BBC: Making much of marriage

[Cannikin]

To those fighting for the rights of homosexuals, the president's election-year remarks formed part of an aggressively homophobic agenda which seeks to push US gays and lesbians to the fringes of society.

But by refusing to endorse an immediate constitutional ban on gay marriage nor ruling out "civil unions" for homosexuals, Mr Bush hoped to keep on board that all important electoral group - the middle ground.

There is indeed a difference between marriage - which is accompanied by a range of rights enshrined in law - and civil union - which comes with protections defined by the state in question, a distinction Mr Bush is keen to stress.

This statement has been interpreted as leaving the door open for the kind of arrangements Vermont has made for its homosexual residents - but Mr Bush was quite clear that should Massachusetts push ahead with gay marriage, he would act.

"If necessary, I will support a constitutional amendment which would honour marriage between a man and a woman, codify that."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3416025.stm

[starroute]

1. And just how does he propose to define "man" and "woman"?

When my son was home from college for Christmas, he was grumbling about how political correctness on campus means you can't even say "men and women" without someone accusing you of gender duality bias.

It seemed funny at the time, but the truth is that there are a lot of shades of grey -- some natural, some surgical, some psychological -- that make it awfully difficult to define "man" and "woman" in a way that wouldn't leave certain people legally forbidden to marry anyone at all.

That's typical of a certain naivete in this whole proposal. It may appeal to people who are thinking on a Noah's Ark level, but it doesn't seem to have much at all to do with the real world.

[Cannikin]

2. kick

[sweetheart]

3. massachusetts should push ahead

It would be good fun to watch him push a homophobia amendment through congress in this election year.... if he thinks that the iraq war has been difficult for his coup, he should think again.... this is treason against the constitution he's embarking on...

BRING 'EM ON.

We'll crush that ignorant pig and his animal farm of pig fucking neocons.