Indiana opens up gay marriage!

SSG Joshua Locke — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 12:44:03 -0400

I am straight myself, but I am from Indiana and I am really proud that my state is getting with the times and lifted the ban on gay marriage. Anyone else happy about it? I fight for the freedom of ALL, but just the straight or the god fearing men and women of our country. Rights should be the same for all across the board and I am really happy that these opportunities are starting to open up. Are you for or against gay marriage, and why?

Response by 1LT Shawn McCarthy made Jun 27 at 2014 6:43 PM

1LT Shawn McCarthy — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:43:55 -0400

I am for equal recognition under the law.
This wasn't Indiana 'getting with the times.'

The ban was overturned by a higher court.

The problem is, the term marriage should not be used to apply to both the civil and religious aspects of the union.

The government should refer to all unions as 'civil unions.'
If you see fit to attend a religious ceremony to be 'married' then that should be up to you.

The biggest concern I have with this is the protection for wedding industry personnel who refuse to violate their religious beliefs by participating in a gay wedding.

More importantly, the protection for churches who refuse to marry gays.

As a Catholic, I never want to see a gay marriage in the confines of a Holy Church.
As a small-government guy, I cannot justify denying equal recognition to people because of sexual preference.

Response by 1LT Shawn McCarthy made Jun 27 at 2014 7:07 PM

1LT Shawn McCarthy — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 19:07:56 -0400

Actually, the courts just granted a stay to the order so with the ruling being stayed, gay marriage is once again - for now anyway - illegal in Indiana.

Response by SSG Joshua Locke made Jun 28 at 2014 7:25 AM

SSG Joshua Locke — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 07:25:08 -0400

Well it was legal for a few hours I guess..... WE SUCK AGAIN!! hahaha

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2014 10:41 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 10:41:11 -0400

I'm kind of curious about something you said. Since you fight for the freedom of all, do you support people of all sexual orientations being able to do the things they want?

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Jun 28 at 2014 11:29 AM

SSG Gerhard S. — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 11:29:47 -0400

I would suggest that fighting for the freedom of all starts with freedom FROM the State. By which I mean that there should be NO legal benefit or penalty for being married. Therefore I would suggest that Marriage should NOT be governed or licensed, or regulated by the State whether one is gay, or straight, or a polygamist. It is ONLY by divorcing the State from interfering in the interactions of consenting adults that we can find Freedom. Insisting the State grant special favors to groups based on their sex, race, or marital status does not bring us closer to freedom, but rather, further from it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2014 11:56 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 11:56:30 -0400

Another point I would make is that the religious ceremony isn't legal marriage. Until you file the papers at the courthouse, you're not married. I have no problem with churches refusing to perform same-sex marriages, but I do have an issue with a courthouse refusing or with heterosexuals being given state and federal rights/benefits that are not available to homosexuals. The constitutional right to same-sex marriage is just that. Churches on the other hand are free to make their own decisions.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2014 2:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 14:31:59 -0400

1) If a private entity (business oriented) can discriminate a person based on sexual orientation, people wouldn't get emergency medical treatment and other essential services. What's next? Since your household is homosexual, you don't get any water, sewer, or power.

2) Like it or not, "marriage" is so ingrained in our legal system that homosexual folks don't get fair treatment. I don't have the most updated information. From my understanding, a "married" gay couple still don't get as many benefits as a "married" straight people in the military.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2014 2:55 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 14:55:10 -0400

As I was out vacuuming my truck, I had one more thought...

As a scientist, I find it amusing that nobody questions science when it comes to your medical treatments or space exploration or even the little things like your TVs, cell phones, computers, and vehicles. It's only when you disagree on a personal level with the results that you claim there's some kind of conspiracy within the scientific community. This is why almost nothing outside of evolution, homosexuality, and global climate change is even in the news or even read by 99% of the population.

Science is what it is. The data is the data. As a scientist, we have to strip away our personal beliefs and accept the universe as it is, not as we'd like it to be. All the "contentious" issues I've cited above are not contentious within the scientific community. Only within the non-scientific, political realm. And anyone who thinks the scientific community has an agenda, has no clue about how science works. Disprove evolution or global warming or show that there's no link between sexuality and genetics, and you're a Nobel Prize millionaire.

I base my opinions on 2 things - the constitution and science. Our laws are based upon the first, and everything else on the second.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2014 6:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 18:01:14 -0400

Here is my two cents in all this....... If you are for gay marriage, and you support it 100%, would you be willing to support other forms of marriage as well? If someone comes in and says I was to marry my 8 girlfriends, would you support that? If a person wanted to marry a donkey they met in Mexico, would you support that? If someone wanted to marry a under aged person, would you support that? Not trying to be a smartass about it, but if you support "marriage equality" for all, wouldnt these folks I mentioned above fall into that catergory?

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jun 28 at 2014 6:17 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 18:17:09 -0400

As a follower of Christ I am definitely against gay marriage. However, I do not judge anyone that is gay or lesbian. Their sexual preference is between them and God.

There have been attempts in Congress to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman only. As a Christ follower, I believe when a nation or state passes laws that allow it, they are bringing the eventual wrath of God on themselves. One only has to read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Old Testament in the Bible, for those of us that believe, to see what sexual immorality brings.

I do not say this just about Gay and lesbians also. when states passed no fault divorce laws, such as we have in Indiana, it breeds sexual immorality of all sorts. Multiple partners, don't like that one, trade it in for a new and improved model.

I will never judge or condemn anyone for their choice, but I do believe the nation is bringing a curse on itself. I have friends that are gay, and bi, and even though I disagree, I just pray for them.

I am certain I will get a down vote or two, but you asked, and I respectfully give my opinion.

Response by MSG(P) Michael Warrick made Jun 28 at 2014 7:51 PM

MSG(P) Michael Warrick — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:51:18 -0400

According to the Holy Bible marriage is not a contract but a covenant (vow) between a man and a woman that is established before God as a witness. The institution of marriage dates back to the biblical times of the Old Testament. Genesis 2:24 states “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh”. Marriage involves "leaving" one's family of origin and "being united" to one's spouse, which signifies the establishment of a new family unit distinct from the two originating families. The establishment of a new family in the Old Testament times was that they were to get married, have sons and daughters (children) and bring the children up in the ways of the Lord. Jeremiah 26:6 states “Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease”. Sin has affected the institution of marriage and the role of family the way God intended, through man’s rebellion of not following Gods commandments. Such sins as polygamy, divorce, adultery, homosexuality, sterility, and gender role confusion. Through my readings, beliefs and values that I take from the Holy Bible, I have and will continue to take the stance that sin is sin no matter how small or why done and the consequence of sin is death. The bible states “for the wages of sin is death – Romans 6:23 KJV” and death will take us to hell. The Holy Bible tells us that God hates divorce in Malachi 2:16. Marriage is to be a lifelong commitment and no man shall separate what God has joined together according to Matthew 19:6. Therefore, no level of government shall have a say or interest in the institution of marriage. We are not to commit adultery according to Exodus 20:14, which is one of the Ten Commandments. The government on all levels shall not pass laws to allow same sex marriages or support homosexuality because of political reasons. God intended marriage to be between a man and woman (heterosexuality) as he told them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth according to Genesis 1:28. The Holy Bible unmistakably provides us instructions from God that are about the institution of marriage and the role of the family. Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman, a lifelong union of two partners created in God's image to govern and manage the earth for him. God does not need the help of the government in any way, shape, form or fashion when coming to the institution of marriage and the role of the family.