How the Democrats can fight the issue of Gay marriage.

[foreigncorrespondent]

Here is my take.

The republican party and the religious right are all up in arms because of the Massachusetts marriage ruling.

The democratic party has been torn into two different groups as a result of the Massachusetts ruling. Something that has been proven here at DU since the day of the ruling.

The problem is, the SJC had the right idea when they ruled in favor of marriage rights for gays and lesbians. They worded it as "civil" marriages, which means government sanctioned marriaged and NOT church sanctioned marriages.

The LGBT folks want the right to marry. We keep telling those here who are against gay marriage, that we aren't trying to force the acceptance for marriage by any church, but rather, we are trying to gain acceptance from the government.

If the Democrats fight this issue head on saying that we are actually talking about civil marriages (as the SJC ruling in Mass said and different from civil unions), not church sanctioned marriages. If they stand for the LGBT folks in the United States, but take the wind out of the sails of the republican party and the religious right at the same time, then they will come out of this the winners, not Bush* and not the republican party.

People will see that the democrats understand the difference between civil marriages and church sanctioned marriages, and they are not willing to make it an issue because they in fact support civil marriage then they will win the LGBT vote. If the then begin talking about the state of the economy, Iraq war, jobless rate etc, people will begin to see that the democrats are actually concerned about the people of America, while the republicans are too busy butting their noses into peoples bedrooms rather than worry about the people of America, then the dems will actually win.

And the difference between civil marriages and civil unions is simple, civil marriage are covered under federal law and with that comes all the rights afforded to all other married couples, civil unions on the other hand is state sanctioned approval of gay and lesbian relationships. You register yourself on a state registrar and with that you get state awards, but not federal, (ie: no federal taxation breaks, immigration rights, acceptance in other states etc.)

Now for all those against gay marriages here at DU, are you willing to support civil marriages, and stand by the LGBT community, or would you prefer the LGBT community to take their vote elsewhere, because that is what will happen.

The LGBT community is sick of the democrats constantly milking them for their votes, and not standing next to us, like they should be.

So basically (in the words of the selected one) are you with us, or are you against us?