OK, so as Dems can we all agree that

[sjdnb]

Gays MUST be afforded the same rights as the rest of us including taking the vows of marriage, if they so choose as well as being afforded full rights of partnership including health care/custody/etc.

If not, Houston - we have a problem. Because my idea of the Democratic party is that it would not think twice before voting in the affirmative.

[origin1286]

1. ...

Churches should not be required to marry gays.

However, I fully support gays being allowed to federally marry.

[sjdnb]

3. Why not?

Really -- if two people love each other and are ready to commit to give their lives to one another -- heck, I'm thinking Jesus would be down with that ... but, maybe you know better?

[origin1286]

4. Well

You can't have your cake and eat it too. Government legislating the rules of the church is bad bad news. If you want government involved in religion to that degree, you're opening up a can of worms. Churches should be free to set their own rules. There should be no rule prohibiting churches from marrying gays, but no rule mandating.

If a bunch of churches wanted to marry gays, no problem.

If a church didn't want to, thats their prerogative.

I feel that federally they should be entitled to the exact same rights as heterosexual married couples.

[musicblind]

6. gay marriage

Legalizing gay marriage would not require churches to marry gay people. It would allow the churches that DO wish to marry gay people in a legal ceremony the right to do that. That is the only thing that it would allow. I am gay and do not support the idea of forcing any church to do anything. However I do go to church, in fact there is an all gay church in Winston Salem. My friend, who is a pastor at the united church of christ in asheboro has said to me that he WISHES he had the right to marry gays in a legalized wedding. He believes it is his religious right to do this.

Gay marriage forces no church to marry anyone. No church is required to marry a STRAIGHT couple. Churches may do as they wish. All legalizing gay marriage does is make it legal for a church to marry gay people. The same way it is legal to have interacial marriage. No church can be FORCED to have an interacial marriage ceremony, but it is now (and has been for a long time) legal for a church to have a legalized interacial marriage ceremony if they choose... and the vast majority of them rightfully choose to do so.

[mathewsleep]

2. gays and lesbians

should have the same exact rights as straight people do. one day, they will.

[terisan]

5. Agreed