Vermont Senator to Introduce Marriage Bill

Look People, lets just make it easy and follow the European model. ALL couples, straight or gay, must go to the local City Hall to be married. Generally referred to as Civil Marriage. IF you want a church wedding or to have your vows "sanctified" by some person in a religious ceremony, you can do that. But for the government the only marriage that counts is the one in City Hall...if you get married in a church without going to City Hall it doesn't count for the government. There problem solved...no problem with existing code of laws where there are references to marriage or spouse. All people are treated equally under the law. I know from first hand knowledge as my husband and I have been legally married for 5 years in Belgium and until US Immigration law changes I cannot bring him back to the USA as my spouse because of DOMA, so I live in exile from my homeland.

Pam, I agree with you but think if it was to be like that, it needs to take another step. Let religious groups have marriage, and have the word struck from US Law. Every couple, hetero or homosexual, would, in the eyes of the law, be in a civil union. Being married could have a religious meaning to the couple, but, in the eyes of the law, would mean nothing. Let religious people keep their term, and give the LGBT community true equality!

Jeff, excellent point! And now that I'm thinking about it, why didn't our community start doing that sooner? Good call! I'm not a gay citizen - I am a citizen. I don't pay gay taxes - I pay taxes. I don't want gay equality - I want equality!

the religious term for marriage is the sacrament of Holy Matriamony. marriage is a civil term and that is what we seek in all 50 states. whether or not any particular church whiches to perform a sacramental rite upon a same sex couple is of no concern.

Pam, marriage is more than just a religious institution. New Jersey adopted civil unions, believing and declaring that couples joined in civil unions would have all the rights of married couples. It hasn't worked out that way. For example, there have been problems with medical insurance and other employee benefits. Separate but equal is never equal.

Pam: Marriage is not a religious ceremony; it is a state law (you may feel that it is religious, but the fight for marriage equality is for "equality under the law"). You get a license from the state, not a religious group; you do not have to involve anything religious to complete the process of getting married; you do not have to belong to or believe in any religion. Religious rituals such as baptism do not involve the state, so yes they are religious and can be limited to whomever the particular religion wants. Creating a "civil-union" law, or any other name, could be done so long as it is implemented in the law for everyone equally. This would require the changing of every law that has any link to marriage, in every state and in the federal codes. The CA Supreme Court considered whether a separate system should be used besides marriage, for everyone, but ruled that was not in the interest of the people.

Pam, it took me awhile over past few years to figure that out (assuming it was only about the word). It's about SO being innate, love being personal, the mandatory social role that "we the people" give TO civil govt in the US, and freedom among religious expression. One civil (state, govt) marriage law for all citizens, equally. I lived in a small western frontier county of 23,000 with 60 separate churches mostly "christian". No one or several should dictate marriage outside their boundary (freedom of individual choice to affiliate/ marry their way), and certainly not to the federal civil govt of USAll.

Thoughtful and pertinent post, Jeff !!! Why is marriage being denied to some U.S. citizens when others are not questioned or challenged. We all pay taxes .... where is the equality ??

Why, why why do we have to have "marriage?" Can't we have civil unions, and get the same benefits? A "marriage" is a religious ceremony, based on biblical principles. Hets get pissed about it because of the religious connotations of it all! Let's take it out of the equation, and get the same rights!!

Dear Jeff, that is the most intelligent thought I have heard for weeks. I invite You to write more comments? Sincerely, Rod, CDA, ID.