If You Had To Rank All The Issues You Care About, (re: Gay Marriage)

[THUNDER HANDS]

Where would gay marriage fit it among the issues you care about most deeply in your life?

(this is not to say how strongly you support or oppose it, but rather how important an issue you believe it is in relation to education, health care, abortion, ect).

[La_Serpiente]

1. It is my top three

They are Gay Marriage, Environment, and Economy

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

2. ..well, im a bit biased on this.

Since I am gay, and in a long term (going on 17 years) relationship, this is, for sure, a big issue for me.

I'm not a single issue voter, but there are some basic principles of equal treatment involved here.

[MurikanDemocrat]

3. It's relative. Since Bush is pushing it as an election issue to fire up

religious predjudice and bigotry, it moves up in importance as far as I'm concerned as a civil rights issue.

[Vernunft II]

4. I have to admit that my interest in this is largely academic

and somewhat marginal. It´s none of my concern other than not allowing (or outright outlawing) it would be yet another step back to the dark ages of medieval christian rule. All attempts to turn back the clock find my profound disproval as well as my resolute resistance.

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. I'm shocked at the way the poll is going so far

I would have thought this would be a bigger issue to most DUers.

[IndianaGreen]

7. There has always been a streak of homophobia in DU

and it first became apparent way back in 2001.

Just say something along the line of Dems wanting gays to remain in the back of the bus and see what happens...

[veganwitch]

6. id say its in my top 5

to go from 3 to 10 is a big jump. and it is encompassed in my desire for equal rights for everyone.

[buddhamama]

8. It is my number one issue

Gay Marriage is a subset of a larger issue
Human Rights.

[KittyWampus]

9. As Long As The Law Is Providing For Civil Unions

so that Gay Partners can recieve benefits and priviledges as straights... gay MARRIAGE is not important to me whatsoever.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. #4

Concentration of wealth
Media concentration
Campaign finance
Civil rights

[Monte Carlo]

11. It's a concern, but it's significance is blown totally out of proportion.

Allowing gays and lesbians the legal right to marry is a just cause, but compared to the other problems facing the nation right now, it is a distraction. It's not like gays can't vote, can't hold office, or can't go to straight schools - the discrimination is not nearly as severe as the civil rights movement in the 60's.

Education, health care, public debts and budget - these things are on the top of my list. They get the priority. We are wasting far too much time and effort on this, and the GOP knows it.

[Rowdyboy]

12. My issues:

Supreme Court packing
Destruction of the American Economy
Outsourcing Jobs
Tax cuts reversed
Labor Union Rights
BBV
Repealing the Patriot Act
Abortion Rights
Environmental Concerns
Iraq
The War on Terror/Homeland Security
Regaining Congress
Deficit Spending
Ending No Child Left Behind
Health Care reform
Gay Rights

Certainly "gay rights" is one component of "Supreme Court packing" which is my most important issue.

I see myself as an American citizen who is also a gay man. I have MANY concerns that do have anything to do with my sexuality. I am more than my penis and it does not determine my entire existence.

Maybe I'd feel differently if I WANTED to get married. My partner and I have been together for 15 years with no recognition from the state. We have wills directing where our resources go. We have medical documents giving each other authority to decision making. We've covered our bases. Thankfully, neither of us have ANY interest in adopting children so thats a non-issue.

Mostly, we want to be left in peace by the government and society in general.

[Jai4WKC08]

13. It's partly a symbollic thing

The gay marriage issue doesn't affect me directly (so far as I know--my kids aren't grown yet), but it's still extremely important.

I don't much care whether you call it marriage or civil union, but the legality of the act itself addresses two fundamental principles that are vital to what it means to me to be an American:

1) that all American citizens should be treated equally under the law
2) that religious beliefs should not determine how the law is applied

The fact the Repubs seek to use gay marriage as another way to divide the American people makes the issue all the more important. It's a difference in the underlying philosophies of our two parties that must be exposed.

There are about a gazillion great Wesley Clark quotes I could insert here, but I think you've all heard them before. :)

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. Top 10, for me.

I'm gay, but that's not WHO I am. I'm also a 'worker bee' who worries about the economy, rising interest rates, the environment, the war in Iraq, gun-control, good schools, etc. .

[cally]

15. If you had asked about

laws banning discrimination against gays and lesbians, hate crimes legislation, or gay and lesbian rights I would answer much differently. I'm for the right to marry any consenting adult, but it is not most important to me right now. My issues are corporate controls, environment, pro-choice, civil rights, raising the minimum wage, supporting unions, health care, the economy, taxes, social security, the deficit, restoring international relationships, and on and on. Gay marriage is a wedge issue that will be important this election. I'm not thrilled with Kerry and Edwards position on this but it won't change my vote. I despise * for creating another issue that encourages folks to hate.

[Orangepeel]

16. Very important. It's part of other very important issues as well

1. Fundamental fairness and equality
2. Individual rights versus government imposed morality
3. Separation of church and state

[Bread and Circus]

17. I agree with Kerry and I wish Civil Unions would satisfy

[Bread and Circus]

18. But, I don't really care too much about the issue...

It's a distraction more than anything else.

[Lisa0825]

19. I'm straight, and I put it 4th on my list.

[Fleshdancer]

20. how coud EQUAL RIGHTS be of little concern to so many Democrats?

What alternate universe am I living in???? This is a sad SAD day...I'm very dissapointed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. I'm With You...

Symbolically this issue is huge...


We are all equal or we're not...

[SahaleArm]

22. Marriage is closer to contractual law than civil rights...

Really that's how it should be treated by the government, as a contractual union between two people. Under equal protection how can same-sex marriage be illegal in the first place?

[zoeyfong]

28. It is civil rights in that people are barred on the basis of sex from

forming a simple contract. Would it not be a civil rights issue if men were not allowed to contract a bank loan, or women were not allowed to sign a contract for the construction of a house? Of course its a civil rights issue; it is discrimination on the basis of sex, plain and simple, and in one of the most fundamental aspects of life.

[sangha]

25. I was gonna say

I thought phrasiing it as a "gay" rights issue was a bit misleading, though I'm quite sure it was unintentional.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

23. Looks like this issue isn't a big deal for this forum.

...which is supposed to be pretty left/liberal.


Looks like les-bi-gay folks are on their own, when push comes to shove.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. Loving V Virginia Prohibited Miscegenation Laws In 1967...

I wonder if my fellow DUers would have taken such a cavalier attitude toward the rights of interracial couples to marry...

It's about equal rights baby....

I'm a straight guy but a government that tells me who I can and can't fuck is a bigger threat to my individual liberty than Wal Mart will ever be...

Peace

Brian

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. It's Elemental.... The Pukes Are Going After Gays Cuz They Think They Are

Vulnerable...


Like the proverbial good guy who stands up to the schoolyard bully we need to stand up to the Pukes on this....

[zoeyfong]

27. It's pretty sad that half of *dems* don't care about equal rights for gays

No wonder this party is in such a sorry state. it really has no fundamental principles.