Houston TX voted today for Same Sex benefits

[TxCollegeguy]

Well this issue has seem to be swepped under the rug here. Not sure if the Media has mentioned this anywhere else but I find it rather odd why they haven't made much of an issue about it here.

The way it's set up you have to vote against the issue if you want Same Sex benefits to be passed and vice versa

Well I'm not a registered voter in houston but I can't see why anyone would care enough to see that same sex benefits not be extended?

All Religous views aside shouldn't we allow each person to make this choice for themselves?

 

[spentagn]

The problem generally arises when you say Religious views aside. Other than that, I'm not gonna take a stance on this one, I'm too involved defending my abortion/death penalty views

 

[BO-CEPHUS]

I do not believe that the government should be involved in any of this. I do not agree with benefits being given to married couples, but since it will always be like this...I do agree that a same sex partnership/marriage should have equal benefits.

 

[TxCollegeguy]

LOL....Yeah thats an interesting thread.

 

[satanic goatslayer]

I advocate same sex marriages for one reason:

When the two homosexuals stand opposite one another with affection dripping from their pores and love emitting from their armpits, the minister, JP, etc could take this opportunity to gut them both and turn the whole thing into a funeral.

That way, you kill two birds (Cockatoos, in this case) with one sharp blade.

 

[manny78]

Here those benefits were granted 6 years ago I think and it was something normal in a modern society. I personally dont give a shit if they get the same rights as I have.....

 

[TxCollegeguy]

well the news people have been saying it's going to be a tight race. I can't see why anyone would care. They should be protected equally like the rest of us straight people

 

[the nature boy]

no shit. I think most people have enough shit to worry about than some gay people that want the same rights as married people. who cares? live and let live.

 

[ptbyjason]

Did you realize voting YES meant you did not support it and voting NO meant you did support it? I don't have a problem with it passing, but they should have made the ballot much clearer.

 

[TxCollegeguy]

Yeah it sounds messed up

 

[spentagn]

Wouldn't surprise me if a voter's rights group from the losing side files suit claiming the ballot disenfranchised a million plus Harris County voters. Thank you, you know who.

 

[RyanH]

good to hear that Houston is finally acknowledging homosexuals, bisexuals, and lesbians as people......now if only other major cities will follow suit..

Atlanta recently did.

I wish someone could offer a legitimate, grounded argument as to why gays should not be entitled to benefits like the rest of society. Gays and lesbians go to work, pay sales taxes, property taxes, give to charities, just as the rest of society does.

This is simply a FAIRNESS issue......

 

[spentagn]

Life isn't fair.

 

[RyanH]

Life isn't fair.

neither was slavery...Some thing are so unfair that to turn away from them makes us inhumane....this is an example of an issue so unfair that we have to face it. If not now, eventually.

There is no legitimate justification that hard-working, tax-paying, gays and lesbians, should not have the same rights as all Americans.

 

[spentagn]

Not saying they don't deserve it, but why do gays insist on having marriage rights? What does marriage represent? A legal union? Big fucking deal. If you love someone, stay with them.

 

[TxCollegeguy]

Ryan this is one of the few issues that I will agree with you on. Just cause I dont support someones lifestyle doesn't mean they shouldn't be protected to the same rights I have being straight

 

[the nature boy]

Not saying they don't deserve it, but why do gays insist on having marriage rights? What does marriage represent? A legal union? Big fucking deal. If you love someone, stay with them.

I agree, marriage is no big deal. But the law and society have different views on marriage than you or I. Who is getting hurt by letting these people have marriage rights as heterosexuals?

 

[musclebrains]

Not saying they don't deserve it, but why do gays insist on having marriage rights? What does marriage represent? A legal union? Big fucking deal. If you love someone, stay with them.

The issue isn't the wedding, the romantic aspect of marriage, but the legal benefits that married couples receive. THere are literally hundreds of benefits that married people receive -- from income tax deductions to rights of inheritance -- that are denied gay people. Anyone who has served as executor on the estates of gay men -- I've had the horrific experience more than a dozen times -- can tell you quite quickly how marriage laws perpetuate prejudice.

Personally, I don't know why ANYONE wants to get married and I think all special benefits and rights that marreid people enjoy should be assigned to the entire population. Those that can't be should be eliminated. The right to marry ranks slightly above the right to have my fingernails pulled out. (Mkay, it's true, I was married and divorced.)

 

[spentagn]

I agree, marriage is no big deal. But the law and society have different views on marriage than you or I. Who is getting hurt by letting these people have marriage rights as heterosexuals?

I'm not too familiar with this arguement, but I believe one of the arguements for same-sex marriage involves tax and insurance breaks. Love should never be harnassed by money.

 

[the nature boy]

I'm not too familiar with this arguement, but I believe one of the arguements for same-sex marriage involves tax and insurance breaks. Love should never be harnassed by money.

so then it would be okay to take all marriage benefits from everyone then. my point is, why should one group not have the same rights and advantages as another group, just because of sexual orientation differences?

 

[spentagn]

The question still stands. Why is marriage so important? I know several heterosexual couples who aren't married but who have lived together for years. And my understanding is that homosexual marriages will raise insurance rates for everyone. Like I said, I'm not taking a stance on this issue because I don't know enough about the issue.

 

[the nature boy]

I don't know why anyone in their right mind would get married, I can't speak for anyone but myself.

 

[TxCollegeguy]

I think this is one of the times the Insurance companies need to bite the big one and do whats right...Raising rates my ass...those fuckers make millions and screw us over most of the time anyway.

 

[spentagn]

I'm married. I have no health insurance, and my taxes are still the same. I am married because of my religious views, as well as display my committment to my wife and family. But being married is only a token of our relationship, not the basis of it.

 

[TxCollegeguy]

well those who are against this are starting to pull away with about 30% of the ballots counted, though there is still alot of time left...I'm getting off and finishing my military reading for the night. I'll jump on in the morning to find out what the results were...

 

[musclebrains]

Marriage is the primary institution around which culture is organized. It organizes inheritance, childrearing and sexual behavior (for "adultery" is still illegal in many places). It even organizes fantasy since it is regarded, generally, as the proper outcome of romance. Marriage is also part of religious coherence and love between marrieds is considered sacred, whereas love that is unbounded by marriage is considered sinful. Thus marriage regulates pleasure.

So asking why it is "important" is like asking why the church is important. If you are raised in the institution, it becomes part of your values. In this case, the adoption of the value, even when you are dubious about it, has a financial incentive in terms of tax benefits. (And divorce law effectively punishes you for fucking up the sacred institution.)

I hope it's clear I don't support marriage but it's pretty obvious why it's important to so many people.

 

[MP5]

I think this is one of the times the Insurance companies need to bite the big one and do whats right...Raising rates my ass...those fuckers make millions and screw us over most of the time anyway.

How can the government dictate that a company be run by rules that it feels are "right"? Insurance is a business like any other and it is no ones business to tell you who you should hire, or give your business to.

 

[huntmaster]

"Same Sex Benefits" --- I am not real sure what this details but I will tell you this: I am against homosexuals having marriage rights. Marriage is an institution that consist of two heterosexual individuals who have made a life commitment to one another. Of that commitment---children are produced and this is part of a devine plan and what has populated earth from creation.

It is impossible for two homosexual to produce offspring---such a relationship is deviant from the scope of devine intentions and should not be deemed socially acceptable.

Having said that, I do not hate homosexuals and I dont believe in 'gay-bashing'---I just dont believe in putting it on the same level as heterosexual marriage.

I think where this matter is conserned, we as a society are sending a negative message to our children regarding marriage and 'right and wrong'

My life is by no means perfect---not even close. I do not consider myself higher than homosexuals---so dont make this into that.

These are my beliefes and I stand by them--I dont apologize for them.

HM

 

[BO-CEPHUS]

"Same Sex Benefits" --- I am not real sure what this details but I will tell you this: I am against homosexuals having marriage rights. Marriage is an institution that consist of two heterosexual individuals who have made a life commitment to one another. Of that commitment---children are produced and this is part of a devine plan and what has populated earth from creation.

It is impossible for two homosexual to produce offspring---such a relationship is deviant from the scope of devine intentions and should not be deemed socially acceptable.

Having said that, I do not hate homosexuals and I dont believe in 'gay-bashing'---I just dont believe in putting it on the same level as heterosexual marriage.

My life is by no means perfect---not even close. I do not consider myself higher than homosexuals---so dont make this into that.

These are my beliefes and I stand by them--I dont apologize for them.

HM

Are you married?

 

[huntmaster]

Are you married?

NO Sir

 

[BO-CEPHUS]

NO Sir

OK

 

[huntmaster]

bump

 

[flexed1]

Oh a post for me the token gay moderator. Do I want to marry my partner? hell no. Will I attend a gay wedding? probably not. however in my opinion with certain restrictions gay partners should be allowed certain insurance rights. I think its fair enough that those who want domestic partner rights register as a couple like in California. after lets say a time frame together benefits would than become available. this would keep folks straight included from changing partners every few months . insurance and the likes are very expensive and companies need to have an incentive to want to offer benefits. once again I will say I may be the minority gay person here as I give my other half a ring, we make a commitment to be one on one and as time goes on he becomes my beneficiary and he is in my will which as determined by me and written by my attorneys goes uncontested. my love is not about money as my partner makes very little. its about love trust and friendship. some companies do offer domestic partner rights and that's great. most do have time limit restrictions and that to me is fair. and for those who think otherwise a healthy gay relationship is the same as a healthy straight relationship with the difference being the ability to not have kids. for those who think otherwise so be it but I've been married to a women for 6 years with no cheating ( I was young) and with a guy for 8 and 4 years with no cheating. trust me its a self contained marriage that needs nobody approval and that I keep nobody business. just my thoughts.

 

[RyanH]

I couldn't agree with Musclebrains more----why anyone would choose marriage to legitimize their relationship is a mystery to me.

 

[runner]

the votes are counted: no benefits for domestic partners, be they of opposite or same sex, for houston city workers. not sure how i feel about that...while i think that TRULY committed gay couples should receive the same benefits as married couples, i worry about the potential for fraud, people lying and claiming partnership. i've seen it happen. plus, there needs to be some way to ensure that your "partner" isn't just some new boyfriend you've had for 3 weeks.

being gay and living in houston, i guess i'm most shocked by the lack of publicity this proposition received beforehand. there was little advertising done (if it WAS done, i missed it) by either side.

 

[TxCollegeguy]

Yeah Runner this seemed a bit odd, of course we can see the top mayoral canidates on tv 24-7 but the issues of the election weren't really mentioned.

 

[flexed1]

sorry to see it failed. glad to see most understood the problems wiith it.

 

[JohnnyO]

I think the VAST majority of gay men with partners, both work and both have their own careers .. so this really isn't much of a issue other than having the city act like a lot of big corporations that offer those benefits now.