Lawmaker Eyes Simple Fix to Gay Marriage Spat

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Get the government out of the business of "marriage" and have "civil unions" for all. That is the gist of a new proposal that could resolve the raucous debate over gay marriage, according to Paul Loscocco, a Massachusetts state representative who is presenting the idea to colleagues.

<snip>

For Loscocco, the controversy boils down to the language used to describe civil and religious unions, which is why he wants to formally distinguish the two -- as do certain European countries like France.

"A lot of people can't put their finger on why they're opposed to gay marriage, but when it comes down to it they're confusing the civil with the religious acts," the Republican lawmaker told Reuters. "We have two concepts using the same word."

<snip>

Under French law, the only marriages recognized by the state are those performed by the state. Religious wedding ceremonies are done according to religious custom but merely reflect a couple's spiritual beliefs and have no real legal standing. The practical effect is that a French couple must go to local city hall to get their marriage license and participate in a brief ceremony performed by a governmental official, typically the local mayor.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=nm/rights_gays_marriage_dc

[slinkerwink]

1. that'd be fine with me

:evilgrin:

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. Me too

http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[xultar]

4. Thanks, I've been looking for that site, brain buttons! I found it

a while ago and lost it!

[xultar]

3. I like it, but, it doesn't solve the problem of the lack of available

single, heterosexual, good-looking, employed, healthy, men for me. :cry:

[BlueEyedSon]

5. Funny, I was thinking the same thing when I was single and looking for

WOMEN (single, heterosexual, good-looking, employed, healthy).....

[Jokerman]

6. I'm in a heterosexual "civil union"

The state calls it marriage but no church was involved, just a judge, two witnesses and a marriage license.

If allowing same sex couples to do this would shut up the fundies, great, but I doubt that they would give in that easily.

BTW, we got married with no intention of having children so many fundies may find fault with our union as well.

[AnlaShok]

7. Works for me....

I've been talking about getting the government out of marriage for years. Who (or how many) you choose to marry should be none of the government's concern.

[Rockholm]

8. Loscocco Is A Nut Case!

This is only an attempt to make sure that gay marriages have no place in society in general. Most reasonable folks would say that making all marriages civil unions is fine (I think so) but the rub is with Sally and Tim down the street. Their civil union would not be recoginzed in Alabama as a marriage, ergo no rights in Alabama. And then you have Bill and Ted. They get their civil union AND go to their church and get supersized to marriage.
This issue is really making me nuts. I am going to my town hall on May 17th to get married. It is not going to matter to anyone but me and my "intended." My neighbors may hate it, but they don't matter.
When you think about it, do you know the relationship status of every person on your street? Do you really care? I don't.
BTW, Loscocco wanted to split the question in the Mass Constitutional Convention. He hates gays so much, that he wanted part one to make marriage for a man & a woman ONLY and part two was to have the legislature "decide at some point in the future" to determine if some sort of civil unions for gays would be addressed. I think we should address whether he should be in the state legislature or NOT.

[FlaGranny]

9. France has it right,

if that is their law. A civil union is a contract and it makes perfect sense that a legal contract should NOT be the responsibility of any religious organization. I have always wondered why churches were involved. If marriage/civil contract is a church responsibility, then shouldn't divorce also be? Or vice versa?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. This article leaves one question of mine unanswered.

Under French law, the only marriages recognized by the state are those performed by the state. Religious wedding ceremonies are done according to religious custom but merely reflect a couple's spiritual beliefs and have no real legal standing. The practical effect is that a French couple must go to local city hall to get their marriage license and participate in a brief ceremony performed by a governmental official, typically the local mayor.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=nm/rights_gays_marriage_dc

Can that couple be gay? Will a gay couple be issued the license and have the ceremony performed by the mayor?

[blm]

11. EXACTLY. Religious marriage is optional.

Leave that to the religions.