Saintandy666

Not legally I believe, but don't underestimate the power of semantics.

Because it says that straight peoples relationships mean more somehow. It's just basic equality. I can't help but feel we are going in circles here.

No, I said we'll all look back and see how unfair and discriminative we were retrospectively(like we do for slavery). I didn't compare the banning of marriage to gays to the hardships(that's putting it lightly) people who were enslaved went through. It is important though that we are equal on this. There is absolutely no reason why gays should not be allowed to marry, as I have reiterated many times before.

I've never expressed such an extreme version of that opinion though. I've said from the beginning that it is a matter of choice and that choice should be open to gay people and straight people. VFTT expressed it well earlier I believe.

No, I said if you go down to some silly genetic level(and sexuality is derived from your DNA), then yes they are different, but we are ALL different in our genes(and it means nothing, as I said I have brown hair, someone else might have blonde hair). My genes are different to your genes. All your difference point does is illustrate how indifferent we all are really, and that there is absolutely no choice in being gay and therefore it is absolutely unfair to discriminate based on sexuality and so we must allow equal marriage. You are arguing(probably playing devils advocate) against me, so I just assumed you are against it. What is your opinion?

I believe that sexuality is a genetic based thing, so if you want to go down to genetics, then sure, they are different. BUT, we're all different. I have brown hair, someone else might have blonde hair(both sexuality and hair colour are gene based). So what? My genetics are slightly different to yours and everyone else on here. But for all intents and purposes, we are both human beings and function pretty much exactly the same way. Your argument of they shouldn't be able to marry because some people say marriage isn't important is VERY weak as well, as it should be choice based.

Surely priority should be given to the most suitable couple, regardless of sexuality.

No, they are like everyone else. I could go into a Merchant of Venice speech here to illustrate my point, but I won't to save time. But there is absolutely nothing different about gay people at all. Why are they so different that they shouldn't be allowed to marry.

To say that though gives marriages some divine importance, which obviously isn't true. What marriage is though, is a way people like to commit to each other(so expression of love) and also a legal contract effectively. This should be open to all. My opinion on marriage is that it isn't the be all and end all and relationships don't need it to function. However, it does carry a lot of symbolic importance in people's minds and it is grossly unfair that not everyone gets to share the in the symbolism of marriage. There are absolutely no reasons why gay people shouldn't be able to marry. I appreciate your argument that 'marriage isn't important today anyways', but it isn't an argument against gay people being allowed to marry.

You can get married outside of a church. I don't understand your point. Even the government propositions for equal marriage don't propose gay marriages for example in a Catholic church. They just propose it for civil marriages.

It really isn't a christian ceremony though anymore. You are living in the past. They lost ownership of it long ago and if I recall correctly, civil ceremonies are overtaking religious ceremonies in popularity very soon. It is absolutely not a Christian ceremony(it's a social construct as well, not a divine creation). It is in essence when it boils down to it a legal ceremony, but obviously there is a lot of imagery and meaning that comes with it that gay people should absolutely be allowed to share in.

Marriage is what we say it is and what we make of it and is a social construct, and churches can only marry because the state says they can. And if you can't see why 2 people of the same sex would want to get married, you are very short sighted indeed.

I just don't believe you can force your beliefs on others. As long as gay people have the right to marry and equality is there in that respect, I would hope that Churches will eventually follow suit(if only to stop their growing isolation), though I realise that could be somewhat naive.

I regret my usage of the word 'impractical'. I wish everyone did agree with me on this, but not everyone is going to. The important aspect for me is choice. The CoE needs to get out of the state though if it is serious about it's opposition to this.

I don't think you can force Churches to do gay marriages. It's just impractical. We can only hope they evolve in time. However, the CoE, which is the state religion should have to do unless it wants to get out of the state.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4afw0uzXpE

I never said it was so important that they marry. I said it is so important that they have the *CHOICE* to marry. It's basic equality.

I think you have misunderstood my post. My I never said that was referring to your 'I keep being told marriage means nothing' comment. My point was it means what people want it to mean and it is a personal choice whether you enter into it or not, and that choice should be available to all. And yes, I did say I was all for it in that thread. I am all for gay marriage, there is absolutely no reason not to.

I've certainly never said that. I think it is a personal choice. Why does anyone get married then? Some will want to marry to express their love, others won't... the fact is though gay people don't even have that choice. Your argument is weak and basically based on stuff which I've never said, but what you've apparently been told 'many times'.

Most talented person in Britain is... oh. (loved the dog though)

It's not about proving their love. It's just basic equality. Can you think of a reason why they shouldn't be allowed to get married?

Because they will be. They can finally express their love in the same way as everyone else. It's just a simple matter of equality of relationship. By not allowing it, society is saying their love isn't equal to our love and that is wrong.

I see absolutely no reason why equal marriage shouldn't be allowed to happen. The only thing that will happen if it is allowed is that gay marriage will take place, and a lot of people will be happy.

The official twitter app serves me well.

Lucky woman. I assume the Express will be running a front page story tomorrow commending the ECHR's decision.