What does marriage mean to you?

[cynatnite]

I've been married to my best friend for almost twenty years. For us, marriage means a hell of a lot. It wasn't a religious action in any way at all. We were married by a justice of the peace in an office building.

We married for purely emotional reasons. We loved each other and wanted to meld our lives together in every way possible. There is the legal aspect, but the emotional portion of it was compounded by the fact we would become a family, share a name and walk the same path together. For us, marriage was a commitment that said more about what we meant to one another than anything else we could do.

When I think about how some groups want to take that away from some couples in California I get very emotional about it. I think about it how it would feel for some stranger to decide that my marriage wasn't as important as theirs. For me, it would be very hard to deal with if suddenly my marriage didn't exist.

My relationship with my husband would still be there. That wouldn't go away, but it still would be very difficult that people I don't know could make these kinds of decisions about my relationship. Telling me and my husband we're not married based on a religion we're not part of would be an emotional hit for me.

I put myself in that place and every fiber of my being tells me that it is wrong to tell two people how they are allowed and not allowed to express their feelings for one another.

My husband and I are no better or no worse than any other couple who love each other, but yet, our marriage, our relationship is set higher than a gay couple based on our sex alone. It's not based on how long we've been married, our financial assets, our children or anything else. He is a man and I am a woman. In the eyes of the law, that alone makes our relationship mean more than a gay couple's.

That's why gay marriage isn't just about defining marriage. To me, it's about equal rights, ending the legalization of discrimination, and stopping the religious legislation. Most of all...it's an expression of love that can't be defined by anyone else.

[pt22]

1. Well said! I see these goobers on the teevee complaining about the California

marriages and I wonder "why the hell would this person even CARE...?" I can't figure out how they are affected at all!
:grr:

[HockeyMom]

2. Marriage means whatever the two people involved

want it to mean. That can be very different from one couple to the next. Neither organized religion nor the government can make marriage one size fits all.

My husband and I will be married 35 years this August.

[readmoreoften]

3. Means the government and corporations can't tear me away from my partner.

It means we might not be segregated in a FEMA detention center. That I can visit her in the hospital. That if we need to be evacuated we won't be separated. That sort of thing.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Beautifully said!

To me, my husband is the most sacred trust given me by God. Our souls walk the same path to nurture one another and to help each other reach the Eternal Goal. I am so happy that my gay brothers and lesbian sisters can now marry, and show the world their commitment to one another.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Absolutely agree ...

(The only thing I don't agree with is the same names part, lol! I've kept mine and refuse to part with it!) And we did have a religious ceremony - recognizing both our family's traditions. But yes, how could any sane person argue against someone else's right to marry?

There is no logic to it. It's ugliness and hatred, pure and simple.

[cynatnite]

6. I debated on whether or not to take his name...

When it comes to last names I've never been overly attached to mine. The name I was born with I had for only a portion of my life. Then I used my stepdad's name for a little while, got married and used my ex-husband's name...and he was a complete asshole.

Everything changed when I met my guy. :)

[JerseygirlCT]

7. It's ok - your choice!

I suggested my then-fiance change his to mine. He looked at me like I'd grown two heads. I said: that's precisely how I feel about changing mine.

He's a really smart guy; got it right away, and has defended my choice to all the people, from family to strangers, who think it's any of their business to comment!