Campaign Goes After Opponents of Gay Marriage

[megimoo]

ALBANY — Angered by the defeat last year of a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry, a group of well-financed gay rights advocates has started a political action committee to take aim at state senators who have opposed same-sex marriage.

In total, the political action committee, called Fight Back New York, is prepared to raise and spend in the high six figures range in the State Senate races this year, according to people involved with the committee.

Financing and organization will come, in part, from some of the most politically sophisticated and financially powerful gay rights advocates in the country. Tim Gill, a philanthropist and former software developer who has backed many gay rights initiatives nationwide, is a major player, along with some of his top associates and donors to his causes.

“Politicians who deny gays and lesbians basic equality should be thrown out of office, starting with convicted criminal Hiram Monserrate,” said Bill Smith, an adviser to the committee and deputy executive director of the Gill Action Fund, Mr. Gill’s political organization, which is based in Denver.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/ny...25gay.html?hpw
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[FlaGator]

Politicians who deny gays and lesbians basic equality should be thrown out of office, starting with convicted criminal Hiram Monserrate,” said Bill Smith

Again I ask, what basic rights that I heterosexuals have that they are being denied?

[noonwitch]

Again I ask, what basic rights that I heterosexuals have that they are being denied?

A gay person would say that he is being denied the right to marry the person he loves and wants to make a life-long commitment to, because his partner is of the same gender.


I support gay marriage, but I don't support personal attacks on the people who oppose it. Except lacurnut, of course.

[FlaGator]

A gay person would say that he is being denied the right to marry the person he loves and wants to make a life-long commitment to, because his partner is of the same gender.


I support gay marriage, but I don't support personal attacks on the people who oppose it. Except lacurnut, of course.

Is there a basic right to marry the person you love? If so where does that right come from?

[Gingersnap]

Is there a basic right to marry the person you love? If so where does that right come from?

There isn't any. Marriage is a consensual contract that is recognized in law. Any 2 people (or group of people) are perfectly free to enter into a contractual agreement that covers inheritance, property rights, powers of attorney for financial matters and health issues, and other things.

What they can't do is apply for certain government benefits or pension benefits on each other's behalf.

I expect that entire issue will go away shortly as more people favor domestic partnerships that have nothing to do with sexual expression. Marriage will return to the private sphere and religiously married couples will also have to take out a domestic partnership.

[megimoo]

There isn't any. Marriage is a consensual contract that is recognized in law. Any 2 people (or group of people) are perfectly free to enter into a contractual agreement that covers inheritance, property rights, powers of attorney for financial matters and health issues, and other things.

What they can't do is apply for certain government benefits or pension benefits on each other's behalf.

I expect that entire issue will go away shortly as more people favor domestic partnerships that have nothing to do with sexual expression. Marriage will return to the private sphere and religiously married couples will also have to take out a domestic partnership.

.................BINGO.................
"What they can't do is apply for certain government benefits or pension benefits on each other's behalf."

[FlaGator]

There isn't any. Marriage is a consensual contract that is recognized in law. Any 2 people (or group of people) are perfectly free to enter into a contractual agreement that covers inheritance, property rights, powers of attorney for financial matters and health issues, and other things.

What they can't do is apply for certain government benefits or pension benefits on each other's behalf.

I expect that entire issue will go away shortly as more people favor domestic partnerships that have nothing to do with sexual expression. Marriage will return to the private sphere and religiously married couples will also have to take out a domestic partnership.

I make that same argument to those I know who are pro same sex marriage and they just refuse to see it this way. Because heterosexuals can get married, then they want that opportunity as well regardless of the potential establishment of a better system for all secular relationships. There seems to be a certain mind set that if all things were equal and civil unions provided the exact same benefits as a marriage does today I believe that there are still those who would feel that they are being denied something and would still push for same sex marriages.

[lacarnut]

A gay person would say that he is being denied the right to marry the person he loves and wants to make a life-long commitment to, because his partner is of the same gender.


I support gay marriage, but I don't support personal attacks on the people who oppose it. Except lacurnut, of course.

And maybe if you EVER had sex, you would feel differently.

Marriage is between a man and a woman. Not 2 butt fucking freaks. Most people agree that abomination should not be sanctioned. Blacks by a wide margin are against homos marrying.

[FlaGator]

Play nice children...

[Gingersnap]

I make that same argument to those I know who are pro same sex marriage and they just refuse to see it this way. Because heterosexuals can get married, then they want that opportunity as well regardless of the potential establishment of a better system for all secular relationships. There seems to be a certain mind set that if all things were equal and civil unions provided the exact same benefits as a marriage does today I believe that there are still those who would feel that they are being denied something and would still push for same sex marriages.

You are right. It's irrational, really. I'd bet that 99% of same sex couples have no interest in the religious nature of matrimony or in the religious obligations of parents. They want to throw a party, live together, and enjoy whatever spousal benefits are offered in the workplace or through the welfare state.

I don't personally think that this situation, even for married people, will go on much longer. Spousal benefits were created to prevent women with young children from falling into poverty if a husband died suddenly (as was all too common). Today all women are expected to have the education and experience to become financially independent. Employers are looking to cut compensation costs by restricting benefits to the employee only. More and more married couples are negotiating benefits just for each individual. Increasingly, children are the financial responsibility of the biological parents, not the current spouse or shack-up lover.