who was the King of England when the Bristih sailed to America?
2. Is there a psycologist who believes "same-sex unions" confuses children?
3. Don't you think we should just leave this issue alone and let the two partners decide if they want to marry?