BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
You and a lot of 5th graders...
Sort of like the old "You wanna hear a joke ... women's rights!" crack?
For some reason this makes me laugh.
For some reason this makes me laugh.
Same-sex marriage becomes legal in DC; line forms
By JESSICA GRESKO (AP) – 3 hours ago
WASHINGTON — Same-sex couples can start applying for marriage licenses Wednesday in Washington.
Supporters say couples planned to line up before the city's marriage bureau opened at 8:30 a.m., and officials at the courthouse were expecting 200 or more people.
At least 16 couples were waiting at 7:15 a.m. inside the city's Moultrie courthouse, which houses the marriage bureau and is just blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
Sinjoyla Townsend, 41, and her partner of 12 years, Angelisa Young, 47, claimed the first spot in line just after 6 a.m.
"It's like waking up Christmas morning," Young said.
Washington will be the sixth place in the nation where gay marriages can take place. Because of a mandatory waiting period, however, couples won't actually be able to marry in the District of Columbia until March 9. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont currently issue licenses to same-sex couples.
To deal with the expected crowd Wednesday, the marriage bureau will bring in temporary employees to help its regular staff, courthouse spokeswoman Leah Gurowitz said.
"Everybody who wants a marriage license is going to get one. It may take a little longer, but they will get their license," Gurowitz said.
To prepare, the marriage bureau has changed its license applications so they are gender-neutral, asking for the name of each "spouse" rather than the "bride" and "groom." And at civil marriage ceremonies to be performed in the courthouse, a booklet for the official performing the marriage now reads, "I now pronounce you legally married" instead of "I now pronounce you man and wife."
A marriage license application costs $35, and the marriage license $10. Couples who are already registered as domestic partners in the city can convert their registration into a marriage license by paying the $10 fee.
Supporters expected the day to be festive. A District of Columbia councilman who introduced the gay marriage bill planned to hand out boxes of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes to the first 200 couples in line.
Terrance Heath, 41, planned to be at the courthouse with his partner, Rick Imirowicz, 43. The two have been together for 10 years and have a 7-year-old and a 2-year-old, but Heath said Wednesday feels like "a step forward."
"My husband has always been my husband to me, but having that legal recognition, that legal protection, makes it easier to deal with any number of situations," said Heath, a writer and blogger. "If you tell people you're married, you don't really have to explain much beyond that."
The two, who live in Maryland, plan to marry on March 9, the first day possible.
The gay marriage law was introduced in the 13-member D.C. Council in October and had near-unanimous support from the beginning. The bill passed and D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signed it in December, but because Washington is a federal district, the law had to undergo a congressional review period that expired Tuesday.
Opponents, however, are still attempting to overturn the bill in court.
Sacramento, Calif. (CBS/CBS13) BAD: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk.
WORSE: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk AFTER LEAVING A GAY BAR.
WORSER: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving a gay bar WITH ANOTHER MAN IN THE CAR.
WORST: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a REPUBLICAN state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving a gay bar with another man in the car.
WORSTEST: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a Republican state senator from Southern California WITH A HISTORY OF OPPOSING GAY RIGHTS was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving a gay bar with another man in the car.
Heres what I think:
Marriage is a religious ceremony.
Yes, that is one of the many things that marriage is. It is not, however, the only thing, and, in a non-theocratic society such as ours, isn't the most important.
Heres what I think:
Marriage is a religious ceremony. Freedom of religion dictates that religious institutuons can do whatever they want, for the most part. Government can't say that religions can't do this or have to do that. I believe marriage should be taken out of laws and the governments hands. Instead of marriage, something similar to civil unions should be enacted that gives couples the same benefits of todays marriages. This would include same-sex couples. Then if they want, the unionized couple can go get married wherever it is they worship. I think this would allow a lot more people (including me) to reconcile with their religious beliefs while giving everyone the same rights.
If you're that comfortable with changing the word marriage around like that, what's wrong with allowing gay couples to get government recognized marriage?Heres what I think:
Marriage is a religious ceremony. Freedom of religion dictates that religious institutuons can do whatever they want, for the most part. Government can't say that religions can't do this or have to do that. I believe marriage should be taken out of laws and the governments hands. Instead of marriage, something similar to civil unions should be enacted that gives couples the same benefits of todays marriages. This would include same-sex couples. Then if they want, the unionized couple can go get married wherever it is they worship. I think this would allow a lot more people (including me) to reconcile with their religious beliefs while giving everyone the same rights.
Yes, that is one of the many things that marriage is. It is not, however, the only thing, and, in a non-theocratic society such as ours, isn't the most important.
Yes, that is one of the many things that marriage is. It is not, however, the only thing, and, in a non-theocratic society such as ours, isn't the most important.
Pac Mule wants to separate marriage from government. That's what I got from his post.
Which is a cop out logically because we all know that's completely unrealistic.Pac Mule wants to separate marriage from government. That's what I got from his post.
Bullshit that there's nothing theocratic about it. The channel doesn't matter; it's not meant to be used to impose your religious views on others.
Given that all three of the major religions share negative views of homosexuality, exactly which religion is being imposed? Catholicism? Presbyterianism? Judaism? Mormonism? You can't have a pluralistic theocracy Philly.
But it's ok to "impose" secular values on people of faith right?
But it's ok to "impose" secular values on people of faith right?
So, you're in favor of tyranny of the majority? Infringing upon the rights of minority groups because the majority says so?Given that all three of the major religions share negative views of homosexuality, exactly which theology is being imposed? Catholicism? Presbyterianism? Judaism? Mormonism? You can't have a pluralistic theocracy Philly.
But it's ok to "impose" secular values on people of faith right?
I know you won't answer me but I'll ask anyways...
How and where is a "secular value" imposed on people of faith?
So when I believe that all consenting adults are created equal, how does that effect your faith?
You mean like health care reconciliation?So, you're in favor of tyranny of the majority? Infringing upon the rights of minority groups because the majority says so?
Secularism doesn't impose. That's the nature of secularism. Secularism is not a religion; it has no hierarchy, no demographic, no membership. It's a concept, nothing more. That's why it's the best thing to rule, because it's not a club, a political party, a religion. It's just an idea. It's a collection of logic, nothing more, nothing less.
Abortion is a good example. The country woke up one fine morning in 1973 to find ending the lives of human fetuses was now legal. No public debate, no vote, just POW. And it remains an acrimonious issue to this day because it was imposed rather than legislated and has never enjoyed majority support.
But for the most part we don't impose laws in this country.
Since I answered you, what is an example of religious theocracy "imposed" on an unwilling citizenry in America?
Apples to oranges.You mean like health care reconciliation?
You mean like the Communist Soviet Union?
Monotheism for starters.Given that all three of the major religions share negative views of homosexuality, exactly which theology is being imposed? Catholicism? Presbyterianism? Judaism? Mormonism? You can't have a pluralistic theocracy Philly.
But it's ok to "impose" secular values on people of faith right?
Abortion is a good example. The country woke up one fine morning in 1973 to find ending the lives of human fetuses was now legal.
But what he doesn't understand or explain is how? When all those straight white conservatives get married in a church do they also have to get unioned by the government? Also what if the church does want to marry gay couples, what happens then?
Which is a cop out logically because we all know that's completely unrealistic.
So everyone wins?
Except those of us who like being married, not unionized for 20+ years.
Why is it that people will take away my marriage just so gays and lesbians can't do it?