States with constitutions that ban same sex marriage and civil unions: Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio and Utah. If you are Gay or Lesbian in one of these states, consider moving to Massachusetts, or Vermont or Connecticut. Celebrate freedom in a state that does not practice discrimination.

URLS http://www.harvardmagazine.com/on-line/110491.html and http://www.tbns.net/dejesus/gayissues.html

Charlezgrant, I just wanted to say thanks for the post. Sometimes it's hard to go day to day when something that you are isn't socially accepted. I'm very lucky to have friends and family that support me and love me. I couldn't and wouldn't want it any other way. Growing up in a small town I was always considered different, but now that I've moved, not very far but still, it sheds a new light on the subject. Knock on wood, no one has physically harmed me for being who I am and for that I'm thankful. It's nice to have fellow "family" out there or at least a supporter. Thanks again!

Special Rights—Ordinary Rights

Social conservatives maintain that Gay people should not be deprived of their rights, but should not be entitled to special rights. They should not be allowed to marry or form any relationship similar to marriage, such as, civil unions. Marriage, then, is a special right only available to heterosexual couples.

What distinguishes special rights from ordinary rights? What other special rights are there and what are the ordinary rights?

.

You don't mean to say that children who were legally adopted by homosexual parents would become, ummmm, "unadopted"???

We can't let our children catch the gay!

It's transmittable even through plastic gloves, you know.

Not if you are wearing a mask with those gloves!

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Life is too short for drama & petty things!
So, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly!

what about shoulder length trapping gloves?

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Baby, you know if you’re not beautiful /Just cover it up /With make-up kits and perforated scalpel seams,/ We’ll do you right up/ I’m so obsessed with looking like celebrities/ Make myself throw up /But it’s all right cause one day I know I’ll be fine/ like everyone else.

i heard Gay is communicable through air too. ever see steven king's 'The Stand'? we're screwed.

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"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S Preston, Esquire & Ted "Theodore" Logan

Speaking of gloves.......what do you have when you see an Amish guy along side the road with his arm up his horse to his elbow?....(the mechanic)

You all are very humorous. In fact normally I'm pretty silent, I just read the postings of others, some of who I know and some I'd like to meet. It's good to know that the good ol' northwoods has a sense of humor about the topic. I'm assuming all of you are allies, but if not, let me know, and I can answer questions or try to reduce stereotypes that you may have. We're not as bad as some make us out to be. One bad one in a bunch ruins it for the rest of us, you know? Until I post again...

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Let's get a president with an IQ > 90. That's hard with Bushes stealing the White House every 4 years, now isn't it? I'm a conservative, but how about electing one with brains instead of a pinhead?

Big Mike,

I'm not sure the largest majority in recent history equals stealing the election...

Also, while he may not be able to verbalize it I suspect the president's IQ is considerably higher than you might think.

Whats worse, the Bushes successfully stealing the white house every four years, or how many hundred million people in this country fiercly pulling the wool over their eyes and allowing it to happen?

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"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S Preston, Esquire & Ted "Theodore" Logan

History has shown that knowledge and tolerance always conquer over faith and "tradition". Interracial marriages were illegal only so long ago, but now they're accepted and encouraged. Gay marriages will eventually be the same. But the pendulum will not move without a push!

<small>[ May 17, 2005, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Haley ]</small>

Haven't lived in the deep South have you Haley? Interracial marriages are legal, I don't know that they are encouraged. They are accepted in some places but in many other places they aren't. I lived in Alabama, interracial couples met racism daily.

I am the Mom of 2 Hispanic sons, one is Afro-Colombian. I can assure you racism is alive and well in the Northwoods and everywhere else.

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Nell

More women die of lung cancer than breast cancer. If you smoke, quit. If you don't, don't start.

Friends never lets friends drive drunk.

Sadly, a lot of stuff is quite messed up in the deep south. Many people there hate anything that isn't explicitly white, straight, Christian and gender-specific. I have a friend who is gay and transgender who lives in Atlanta, however, and she faces little persecution. I'm sure there are ignorant jerks everywhere, but on the whole, American society has become more accepting of interracial marriages. It becoming legal is one sign of that.

Perhaps it's just a rural thing.

I don't live in a rural area, nor do my sons. Racism is alive and well in many areas of the country. It's just more subtle in urban areas. The largest growth in KKK membership is in the populated east coast.

Atlanta is not indicative of the rest of Georgia, Alabama, or Mississippi.

My gay and lesbian friends often feel threatened, and that is in the Twin Cities which is considered gay friendly.

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Nell

More women die of lung cancer than breast cancer. If you smoke, quit. If you don't, don't start.

Friends never lets friends drive drunk.

And the deep south is not indicative of the rest of the world.

Everyone is threatened for one reason or another. I'm threatened, as a woman, walking down the street at night. But at least I am legally allowed to walk down that street!

Like I said, the pendulum will not move without a push.

I work for a company that has mills in FA, AL, GA, & LA "down south". I see friendly & open communications in & with all of the paper machine crews at all four locations. If racism is "rampant" down south, I sure don't see it at work. They even put up with a da-n yankee who talks way to fast for their taste.

<small>[ May 19, 2005, 11:00 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Boettcher ]</small>

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What if there were no hypothetical questions?

I guess it's all about being a plain ol' redneck. Rednecks aren't just backroad, good ol' southern boys anymore. It's really in a new form, I guess it's not new, but by a different name and that would be intolerance. Which is closely related to ignorance.

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Life is too short for drama & petty things!
So, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly!