How long do you think it will take for every U.S state to legalise gay marriage?

as long as conservatives are around..then it will never happen.,

I think it will take over 40 years. (I'd say 50 or so.) I also think it will take federal action (either judicial or legislative) to force the last few holdout states to do it.

21-30 years

I don't want it to happen.

I think it will be much less than 10 years, maybe five max, but then I just can't see why not... the South and the Midwest will probably hold out longest. Wherever there are a lot of religious conservatives you're gonna see resistance. No surprise there. Just remember Bob Dylan's old song (a fav of mine) -- "The Times They Are A-Changin'."

Why not?

I think it will happen in the next thirty years.

It doesn't seem right. Yea I know everyone should be treated equally but it just seems so wrong to me. It's not natural and against my religion. And religion is a big part of my life.

'Yea I know everyone should be treated equally but it just seems so wrong to me.'
You're contradicting yourself there. If everyone should be treated equally, except gays, that's a big except. Why should they be exempt because it seems 'wrong' to you? What is wrong about it?

You say it isn't natural. I presume you mean that homosexuality is unnatural, not the idea of gays being married, because you could make a good case for marriage being unnatural anyway.

Ok, ok. I'm against homosexuality then. Homosexuality isn't natural. Marriage of homosexuals is just taking it one step further. If I'm against homosexuality then, naturally, I'm against marriage of homosexuals.

I'd rather not say. We certainly have a long way to go, and bigoted beleifs die hard. There are people to this day who want to bring back the poll tax and other ways to keep blacks and latinos out of the voting booth. But as the old gaurd continues to die off, we'll see the day when we could even have an open homosexual serving in the United States Senate.

> I don't want it to happen.

Why? I have yet to hear a rational reason to oppose gay mariage. Just bigoted rhetoric, discredited studies, stereotypes, and outdated religous code.

You still haven't established what's wrong about homosexuality, and why homosexuals should be exempt from equality laws.

In my eyes Religion IS a rational enough reason.

Again, I don't believe it's right because it's not natural and is against my religion. That's my reason. I don't hate homosexuals and have homosexual friends but I just don't support it.

> Ok, ok. I'm against homosexuality then. Homosexuality
> isn't natural. Marriage of homosexuals is just
> taking it one step further. If I'm against homosexuality
> then, naturally, I'm against marriage of homosexuals.

So in other words, we have another irrational dogmatic non-thinker running around this site. Joy. I can shoot down your central argument in less time than it takes to make microwave popcorn (speical thanks to about.com for helpign me with this).

First, humans are obviously a part of nature, so if humans have homosexual relationships, is that not therefore a part of nature? Second, we don’t find dogs, cows, and lions entering into legal marriage contracts with one another — does that mean that legal marriage as an institution is “unnatural” and should be eliminated? Of course, that argument is actually wrong. Homosexual activity & homosexual relationships can be found throughout nature — in dogs, cows, lions and more (http://www.bidstrup.com/sodomy.htm). With some species, homosexual activity is quite common and regular. Sometimes the argument that homosexuality is “unnatural” might be meant in the sense that it doesn’t really flow from “human nature” in its raw state, untainted by civilization. Presumably this is supposed to mean that if it weren’t for the society around us, no one would be gay — we’d only ever want to mate with or have intimate relationships with members of the opposite sex. There is no evidence offered to back this up.

Yet even if we accept that it is true, so gorram what? The mere fact that humans wouldn’t do something when in a “state of nature” outside the confines of civilization is absolutely no reason to conclude that they also shouldn’t do it when living within civilization. We wouldn’t drive cars or use computers outside of the structures of civilizations, so should we stop doing them while a part of society? Not that I'd mind getting rid of cars myself, but I digress.

Point is, it would seem to me that you, and Jessica, and LJD, and dilfreak want to strip 10% of this national's population oftheir constitutional rights beucase you don't like seeing two dudes kiss. Well, I don't like seeing pro-Bush bumperstickers when I'm walking through the parking lot of my apartment complex. But unlike you, I have yet to support an amendment to the constitution to deny those sticker's owners their rights as Americans.

> In my eyes Religion IS a rational enough reason.

Except that the core of religion is non-wavering devotion to a being that refuses to prove it even exists, assuming for the sake of argument that it does, yet depsite this it still has "rules" for us to follow. Well, I say to your God, "if you want us to follow these rules, then get off your high cloud, come down here and tell us to our faces."

Unnatural why? To whom? What danger will it do and how? Equality means equality for all people. It means you can have neo-Nazis marry Scientologists* and doctors who perform abortions marry those who perform lab tests on rats. I'm guessing you'd say those things are unnatural, too.

Christ said nothing about homosexuality. But by what St. Paul says, you can't have sex for any other reason than good old procreation. No blow jobs, no anal, no nothing. Isn't that unnatural?: Our bodies receive pleasure from these things; why should we go against that?

*Whether they'd want to or not is a totally different question...

25 years? Wild guess, maybe never. Maybe the Earth will explode.

I wonder how long it will be before people who are not lovers making a lifelong promise to each other will be able to add each other to their health insurance.

I was going to say something in my opinion but I don't think it's worth it as there's already debate breaking out. I'd say by the time 30 years is up?

"debate breaking out" heh. I like the way that sounds.

Too long. I suspect it will probably be done at the federal level before all the states do it. I think that the northern states will probably mostly legalize it within 10-20 years, but the southern ones won't before several generations have died off.

I think it will only happen if/when the US Supreme Court gets involved. The states won't all do it on their own. And then only if the court rules that way, which I would say is highly unlikely at this time and for the foreseeable future.

Every one? 31-40. There will be some diehard hold outs for a long time.

It will never happen not as long as Christians stand up and fight this we are armed

> as long as conservatives are around..then it will never happen.,

Yes right on

> "debate breaking out" heh. I like the way that sounds.

Linda this sounds like war? I can hear the drums rolling

> It will never happen not as long as Christians
> stand up and fight this we are armed

Are you aware that you just sugegsted that America commit an act of genocide? I submit that it is not outside the bounds to compare you to nazis based on this statement. You are seriously suggesting that two guys holding hands is something that should be punishable by violent acts? I seem to recall over 2,000 years ago many people feeling the same way about followers of a certain Jewish carpenter...

> |> It will never happen not as long as Christians
> |> stand up and fight this we are armed
>
> Are you aware that you just sugegsted that America commit an act of
> genocide? I submit that it is not outside the bounds to compare you
> to nazis based on this statement. You are seriously suggesting that
> two guys holding hands is something that should be punishable by violent
> acts? I seem to recall over 2,000 years ago many people feeling the
> same way about followers of a certain Jewish carpenter...

Genocide you have not seen anything yet just wait and be patient it is coming Frosty

10 to 50 years, about anybody's guess. I am guessing 20-25? Once people get used to the idea, most states will come around eventually all at once with two or three hold-out states.

What most likely will happen is something like this: 1) Once the gays start getting married / adopting kids, they will slowly start voting Republican. 2) Once that happens, the GOP and/or the Christain right will pick up on this and start welcoming the new demographic. 3) Eventually the pro-life people will figure more gay people looking to adopt = less exuse to get abortions + gay people not being very happy with abortions, and 4) eventaully gay people will be just like everybody else, 50% conservative 50% liberal.

It will take over 41 years for every state to legalize gay marriage. I don't doubt that 49 of those states may quickly follow suit with california. However, it will take an act of God before gay marriage will be legalized in the state of Utah.

If it happens it wont be in our life time, Texas will be the last state to do it.

Your JOKING! That is the same argument that the Europians made for killing the Native Americans, claiming they work for the devils solders. Plus is it not true that religion is suppost to be about kindness to others and treating others as you would like to be treated, while leaving judgement to God and God alone.

> In my eyes Religion IS a rational enough
> reason.

A friend of my Family who is a catholic priest once said something very interesting about this he said "Do you think He cares?" He said this well he looked up to indicate he meant God.

Every state deciding that it will be legal will never happen.

I doubt it will happen in my lifetime.

Unless all of a sudden, people cease to be fudging idiots.

Do the world a favor and put that gun in your mouth please.

Romans:

1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Well then what is it about?

Hmmmm.....
Well I think so.
What was your response?

If you can neither address the issues that are asked of you in debate nor admit you are wrong then you are not worth speaking to on the matter. I'm sure you will have a wonderful life as a blissfully ignorant bigot who will go on to pointlessly discriminate innocent people in the pretense that you are following the word of an imaginary friend which has been rehashed and garbled hundreds of times. I only wish I could witness your reaction on the day you realise it has all been in vain.

> I only wish I could witness your reaction on the day you realise it has all been
> in vain.

And I should say the same thing about you.

Never ever. The Christian Taliban in a few states south of the Mason Dixon will ensure nothing like that ever happens.

This is about not hiding behind religion in order to denied people their right of happiness in a country is suppose to have separation of church and state.

I think States are going to disintegrate before this ever happens.

NOTE: I do NOT think that the States will disintegrate BECAUSE of the legalization of gay marriage but it will take so long that the civilization will not longer function.

we didn't really have a response but shared the opinion on that as at the time we changed to the church, because the pastor at the church closest to us had view on thing that we didn't necessarily agree with.

dosen't it also say in the bible that we should stone people who take the name of god in vain or sell daughter into slavery if they disobey there father. Would you do any of those to someone?

Religion may be a big part of your life, but it's unrealistic to expect it to be a big part in anyone else's life. Religion is supposed to be about following God's teachings which means that if you think that your religion teaches you that homosexuality is wrong then your only obligation is to not be homosexual. Your religious faith has precious little to do with how other people chose to live their lives and their choices have no bearing on your salvation.

So, why do you expect other people to have rights taken away from them because it's against your religion? Do you not appreciate how oppressive that sounds?

hmmmm

The penalties of wrong-doing may have changed but the wrong-doing hasn't.

Exactly. If Gay marriage is legalized naturally there's nothing I can do about it. Of course I don't think everybody should or does think the way I do! They can live their lives the way they want; But I don't support it Most of the population in CA supports it anyway. I don't expect homosexuals to have their rights taken away because I know most people support it and it's was going to happen sooner or later. Everyone can have their own beliefs for their own reasons which is the beauty of the Constitution. I don't support it. You do. We each have our own reasons for thinking so that we both believe is enough.

My point is, that from a purely religious point of view, the choices and rights of other people have absolutely no bearing on your religious faith or your chances of salvation. So, given that gay marriage can't in any way affect you negatively, isn't your lack of support irrelevant?

I understand what your trying to say but, in a sense, No. Jesus didn't want his believers to be completely ignorant of what was going on around them in their own little world. He encouraged people to help others out of lives of sin and wrongdoing. He wanted his followers to help others hear "the good news" and the Word of the Lord. Jesus spent years talking to prostitutes and theives teaching them the "right" way to live, He expected his believers to follow this example.

That's fine, but Jesus never once in the Bible told anyone to stop being gay. Going out into the wider community and helping prostitutes who have either been forced into it or are stuck in a vicious cycle of prostitution in order to feed their drug habit is a just and noble thing to do. Trying to help thieves see the error of their ways and lead more productive lives thus benefiting society is equally a just and noble thing to do. But 'thief' and 'prostitute' are both professions, they are activities that people do in order to earn money. In the case of theft, the act causes direct harm to the victim. It is wrong to harm others and therefore it is right to follow the example of Jesus and teach people who thieve that there is a better way to live. But homosexuality isn't a profession, a job or a vocation. It's an attribute, a characteristic. It's makes as much sense to tell someone not to be gay as it does to say "Have you ever tried *not* having blue eyes?". And this is why there is no mention in any of the gospels of Jesus meeting a gay man and teaching him the "right" way to live.

Other

> It will never happen not as long as Christians
> stand up and fight this we are armed

It will be very interesting to see my Christian gay friends not fighting your war.

I really hope it will happen within the next ten years. I honestly can't understand why it isn't all ready. One of the advantages of living in America is being a free citizen, which to me, means having the right to marry whoever you want. It astonishes me that the government of a "free" country can actually control things like that. And, they justify it with religious reasons, when religion and government are supposed to be separate, because not everyone is religious, and we have the right to not be. I would really imagine they would come to their senses soon, it just seems so wrong.

I completely agree with you. If it's against your religion, than don't do, it's that simple. For those of us who's beliefs do not go against that, why should they not have the same right to marriage that everyone else has? Thats their personal decision, not anyone elses. I'm not really even sure what the Bible says about homosexuality, but i do know that it doesn't matter anyway because religion is not supposed to be mixed with government. And, aren't Christians supposed to accept everyone for who they are? I'm positive that is in the Bible, but yet all I see some of you people doing is discriminating because not everyone is exactly like you.

I abstain.

i think they need to grow up and let other people live their lives

> i think they need to grow up and let other people live their lives

But will they ever let people just live their lives without any intervention? and probably not because it concerns them
to much and they are nosy

> It will take over 41 years for every state to legalize gay marriage.
> I don't doubt that 49 of those states may quickly follow suit with
> california. However, it will take an act of God before gay marriage
> will be legalized in the state of Utah.

Colorado could easily be the next state to allow that same sex marriage because they are having one big war
over this in the Capital and it is not pretty

So do you live in Utah is that right and i am aware of the Mormons in Utah plus you are one state over from me,
Colorado is very conservative have you heard?

Hopefully it will never happen and I don't believe it ever will. God put man and woman on this earth to be together. You don't have to be a genius to figure out that humans weren't designed for homosexuality. The Bible clearly condemns homosexuality and states that they will not enter the kingdom of Heaven and go unpunished. If God wanted us to be homosexuals, then he would have only created one gender.

> Exactly. If Gay marriage is legalized naturally there's nothing I
> can do about it. Of course I don't think everybody should or does
> think the way I do! They can live their lives the way they want; But
> I don't support it Most of the population in CA supports it anyway.
> I don't expect homosexuals to have their rights taken away because
> I know most people support it and it's was going to happen sooner
> or later. Everyone can have their own beliefs for their own reasons
> which is the beauty of the Constitution. I don't support it. You do.
> We each have our own reasons for thinking so that we both believe
> is enough.

More than 70% of the people in CA are against gay marriage and voted against it. It's the liberal judges that went against what the people voted for and decided to legalize gay marriage. This issue in CA isn't over yet.