I have no reasons against it. Adults ought to be able to have a civil union or marriage if they wish. It doesn't hurt anyone or anything from what I have seen and read. They both pay taxes, and have to follow the same laws as hetero marrieds. So I fail to see what the big deal has ever been (except to homophobes and highly religious folk who think being gay, let alone gays getting married is a sin). I just hope they all read what the regular marriage laws in their state are before they get married, so if they die or divorce it will not impact their family or spouse in a negative or unfair manner they did not want. Someone had to be the first to answer. Hopefully I won't get all negative ratings. I have more hope for AB than that! :)

It should be allowed. Even though same-sex marriage is important there are bigger issues in todays world. Most same sex marriages last longer than a man and a woman! I am all for same sex marriages, even though I'm straight. If homosapiens can't make a marriage last, why not let a man and man try, or woman and woman. It should ultimately be their right. Some great people were gay, such as Leonardo DaVinci. Arnold Schwarzenegger once said, "Gay marriage should be between a man and a woman." ;)

I am in favor of people having the opportunity to be legally regarded as a couple, if they so desire, with all privileges that emcompasses. Since I am not religious, I am not concerned with the title of the contract (marriage or civil union). I am only concerned with the civil and legal ramifications. I am not concerned with the sexual orientation of the couple because that is none of my business and has no impact upon me. I am concerned that people are being deprived of their rights as a couple (e.g. being considered next-of-kin) because of their sexual orientation.

I support the right of people to marry regardless of their sexual orientation. I see no good reason to restrict this right, and since we've gone to all the trouble of trying to put together a free country it seems like we should honor that effort.

Why should heterosexual couples be the only ones to make lawyers rich when they divorce. Spread the wealth around. Seriously, I don't care one way or another, I am not reproducing and the same goes for same sex couples.

I am for it because the way I feel is that no same sex couple is bothering me in the least bit, so I do not have any reason for me to be against it. I think that if it disagrees with your religion, dont marry someone the same as you, but dont hate someone who does. They do not share the same views as you, so why are you hating them? It is the same discrimination as race or ethnicity or size, and they ARE ALL SO LAME!!!!!

Marriage is about love, and should have nothing to do with genitalia. In today's society, there *should* be nothing stopping same-sex marriages. My cousin Staphanie, after joining many campaigns about it (which I did too) is going to get a civil patnership in June, which I would LOVE to go to, but can't. She is in love and happy, why shouldn't she get married?

I belive in civil unions. I don't belive in gay marriage because God instituted marriage to be holy. Nearly every major religion is against gay marriage and marriage was religious a long long long time before it had any secular component. I'm offended by two men being called "married" just like I'm offended by two women being called "married". And seeming how we start calling Christmas tree's,"Winter-Solstice trees" because a few wack jobs are offended (even though christmas is a federal holiday) I don't see any reason why we should call it "marriage" when neverly every major religion is offended by that. But again I'm not against civil unions.

The same reason I have for heterosexual marriages. I really don't see the point in marriage. To me it's a tradition with no bearing on the longevity of a relationship. Each to their own though.

I'm for it personaly. I don't see why some people's sick prejudices should get in the way of two people being happy!

i dont get why people are against same-sex marriage its not effin fare that just because they LOVE someone of the same sex they dont get the same rights as everyone else! I have friends that r gay and bi and just the thought of them not being able to marry who they LOVE make me wanna hurt someone!!! I cant even begin to comprehend as to why to guys or to girls cant get married because of some peoples stupid religions i mean no offence to anyone but its just not FARE i mean how would you feel if someone told you that you couldnt marry who you love because someone elses religious beliefs? I just dont get it and I dont think i want to understand all i gotta say now is that you're not marrying a persons gender you're marrying their soul and how they are as a person and I dont even care what anyone else has to say about this because I think that people being against same-sex marriage uis dumb and whatever I just feel sorry for gays and lesbians and I'm just lucky that I'm straight anf that I dont really have to deal with this problem when I want to get married.

I am for it. I think if you find someone that you love and cherish with all your heart, you should be allowed to commit to them regardless of gender.

I'm for it... although, even though I am gay I wouldn't ever choose to get married. However, I should be able to marry if I want. I don't really care what it's called, but I should be able to have the same legal status with someone I love as a married couple. I don't see how the incest argument even relates... if you boil it down to having children with your partner then are you saying that EVERY couple who gets married MUST have children? Marriage isn't about having children... it's about two people committing to one another for life and giving certain legal statuses to the one they love. All that being said, I don't think that gay marriages would be any more successful than straight marriages. Most people, gay or straight, really understand or appreciate what marriage is supposed to be- a lifelong commitment. Most peopel just get married because they think it's what they are supposed to do.

Marriage is supposed to be about a a loving couple being willing to make a life-long commitment to each other. Any person who claims marriage is about making/raising children is a shallow, selfish person who probably got married for the tax break in the first place.

I'm for it, because in this day and age you need to allow for people to provide for their partners of any sex. Many companies deny benefits to gay couples, and they end up without the health care and other resources that a straight couple has access to. I don't feel anyone should be denied the right to protect their loved one.

I have only one reason, and that is because it is not Biblical. In my opinion, God does not ordain homosexual realtionships. Please dont rate me down for this. I answered the question honestly and I respect your position on this issue, so please, respect mine.

I dont care about it either way. Im not gay, so it wouldn't effect me. A lot of people say that they're against it because it wasn't god's plan,...I think theyr'e just homophobes that take an easy over used answer and try to make it their own.

You would be changing the definition of marriage. I think it's great that 2 people want to legally cummit them selves to each other no matter what sex they are. Just pick another name for it. If you want it so bad why make a big deal about the name?

I believe in equal rights and seperation of state and church, which is why I'm for same-sex marriage. I find that most people are against it for religious reasons, but if you take that away then they usually have no reason.

I'm neither opposed nor am I for gay marriage. I don't care. 1. Its none of my business what two people do (maybe if one is a child being hurt by an adult). 2. My religious beliefs are just that MY religious beliefs. 3. If two dudes or two chicks want to hook up, more power to them - But then they have to deal with all of the other stuff of marriage. Which is to say since I'm indifferent to the concept I have no reasons to like or dislike it.

I am totally for same sex marriage. I believe when two people love eachother, it shouldn't matter their gender. It's ridiculous.... I just wish more people felt like me. I know homosexuals who are completely in love and they can't get married because the law won't allow it. It's not fair and it pisses me off!!!

I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married and be entitled to the same tax benefits and rights as straight couples, but since I am religious, I do not believe they should be able to have a church wedding since the Bible says a marraige should be between a man and a woman.

i am not for nor against it. what i have to ask is, what is wrong with it? if two men or two women have the feelings for each other a male and female couple do, then why can they not get married? i don't see why they should ban it in some places because it doesn't cause a major problem, in my opinion.

because God would be angry

I described my set of reasons in response to the question 'do you believe in gay marriage. Please read it for i have a long long list. the primary reason is that in America NO PERSON CAN BE CONSIDERED MARRIED AND RECEIVE THE GOVERNMENTAL BENEFITS UNLESS THEY HAVE A LICENSE FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL. simple as that. No church or religion can just pronounce a few words and have the law consider them married unless they already have purchased a maarriage license from the government agency. PLEASE, USE THE PHRASE "SAME GENDER MARRIAGE" BECAUSE GAY MARRIAGE AS YOU CALL IT, WOULD NOT BE A MATTER OF WHAT ACTIONS CALLED 'SEX' IN OUR SOCIETY AND CULTURE...NO MORE THAN ARE "OPPOSITE GENDER MARRIAGE". When did anyone at any marriage ceremony anywherre by any person ask the couple whether they were going to have 'sex' or how they were going to have whatever they would call 'sex'...WOW, what privacy questions would all be losing...especially the opposite-gender people/couples who have exactly the same type of sexual intercourse that they IMAGINE/THINK THAT SAME-GENDER COUPLES HAVE!!!!

God created marriage to be holy and between one man and one woman. In Genesis, God made Adam and Eve: a man and a woman. This country has turned away from God and some God's wrath and judgement has already been put upon this wicked nation. To have same-sex marriage legalized would only make America in a worse position before a holy and righteous God. That is why I am against same-sex marriages. Thank you and God bless you!

I am FOR Gay marriage, and the reasons being 1, that I am Bi, and one day if I feel the need i would like to be able to marry whomever I want. Secondly, people should be able to marry who they love, not who everyone else tells them they should. Unions aren't the same thing, especially when it comes to legal documents and the such. Most places you need to be married to be on a "spouses" health benefits package, you need to be married to co sign on things, there are many reasons that a real, lawful marriage is necessary. Also, why deny me the right to marry, just because you don't agree with whom it is I am matrrying? It's no one else's business but mine.

I am definitely for gay marriage. I am a lesbian, i have no interest in marriage myself.I have friends that have been married in the UK and in Canada, it is ridiculous that a basic right is denied on grounds of sexuality. I do not mean any offence to anyone but one of the main reasons people marry is to create a family. Should we only allow people with the intention of having children to marry each other??! Why should we be denied this simple right, when we contribute to society just like anyone else. The values gay couples share are the exact same a straight couple share,we should be allowed to equal benefits of marriage.

if two people love each other no matter what sex they are why shouldnt they get married and spend the rest of their lifes together

I honestly don't understand what the problem is. Maybe I'm really naive but I think loving someone (versus just lust) is truly noble and good, and only good things would come from it.

im against it because God is against it. im all for Him and whatever he deems wrong, then i believe its wrong. the Bible clearly says that homosexuality is an abomination.

The Bible says that a man should not lay with another man. Or a women with another women. God Loves Gay people. It's the sin he can't stand. If it were meant for two men or women to marry the Bible would have said so. Why not just live together and forget about marriage. Then there would be no ? about marriage. Marriage is about one man and one women. Bible states this. If you don't think the Bible is right, then don't worry about. It says in the last days, mens mind will fail them. They will lust after there on pleasures. They will turn against the truth. { Which is today we live in }

I look at marriage as the union of two people who love each other whether its a man and a woman or 2 men or 2 women Its all about the love between the 2 people

I agree with same-sex Marriage. There alot of people that believe its immoral. They believe that homosexual are choiceing ther life style. This is in fact not true. "There been brain study conducted that the activities in the brain of homosexual are diffrent in hetrosexuals. When a homosexual male brain smells the sweet of of anouther male it trigger the same area as the brain of a hetrosexual female and vise versa." I think this is enough proof that it is gentic makeup. This is one reason i think homosexual should be allow to marry. Since it truely is not a choice. Lovgren, S (2005, May 10). "Sexy" Smells Different for Gay, Straight Men, Study Says. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from National Geographic News Web site:http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/05/0510_050510_gayscent.html

I don't see why people are all up in arms about it. If I was gay I would be SO insulted that my government denies me the basic right to marry the person I love. It would make me feel like such a second class citizen. In the words of Louis C. K. " I don't care what people do in the privacy of their own home. It's not like I'm sitting at my kitchen table eating breakfast and two dicks touch in front of my cereal bowl!" I laughed for an hour after I heard that.

I'm for it because it's the right thing to do

if in this country (United States) we are all "created equal," then why can't it's citizens have the same rights? where in the Constitution does it say we are all created equal...as long as you are heterosexual, Christian, right-wing conservatives?

Tell me again, why do homosexuals need to get married? I've never been married.

Who cares if you are the same sex as the person you love? I believe that homosexuality is as uncontrollable as race or gender. Why should you let another person's religion stop you from marrying someone who is the same sex as you? If we as Americans can allow women to vote and black people be free then why not allow gays their rights as people on this Earth? If a person really believes that God will still love them then he will. If you follow the Christian or Catholic or Mormon religion and you believe in being a good, virtuous person then why in the world would you judge and condemn another person for their personal choices instead of accepting them for one of God's children and someone who is your equal?

10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong 1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning. 2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall. 3) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans. 4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal. 5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed. 6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children. 7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children. 8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America. 9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children. 10) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract. (one of the saddest parts about our society is that...these arguements, before the humourous common sense, are the real reasons why people can't accept gay marriages.)

see, this is what i dont get, "marriage" is a purely religious concept, the civil concept stems from it..(remember, theres a difference between "marriage" and "government recognized civil union") why exactly does government have to come shove its dirty hands into it, and "redefine" it?? you wanna protect same sex unions, fine, whatever, but why do we have to redefine the word to include same sex unions??? i am against same sex marriage because the concept is entirely for the sole purpose of making a mockery of the marriage instituted by God.

My reasons for apposing are biblical, and nothing but biblical.

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12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.