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by **Huckleby** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:27 am

Ned Flounders wrote:A new poll shows that Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly support same-sex marriage, by a margin of 61-30.

Interesting that 87% of people under 30 in the survey support gay marriage. You normally won't get > 85% of anybody supporting anything in a poll, not even ice cream.

68% of people over age of 70 oppose gay marriage, which sounds about right.
I expect the over-95 group is going to require an intense grassroots effort to swing pink. Any volunteers?

by **Ned Flounders** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:39 am

Huckleby wrote:Interesting that 87% of people under 30 in the survey support gay marriage. You normally won't get > 85% of anybody supporting anything in a poll, not even ice cream.

Yeah, no kidding.

I think the language added to the NH bill may be an important tactic in other states. Right now, support for SSM in California is pretty much 50-50. A referendum that explicitly included a statement that no church would be required to perform a marriage that was against its own beliefs (in legalese, of course) might be all that it takes to get enough additional votes to repeal Prop 8.

Or, they could just wait a couple of years for more of the older generation to die off, and more of the younger ones to reach voting age.

by **Henry Vilas** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:09 am

On Monday Nevada's state legislature overrode their governor's veto of a domestic partnership law. But what rights aren't granted by that measure? I assume the partners can't take advantage of IRS marriage deductions.
http://www.diversityinc.com/public/5915.cfm

by **fisticuffs** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:13 am

I think the language added to the NH bill may be an important tactic in other states. Right now, support for SSM in California is pretty much 50-50. A referendum that explicitly included a statement that no church would be required to perform a marriage that was against its own beliefs (in legalese, of course) might be all that it takes to get enough additional votes to repeal Prop 8.

I think it's sad that this straw man issue even has to be addressed in the law. There are already laws in place that would handle this and no one, seriously NOT ANYONE is suggesting that a church would be required to do anything. WTF? Oh well I guess if that's all they got to scare people and its this easily addressed that's a good thing.

by **Marvell** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:46 am

Huckleby wrote:68% of people over age of 70 oppose gay marriage, which sounds about right.

I expect the over-95 group is going to require an intense grassroots effort to swing pink. Any volunteers?

Maybe Betty White and Debbie Reynolds can star in a new Hallmark Channel series The L Word II: The Golden Girls Get Biz-zay.

by **Huckleby** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:48 pm

fisticuffs wrote: NOT ANYONE is suggesting that a church would be required to do anything. WTF? Oh well I guess if that's all they got to scare people and its this easily addressed that's a good thing.

you have to look at it from the standpoint of religous people. They believe that homosexual behavior is immoral. They do not wish to be defined as bigots for holding this belief. Having a statement that says they can continue in their religous practices is important symbolism, in much the same way that the difference between civil union and marriage is important symbolism for gays.

I don't think people who feel that homosexuality is wrong should be demonized. I know that is a tough statement to swallow if you are a gay person, but tolerance is a two-way street. Change in beliefs and attitudes is a longterm process that takes generations.

by **Huckleby** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:49 pm

Marvell wrote: Maybe Betty White and Debbie Reynolds can star in a new Hallmark Channel series The L Word II: The Golden Girls Get Biz-zay.

Excellent idea.

I have long been appreciative of the lesbian contribution to the cinematic arts.

by **Huckleby** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:54 pm

Ned Flounders wrote: I think the language added to the NH bill may be an important tactic in other states. Right now, support for SSM in California is pretty much 50-50. A referendum that explicitly included a statement that no church would be required to perform a marriage that was against its own beliefs (in legalese, of course) might be all that it takes to get enough additional votes to repeal Prop 8.

I don't think it would make much of a difference in public referendums. Anti-gay people aren't going to be fully satisified by such language.

Its more of a useful fig-leaf for legistors to hide behind in crafting bills that can pass.

BTW, I don't expect gay marriage in CA any year soon. The black and hispanic populations there are solidly anti-gay. The growing hispanic population offsets the new young voters. Actually, I don't expect gay marriage to expand beyond the northeast for several years. But it's still an excellent start.

by **Huckleby** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:01 pm

Maine has a referendum today on gay marriage. Unfortunately, this is likely to be a painful setback for gay rights in New England. There has been no public referendum in any state that has allowed gay marriage, and Maine is unlikely to be the first.

I have a friend who lives in Maine who has canvassed on this issue the past year. She says that people have moved steadily in a pro-gay direction, but it is a very Catholic state (settled by french Catholics.) IT will take a few more years.

Maybe there will be a surprise.

by **DCB** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:55 pm

Huckleby wrote:Maine has a referendum today on gay marriage. ....
Maybe there will be a surprise.

No surprise. The benevolent forces of goodness and light have successfully saved Maine's children from being forced into embracing homosexuality. AND preserved the sacred institution of marriage.

by **fisticuffs** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:01 pm

No surprise. The benevolent forces of goodness and light have successfully saved Maine's children from being forced into embracing homosexuality. AND preserved the sacred institution of marriage.

Now they need to work on banning shell fish. It's just as bad according to the good book.

Did you know that in the country of Scandinavia when they legalized gay marriage suicides went up 10000%? Dogs also started sleeping with cats. Up is now down and it snows in the summertime. Regular people left their traditional marriage and started gaying it up everywhere they could. So you see these anti gay marriage folks are right.

by **butters** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:24 pm

20 years from now:

"What side were you on Grandpa?"
"Why I was against fags getting married because i didn't want anyone to think i was a fag."
Grandchildren laugh. "Aww. That's Grandpa alright. He's hilarious."

by **Huckleby** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:31 pm

When I was in highschool I used to cut grass for a very sweet, little old man in his 90's. A charming guy, ex-professional boxer who used to set his cane down and giving me boxing lessons.

But then every once and a while he would start talking about the crooked Jews. He owned a car dealership in post-boxing years, and I guess his competitors were some Jewish guys.

Old people are embarassing sometimes.

by **mcs_madison** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:11 pm

DCB wrote:
Huckleby wrote:Maine has a referendum today on gay marriage. ....
Maybe there will be a surprise.

No surprise. The benevolent forces of goodness and light have successfully saved Maine's children from being forced into embracing homosexuality. AND preserved the sacred institution of marriage.

Sacred Institution of Marriage?!... HA! That's the funniest thing I've read in weeks! Thanks for the laugh