Thought help: Portraits of Newlywed Gay Couples in New York - Help.com

It was about time to change the hillbilly rules!
Nice pics, thx.

That’s what I noticed too, the huge smiles!

That’s pretty sweet, :D glad the US is getting better..

yay, let celebrate love….in all it’s glorious forms

Good for them.

I don’t really support gay marriage, but it’s truly wonderful to see people so happy :)

Love ,there is no better feeling .

Sparrowhawk wrote:
I don’t really support gay marriage, but it’s truly wonderful to see people so happy :)

Why don’t you support it?

Sparrowhawk wrote:
I don’t really support gay marriage, but it’s truly wonderful to see people so happy :)

… I’m glad no one asked you for your support.

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
Why don’t you support it?

It goes against my religious beliefs.

Anonymous wrote:
… I’m glad no one asked you for your support.

Okay, why?

Sparrowhawk wrote:

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
Why don’t you support it?

It goes against my religious beliefs.

Anonymous wrote:
… I’m glad no one asked you for your support.

Okay, why?

Oh I see.

That’s amazing, thank you for sharing!
I’m a very big supporter of the LGBT community and it brings a big smile to my face seeing all those couples so happy.

Thanks for sharing.

Thats very nice, oddly i dont know how i feel about it. i just hate seeing how they are treated as outsiders which isnt the “christian” thing to do. i mean those people are PEOPLE

and i like those pics, i have myself religious beliefs but eh idk im glad their happy :)

Awesome! Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait until my significant other are able to get married too. :)

Thank you for sharing this! I love love :)

Thank you for the invite, [awzee], I’m always amazed at how happy their faces are.

AwwZee :) you write perfect name AwwZee :)

Beautiful pictures definately it’s the best moments of them and Every picture is speacial…Thank you for invite :)

And Hope to see that SAME BIG SMILE on FAce verry soon l0ool… hehe you know what i mean ..hehe

Best Of LucK.

God bless YOu Ozy :)

-dyal

ON your Face * lol spelling mistakes sory :D

it’s a nice thing that everyone can married the person they love,dont mind what they are gay,les,or bi..or stright..its a very nice thing :) Im very happy for them,they look so happy as well..

So…maybe lot of country make that..
even Malta.

Goodluck all :)
and thanks for the lovley news :)

:D

Aww this is so cool :)

Aww! This is a beautiful post..:)

Yes, of course it doesn’t matter..love is not based upon gender or age. The only thing that matter is the heart. It’s the feeling that brings people together and with the commitment and many other key factors that are involved in relationship..it’s the feeling between two people that will continue you through out to later stages of the relationship and life:) ..but I guess you all know that lol.

Thanks for the invite L4U:) am so glad to come here..this is so nice and beautiful to see such joyous moments being shared:) And Awzee.. all the best for you forthcoming marriage. Will be happy to see your and his pic here soon;p

All the best to all future couples and would be couples..no matter where you are in your relationship, it’s the feeling that counts and will continuely bind to unfold the true colours of lurvee:)

Princess K wrote:
Aww! This is a beautiful post..:)

Yes, of course it doesn’t matter..love is not based upon gender or age. The only thing that matter is the heart. It’s the feeling that brings people together and with the commitment and many other key factors that are involved in relationship..it’s the feeling between two people that will continue you through out to later stages of the relationship and life:) ..but I guess you all know that lol.

Thanks for the invite L4U:) am so glad to come here..this is so nice and beautiful to see such joyous moments being shared:) And Awzee.. all the best for you forthcoming marriage. Will be happy to see your and his pic here soon;p

All the best to all future couples and would be couples..no matter where you are in your relationship, it’s the feeling that counts and will continuely bind to unfold the true colours of lurvee:)

Your welcome :)

good luck with your marriage plans ozy! the “i love you” bean plant will undoubtedly play a role in that.

“TO love another person is to see the Face of GOD ” ………WOW never heard that before .

You gave me a little photographic tour of capturing the beauty of marital relationship regardless of gender, which brightened up my day a bit. Thanks for sharing :)

Goodfella wrote:
“TO love another person is to see the Face of GOD ” ………WOW never heard that before .

Yes, but to be gay and lesbian has nothing to do with loving somebody. It’s a sexual identification. It doesn’t define who you love. Just who you have sex with. It’s like saying that it’s okay to marry a dog, because you love the dog and you have sex with the dog, and the dog feels the same way. Or it’s okay to engage in incest and marry your brother or sister, just because you love them and have sex with them.

How foolish and sad we have become. We don’t even take the time to learn history and know WHY marriage exists, but we want it, and we want it NOW! Gotta have instant gratification. Can’t bother to cook supper because McDonald’s is quicker. Can’t bother to exercise so we sit in front of the TV. Then we have to do something so we don’t feel bad about ourselves. How pathetic and childish we have become as a people!

The problem is that some people look at homosexuality and see it as a deviance, something that can be “fixed”, something that is un-natural. It has been quite obvious to me for some time now, that gay people are born the way they are. Looking at those pictures up there, could anyone possibly imagine one of these men or women being in a loving relationship with someone of the opposite sex? We can ask any homosexual person who’s tried for years to adapt to the norm, how “natural” it felt to have sex with someone of the opposite gender. They would tell us that, in fact, that is what was un-natural to them. If it were that simple for gays live happily in a relationship with someone of the other sex, isn’t it obvious that they would simply choose to, if only to make their lives easier living in our societies?

That’s my personal view on the matter and I’ve decided to express it here. That being said, I do not wish to go any further into discussing the subject. Even though I’m not homosexual myself, I do feel it necessary, from time to time, to express my own observations.

Thank you for the post, Awzee. The pictures are absolutely wonderful. Everyone on each of them is radiant with love and joy. It is really beautiful to see… :)

Blest wrote:

Goodfella wrote:
“TO love another person is to see the Face of GOD ” ………WOW never heard that before .

Yes, but to be gay and lesbian has nothing to do with loving somebody. It’s a sexual identification. It doesn’t define who you love. Just who you have sex with.

the post is about sharing people’s joy, but I’ll still take the time to help…

Purely sexual relationships last a few months, romantic love up to about 7 years. But 33? And that’s not pressured into it by social conformity, that a lifetime of choice there.

History can teach us not to have sex with animals and siblings for medical and consent etc type reasons. Nothing against gay. Only the holy books teach us that.

Sex, romance, attachment, love. Just words. But them smiles… :)

Excellent pics awzee. Glad to see that the small minded hick mentality can no longer get in the way of happiness =]

♡ML♡ wrote:
The problem is that some people look at homosexuality and see it as a deviance, something that can be “fixed”, something that is un-natural. It has been quite obvious to me for some time now, that gay people are born the way they are. Looking at those pictures up there, could anyone possibly imagine one of these men or women being in a loving relationship with someone of the opposite sex? We can ask any homosexual person who’s tried for years to adapt to the norm, how “natural” it felt to have sex with someone of the opposite gender. They would tell us that, in fact, that is what was un-natural to them. If it were that simple for gays live happily in a relationship with someone of the other sex, isn’t it obvious that they would simply choose to, if only to make their lives easier living in our societies?

That’s my personal view on the matter and I’ve decided to express it here. That being said, I do not wish to go any further into discussing the subject. Even though I’m not homosexual myself, I do feel it necessary, from time to time, to express my own observations.

Thank you for the post, Awzee. The pictures are absolutely wonderful. Everyone on each of them is radiant with love and joy. It is really beautiful to see… :)

I’m curious to know what you think marriage is though. If marriage were just “You have sex with somebody and you love them” then of course homosexuality would be given the right to marry. So would bestiality, polygamy, incest, pedophilia, and any other kind of sexual appetite. So what is the difference between loving somebody you have sex with, and marriage? There are many loving sexual partners who would never get married, and many people who are married that do not enjoy having sex with their spouse… and may not even love their spouse. So, if a loving sexuality are not requirements or even components of a marriage, what is marriage exactly?

That’s the question that most people don’t understand, and so the answer itself boggles the mind as well. But once you figure out the answer, you gain a better understanding as to why marriage has only existed between a man and a woman for thousands of years. In the Roman Empire, there were homosexual relationships all over the place. Sexuality was not an issue, and neither was the sexual relationship of a pedophile and a young person. But they didn’t attempt to make those kinds of relationships into marriages. Because they knew that there is a difference between sexuality and marriage.

It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior. The point of sex in all species of life is to reproduce. To deny that is to say that biology and science don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.

Even if people are born with a natural attraction to the same sex, it is probably a genetic defect of some kind. It’s probably why many GLBT groups actively lobby against genetic study into sexuality. Knowledge is the enemy regardless of what they find with science. If it is discovered that homosexuality is a genetic thing, then it would give a mother the right to abort a child with the “gay gene”. It would also allow for future science to produce some kind of cure for homosexuality. If the opposite is true, and they discover that sexuality has no genetic code at all, then it ends up being a psychological thing. It would either be a mental stronghold that can be built and destroyed, or it would be a preference, just like preference in food which you can develop a “taste” for over time.

I’m not against gay marriage. I’m just not for it either. The truth of the matter is that we don’t know enough about homosexuality and its affects on our culture and species to knowingly and wisely allow things to happen or not. All of this stuff going on with gay rights, it’s all just instant gratification. People want what they want, and they want it right now. They can’t just be patient.

To the OP…

Is it a tangent to engage with Blest’s reply?

” L-O-V-E ” !!!!! No matter who you love ! It’s between you and your partner !!

[awzee wrote:
]blest, just look at the love in the photographs. the post is about love, not politics.

I thought it was about marriage, not love.

Marriage is most certainly not only about sex. It’s about a commitment between two people to love and support each other, among other things… Or so, has it recently been explained to me by a representative of the Church.

And yes Awzee… a picture is worth a thousand words. :) :)

Blest wrote:

[awzee wrote:
]blest, just look at the love in the photographs. the post is about love, not politics.

I thought it was about marriage, not love.

Indeed.

I agree with a lot of your reasoning, and asked myself similar questions. I was.frustrated by the inconsistent views, and the lack of willingness to discuss intelligently.

Welcome to reply on my post.

http://help.com/post/405576-gay-marri…

My personal conclusion was that marriage was not about love, but a social construct for making a family. Families need stability, support, and love, and gay couples can make families.

♡ML♡ wrote:
Marriage is most certainly not only about sex. It’s about a commitment between two people to love and support each other, among other things… Or so, has it recently been explained to me by a representative of the Church.

And yes Awzee… a picture is worth a thousand words. :) :)

Well, here are some other pictures of happy couples on their wedding days. A man and his goat, a man and his dog wife, and even a man and his inanimate pillow-wife. Don’t they look happy!? :D

http://media.apnonline.com.au/img/med…
http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/12/sud…
http://thexodirectory.com/2010/07/kor…

A picture is worth a thousand words. And I see very little difference between the guy marrying a goat or a pillow, and the guy marrying another guy (or woman marrying another woman). There’s simply a well-funded political activism group for one, and not for the other.

That’s your view, Blest. You’re entitled to it!

Uh huh… (lol)

Blest…

Other than religious rules, your reason that marriage is between man and woman is about having babies?

[awzee wrote:
]

comparing homosexuals to goats, dogs, and pillows surprisingly doesn’t do wonders for your case.

It does fit the given description. Photo, happy, married, sex, love etc.

But not this one…

marriage is a celebration of love and devotion. passion, commitment, trust, vulnerability, promise.

I like that one. And for me, it also means babies, but I know that not what it means for everyone.

[awzee wrote:
]

Chunkymoves wrote:

[awzee wrote:
]

comparing homosexuals to goats, dogs, and pillows surprisingly doesn’t do wonders for your case.

It does fit the given description. Photo, happy, married, sex, love etc.

that’s a very primitive understanding of marriage and love.

And that’s why I sad someone beat me to proposing to you, but not that the pillow is no longer single

For me it the clincher.

I can be genuinely happy and supportive of people and their loving relationship. But not marriage to me unless it nest building.

Just how I see the word. They want special support networks, tax breaks, special rules and wills, me giving big gifts towards starting a home… Sure, as babies need lots of support, and as a member of their community, I want to give it.

Part of being biological is that the idea of cute little babies makes me want to support, and to me that’s a big part of marriage, its a public thing

those picture are really amazing ^_^

they look so happy and am so happy this is happening in USA ^_^

i hope more countries will come to accept the simple, simplicity complexity of love ^_^

[awzee wrote:
]

Chunkymoves wrote:
And that’s why I sad someone beat me to proposing to you, but not that the pillow is no longer single

haha. :) there are always many other pillows in the sea, er, home furnishing department. ;)

Haha

Chunkymoves wrote:
Blest…

Other than religious rules, your reason that marriage is between man and woman is about having babies?

That is part of it. The other part of it has to do with culture. Imagine if you will, that there is a culture that is purely homosexual. They have rare cases of heterosexuality in which people reproduce, but their people are strongly homosexual, and homosexuality is a regular part of everybody’s life. Would it not be wrong to go into that culture, and try to change it? Would it not be immoral to force a minority viewpoint like Heterosexuality onto a culture that doesn’t want or need it?

If something like 50% of the population were homosexual, I could understand how institutions like marriage, which are thousands of years old, might change. But that’s not the case here. The biggest mistakes in the history of the world took place when people didn’t understand what they were dealing with. We know so little about how homosexuality affects a society or culture. The little that we do know suggests that as a culture becomes more selfish and greedy, homosexuality increases in popularity. It has happened in many great civilizations in history. I don’t think homosexuality causes civilizations to fall, but it is one of the major things, and it appears about three generations before they fell.

My reason that marriage should be between a man and a woman is because we know what that does to societies, cultures, and people. We have thousands of years of evidence to prove that it works. And we have thousands of years of evidence to show that even in homosexual and pederasty societies, marriage remained between men and women. I would advocate the same patience and caution with any social institution that insists on copying or replacing institutions that have existed for thousands of years.

It’s very possible that gay marriage is a great thing. It’s equally possible that it’s an alarming symptom of a decaying society. Because we do not KNOW, I prefer to stand on the side of patience and caution. But I’m not selfish or governed by instant gratification either. I’m willing to go my whole life without something, if I think that staying away from something will allow the world more time to understand it and judge it.

Can see where you are coming from, and before I went and found gay couples that were IMO good parents, I had the same fears. If it were my post, I’d reply more

Chunkymoves wrote:
Can see where you are coming from, and before I went and found gay couples that were IMO good parents, I had the same fears. If it were my post, I’d reply more

I appreciate it that others have given similar thought to the topic. I really hate it when people think I’m against happiness, or against gays and lesbians just because I’m not in favor of gay marriage. In fact, it’s kinda scary how some people think, “If you’re not with us, then you’re against us!” It’s horrible to think that people are so closed minded, especially if they are GLBT oriented. I would think that people who suffer from closed minded ideas would be less likely to be closed minded themselves. But I guess that’s not usually the case. It’s good to know that there are people like you that are exceptions to the rule.

Wow what a beautiful post =)
I love how they look soo happy :) thx a lot for sharing these pics =]

People who attach unthinkingly to fundamental ideas. Not a fan as you know.

People who unthinkingly ignore all guidelines, all history and undermine foundations and traditional ways. Also not a fan.

But mainly I’m not a fan of people who pick on those that want to question either approach. Actions have consequences. And thinking is hot.

I did my thinking on my post, and now i’m happier with gay marriage.
And yeah, I know I don’t rule the world, but I am part of the world that marriage seeks public approval from.

Blest, please save your marriage arguments for another post. I’d love to explain the “evolution of marriage” to you but that is NOT the purpose of this post!!!

Awzee, the pictures are absolutely beautiful! I’m happy that marriage between two loving (and consenting) individuals no longer carries the qualifier of “man and wife”!

I live in Montana, which is unfortunately very “conservative white Christian”. My best friend and his partner are unable to be legally wed, however that didn’t stop them! Last summer, they had a beautiful wedding ceremony and were married by a minister in front of God and their family and friends. Their wedding was just as beautiful as a heterosexual wedding! :) Seeing these pictures brought back happy memories and makes me hopeful that one day their marriage will also be considered legal.

Zirbel wrote:
It was about time to change the hillbilly rules!
Nice pics, thx.

Notice how the “hillbilly” rules work for hundreds of years creating the most powerful country in the world. Notice when you start changing the rules the empire starts to fall. This is only the beginning.

If you are too open minded your brain will fall out. America’s brain has fallen out. Why can’t we stick to with what works? Apparently it’s the best way considering it made us who we are today, why would you want to change it?

Anonymous wrote:
Blest, please save your marriage arguments for another post. I’d love to explain the “evolution of marriage” to you but that is NOT the purpose of this post!!!

Awzee, the pictures are absolutely beautiful! I’m happy that marriage between two loving (and consenting) individuals no longer carries the qualifier of “man and wife”!

I live in Montana, which is unfortunately very “conservative white Christian”. My best friend and his partner are unable to be legally wed, however that didn’t stop them! Last summer, they had a beautiful wedding ceremony and were married by a minister in front of God and their family and friends. Their wedding was just as beautiful as a heterosexual wedding! :) Seeing these pictures brought back happy memories and makes me hopeful that one day their marriage will also be considered legal.

I don’t argue. I’m just talking. Something you guys see as really happy and good, I see as something questionable that hasn’t been tested and tried.

If somebody announced that they had found a cure for cancer, millions of people would rejoice. But what if 20 years down the road, we find out that the cure for cancer actually created some kind of transmittable mutated disease that lays dormant for 20 years? You would have millions of people who used the “cure” spreading a disorder to the entire human race. The cure would end up making billions of people unable to live longer than 20 years old.

When you start messing with the foundations of something, the building blocks of an entity or construct… you run the risk of things going horribly awry. Many people who work with cancer, AIDS, and other horrible diseases, they know the risk of messing with genetics. They know the possibility that what cures us today could ail us in the future. So they are slow, methodical, and they learn about things before they try to “fix” the problem.

Family, and by extension society, are built upon marriage. Just like cells, and by extension a human being, are built upon genetics. Changing something that is so fundamental and powerful in either entity is going to produce profound and unknown effects. There are a dozen reasons why I do not think that this issue has been rushed and not been examined. But my lack of enthusiasm is more in regards to the reasons I cannot think of; the reasons that nobody could foresee.

Should time prove me wrong, I will be happy to be wrong. But that is the problem. Nobody but me seems to have any interest in being patient enough to see whether it’s a good thing or not. They’re so wrapped up in their own selfishness and their petty little lives to see anything beyond their own desires. Instant gratification has triumphed over patience, diligence, and wisdom. So forgive me if I do not find it appropriate to celebrate the folly of impatience and greed.

I think it’s great that these people are so happy.
I think it’s right and fair that they have the right to choose to do that if they want to.
I think a lot of people get married for the wrong reasons whether heterosexual or homosexual or whatever else they might be.
Marriage these days means so many different things to each individual person and some people just don’t get married for the right reasons and I think that’s really sad and that’s what’s wrong with the institution of marriage.
At the end of the day, two consenting, sound minded adults should be allowed to be married and that’s that.

Blest wrote:
So forgive me if I do not find it appropriate to celebrate the folly of impatience and greed.

It can still be positive to celebrate love and happiness, on this site, where so many can’t even remember what love or happiness might look or feel like.

mindhealer wrote:

Blest wrote:
So forgive me if I do not find it appropriate to celebrate the folly of impatience and greed.

It can still be positive to celebrate love and happiness, on this site, where so many can’t even remember what love or happiness might look or feel like.

I agree. And I’m happy that people are finding some joy in this topic. I don’t mean to bring anybody down, or to be a jerk. That’s not my intention. There are a lot of really wonderful people who deserve marriage and children. And there are a lot of rotten ones who are married with kids who don’t deserve it. I’m not judging that. That is a personal and individual assessment. And if people getting married was just about them, and nobody else was affected or influenced by that decision, then I’d be very happy.

It just isn’t that simple though. What we do, what we believe in, what we denounce, and what we embrace… those are things that affect our society and people as a whole. And while I am happy for the individuals, that happiness is overshadowed by the concern of larger things.

Blest wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Blest, please save your marriage arguments for another post. I’d love to explain the “evolution of marriage” to you but that is NOT the purpose of this post!!!

Awzee, the pictures are absolutely beautiful! I’m happy that marriage between two loving (and consenting) individuals no longer carries the qualifier of “man and wife”!

I live in Montana, which is unfortunately very “conservative white Christian”. My best friend and his partner are unable to be legally wed, however that didn’t stop them! Last summer, they had a beautiful wedding ceremony and were married by a minister in front of God and their family and friends. Their wedding was just as beautiful as a heterosexual wedding! :) Seeing these pictures brought back happy memories and makes me hopeful that one day their marriage will also be considered legal.

I don’t argue. I’m just talking. Something you guys see as really happy and good, I see as something questionable that hasn’t been tested and tried.

If somebody announced that they had found a cure for cancer, millions of people would rejoice. But what if 20 years down the road, we find out that the cure for cancer actually created some kind of transmittable mutated disease that lays dormant for 20 years? You would have millions of people who used the “cure” spreading a disorder to the entire human race. The cure would end up making billions of people unable to live longer than 20 years old.

When you start messing with the foundations of something, the building blocks of an entity or construct… you run the risk of things going horribly awry. Many people who work with cancer, AIDS, and other horrible diseases, they know the risk of messing with genetics. They know the possibility that what cures us today could ail us in the future. So they are slow, methodical, and they learn about things before they try to “fix” the problem.

Family, and by extension society, are built upon marriage. Just like cells, and by extension a human being, are built upon genetics. Changing something that is so fundamental and powerful in either entity is going to produce profound and unknown effects. There are a dozen reasons why I do not think that this issue has been rushed and not been examined. But my lack of enthusiasm is more in regards to the reasons I cannot think of; the reasons that nobody could foresee.

Should time prove me wrong, I will be happy to be wrong. But that is the problem. Nobody but me seems to have any interest in being patient enough to see whether it’s a good thing or not. They’re so wrapped up in their own selfishness and their petty little lives to see anything beyond their own desires. Instant gratification has triumphed over patience, diligence, and wisdom. So forgive me if I do not find it appropriate to celebrate the folly of impatience and greed.

Blest…life is not static and neither is anything in life. Accidentally creating a genetic mutation on the order of “I am Legend” (good movie!) is not going to happen with gay marriage! While I see your concern, I feel it is unfounded and contradictory to logic and historical events.

Go way, way back…

Cavemen and women did not get married-they reproduced similarly to a wolf pack. The concept of marriage and family did not even exist. As humans became more developed, they still had community units (not family units). It was not until possessions that individual family units came into play.

Marriage was (until the last 100years or so) and still in many parts of the world is, a business deal. Weddings were originally legal events that signified a father giving his daughter to her husband in exchange for goods or money. The new couple then had children in order to build their wealth.

Marriage is now a union between two individuals who love each other and legal promise to support each other. Marriages based on love are a new occurrence, and I, for one, am happy marriage has evolved from a business deal into a consenting union.

Legalizing marriage for the gay community is not a selfish act that will end in the destruction of society! It is instead allowing these men and women to legally do what they would do anyway. Homosexual men and women are not going to (willingly) marry a heterosexual mate and reproduce-even if they weren’t allowed to marry homosexually! You seem to assume that legalizing their unions will make for fewer reproducing pairs. Instead it will make for more supporting pairs that can adopt (if they choose) or simply live together, thus reducing the strain on society (in the form of housing, transportation, etc.)

From your position, Blest, I take that you support marriage solely in its primitive form. Therefore you must only support arranged marriages (they typically have a lower divorce rate and a higher number of children per family) vs. free marriages.

Anonymous wrote:

Go way, way back…

Cavemen and women did not get married-they reproduced similarly to a wolf pack.

First off, how on earth do you know anything about cave-men? We have no historic evidence or record about how cave-men lived, which is why we call them pre-historic. The only thing we know conclusively about cave-men is that they were artists: for they drew upon cave walls. For all we know, cave drawings were done by cave-kids in their cave-nursery, just as children today draw on walls with crayons. How can you assume something as complex and far reaching as the institution of marriage among a group of people that we know nothing about… about a group of people that, as far as we can tell, lived primarily as artists?

Marriage has never been “a business deal.” A business deal was often used in some cultures before a marriage could take place, but do not be silly and think that parents sold their daughters like they might sell a piece of furniture. Men paid the father of the bride because women worked hard and helped support and maintain the family. When you lose somebody who helps support your household, the laws of the day saw it only fair that the parents be paid for their loss, so that they wouldn’t go into debt, poverty, or servitude. It would be similar to our Child Support laws today. Ex-husbands have to pay their ex-wives a form of dowery to care for the children, because he was once a part of the household and helped support it.

Business deals are still required before a marriage can take place, even in the modern world. Only instead of the father of the bride getting paid, it is now the state you live in that gets paid. For without a marriage license, you cannot be legally wed.

I do not “seem to think” anything that you suggest. Please do not read between the lines of what I say. And again, this isn’t about the destruction of society. It’s about people leaping before they look, and not being able to patiently study and understand something before jumping on board with it. I am not against gay rights, or gay marriage. I am against impatience and recklessness.

Do you know how long it has taken the Western World to examine women’s rights? It took centuries to understand and promote. Of course, it could be blamed on not having communication technologies like we have them today, but women’s rights took a long time to develop. And even though most people agree that it’s good for women to have equal standing with men, there are still people out there who choose not to be. There are millions of women who feel like bad mothers because they work all the time. They feel like horrible wives because they cannot cook, or don’t know how to do things that women typically know how to do. Our kids are raised by strangers in daycares and schools, because we have no time for them. And that bothers a lot of people.

Now, when women in the 1920s were promoting women’s rights, and women in the 1940s were working in factory jobs so the normal workers could go off to war… none of them ever imagined that their actions would one day lead to a world where children and parents only see each other for an hour or two a day, and are raised by strangers. And yet, millions upon millions of families are just like that today. My grandpa can tell you everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, about both his parents and all four of his grandparents. He knows everything from their greatest fears to their favorite colors. But you ask some kids what their parents ate for supper last night, and they don’t know. Because they ate supper in their room while watching TV, and never saw their parents eat.

What we do affects our way of life in ways we cannot imagine right now. For better or worse, that’s just how it goes. And the only evidence we have as to homosexuality’s role in society, is that it has featured heavily in the final three generations before the societies fell. That is not to say that it caused society to fall; just that it always appears immediately ahead of it. It’s almost like an omen, or a warning beacon. It may not be bad at all. Perhaps it’s a very good thing, in that it is warning of something bad to come. Or maybe the kind of thinking that leads to the end of a civilization is the same kind of thinking that leads to promoting homosexuality. Maybe it’s from cultural backlash. The point is that we don’t know. And acting on things that we don’t know is foolish and very risky.

chunkymove wrote:
gay couples can make families

chunkymove wrote:
I can be genuinely happy and supportive of people and their loving relationship. But not marriage to me unless it nest building.

Just how I see the word. They want special support networks, tax breaks, special rules and wills, me giving big gifts towards starting a home… Sure, as babies need lots of support, and as a member of their community, I want to give it.

Part of being biological is that the idea of cute little babies makes me want to support, and to me that’s a big part of marriage, its a public thing

Oh no. People started discussing here. Too long; didn’t read.

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
Oh no. People started discussing here. Too long; didn’t read.

That’s okay. You can just look at the pretty pictures and smile.
Little kids that can’t read do the same thing, and they don’t seem to mind.

Blest wrote:

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
Oh no. People started discussing here. Too long; didn’t read.

That’s okay. You can just look at the pretty pictures and smile.
Little kids that can’t read do the same thing, and they don’t seem to mind.

Yeah, it’s much more pleasant than reading boring discussions about marriage.

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
Yeah, it’s much more pleasant than reading boring discussions about marriage.

I know. It’s so much more pleasant to just indulge in instant gratification instead of having to deal with all those pesky “ideas.”

Blest wrote:

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
Yeah, it’s much more pleasant than reading boring discussions about marriage.

I know. It’s so much more pleasant to just indulge in instant gratification instead of having to deal with all those pesky “ideas.”

If they are not my ideas then I don’t see the need to bother with them, unless they are actually really beneficial ideas that can help people out.

Blest wrote:
And if people getting married was just about them, and nobody else was affected or influenced by that decision, then I’d be very happy.

It just isn’t that simple though. What we do, what we believe in, what we denounce, and what we embrace… those are things that affect our society and people as a whole. And while I am happy for the individuals, that happiness is overshadowed by the concern of larger things.

Well.. My belief is that happy people are a good thing for any society. Much better to have a loving and happy homosexual couple than a heterosexual one where there is violence and control of the man over his wife and kids. Indeed, there are “larger things” that can overshadow the happiness of a homosexual couple getting married. I can think of an endless list of more damageable things in our societies that certainly could use some urgent attention.

Happiness, it seems to me, is a good thing…

Blest…

” And the only evidence we have as to homosexuality’s role in society, is that it has featured heavily in the final three generations before the societies fell.”

This is a surprisingly narrow idea. Look a bit harder and you’ll see plenty more evidence.

I may not understand homosexuality, but I do understand genuine happy blissful faces..I am happy for them..How could you not be

Anon…

” No two men, or two women, ever conceived a child just, and only, between the two of them. So what are you saying, Chunkymove?”

Saying that gay couples can make families, just like I said. Adoption, sperm/ egg donor etc. Family is more than breeding.

[awzee wrote:
]blest, just look at the love in the photographs. the post is about love, not politics.

[awzee wrote:
]

Blest wrote:

♡ML♡ wrote:
Marriage is most certainly not only about sex. It’s about a commitment between two people to love and support each other, among other things… Or so, has it recently been explained to me by a representative of the Church.

And yes Awzee… a picture is worth a thousand words. :) :)

Well, here are some other pictures of happy couples on their wedding days. A man and his goat, a man and his dog wife, and even a man and his inanimate pillow-wife. Don’t they look happy!? :D

http://media.apnonline.com.au/img/med…
http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/12/sud…
http://thexodirectory.com/2010/07/kor…

A picture is worth a thousand words. And I see very little difference between the guy marrying a goat or a pillow, and the guy marrying another guy (or woman marrying another woman). There’s simply a well-funded political activism group for one, and not for the other.

comparing homosexuals to goats, dogs, and pillows surprisingly doesn’t do wonders for your case.

Blest wrote:

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
Oh no. People started discussing here. Too long; didn’t read.

That’s okay. You can just look at the pretty pictures and smile.
Little kids that can’t read do the same thing, and they don’t seem to mind.

Congratulations, Blest, you managed to turn a post that was a celebration into a political discussion, contrary to the OP’s wishes. Thanks for comparing consenting gay men and women to dogs, goats, and pillows. Thanks for insulting Marquis DeCarabas when she objected to how you had bastardized the post. If only you had been around and in political office back in the 1960s, you could have seen to it that those pesky civil rights activists were hosed down more sufficiently. That way, people who look and think just like you could have had plenty of time to gradually adjust to the idea of equal rights. Better yet, if you were God you could simply smite the lot of us.

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
If they are not my ideas then I don’t see the need to bother with them, unless they are actually really beneficial ideas that can help people out.

How would you know about the ideas unless you bothered with them?

Chunkymoves wrote:

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
If they are not my ideas then I don’t see the need to bother with them, unless they are actually really beneficial ideas that can help people out.

How would you know about the ideas unless you bothered with them?

Nice trolling on that one. I did read the posts. There, are you happy?

Sans Unleashed wrote:
Congratulations, Blest, you managed to turn a post that was a celebration into a political discussion, contrary to the OP’s wishes. Thanks for comparing consenting gay men and women to dogs, goats, and pillows. Thanks for insulting Marquis DeCarabas when she objected to how you had bastardized the post. If only you had been around and in political office back in the 1960s, you could have seen to it that those pesky civil rights activists were hosed down more sufficiently. That way, people who look and think just like you could have had plenty of time to gradually adjust to the idea of equal rights. Better yet, if you were God you could simply smite the lot of us.

Hey! I’m a man! But no hard feelings. ; ) Thanks for understanding where I was actually coming from. =)

Sans Unleashed wrote:
when she objected to how you had bastardized the post.

Bastard? Child born out of wedlock?

Chunkymoves wrote:

Sans Unleashed wrote:
when she objected to how you had bastardized the post.

Bastard? Child born out of wedlock?

You are trolling hard today.

Bastardize - to lower in condition or worth; debase

Marquis…

Yeah happy now. I guessed that it was that you were undermining ideas you disagreed with, instead of just that they you were the type to ignore ideas that you hadn’t come up with.

Not trolling.

Pointing out the choice of words there. As a Bastard I’m not fan of it, but it is relevent to the topic. Historically, marriage gives higher worth to children. Pivotal to many peoples views on marriage.

Historically it did but it no longer does, at least not in the States. Bastard has essentially become a rarely used term to describe any child.

One of the the posts strong underlying themes is of breaking the long held traditional view of marriage. I’m cool with that. But calling my questions trolling?

As a casual observer, You are on a slippery slope, regarding trolling.and questioning…

Chunkymoves wrote:
One of the the posts strong underlying themes is of breaking the long held traditional view of marriage. I’m cool with that. But calling my questions trolling?

Chunkymoves wrote:
One of the the posts strong underlying themes is of breaking the long held traditional view of marriage. I’m cool with that. But calling my questions trolling?

Sorry but they seem like troll questions.

Anonymous wrote:
As a casual observer, You are on a slippery slope, regarding trolling.and questioning…

Really? Off topic, but can’t shout anons, so if you are up for explaining, see my new post

Chunkymoves wrote:
special support networks, tax breaks, special rules and wills, me giving big gifts towards starting a home…

Chunkymoves wrote:
gay couples can make families, just like I said. Adoption, sperm/ egg donor etc. Family is more than breeding

Chunkymoves wrote:
Blest…

” And the only evidence we have as to homosexuality’s role in society, is that it has featured heavily in the final three generations before the societies fell.”

This is a surprisingly narrow idea. Look a bit harder and you’ll see plenty more evidence.

Elderly women have carried a baby using an egg donor, and taxes did not pay for it. And what you are calling “breeding” is that conceiving a child requires sperm (from a male) and an egg (from a female).

Anon…

What point are you making?

It’s more legal in Nevada because getting married to somebody you’ve only met that night is a gamble! Duh duh psssshhh!

what the hell? when i left this post i was wishing ozy luck in her marriage plans.

Baron Scary wrote:
what the hell? when i left this post i was wishing ozy luck in her marriage plans.

Yes, but then Blest invaded.

[awzee wrote:

nice one. ;)

I couldn’t resist.

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
It’s more legal in Nevada because getting married to somebody you’ve only met that night is a gamble! Duh duh psssshhh!

I agree…

And as far as the reproduction debate, I dear here that are distracting me from the joy on the faces of the people above, is flawed.. what do yuo say to those “breeders” aka couples who are able to breed but choose not to, or cannot.. should we paint them n the same brush? NO!

And this is just a pet peeve,… I think it might be great to use people first language… A person who is homosexual, not just a homosexual. It’s just me, .. but is a kind thing to do

Chunkymoves wrote:
Anon…

What point are you making?

Chunkymoves wrote:
Blest…

” And the only evidence we have as to homosexuality’s role in society, is that it has featured heavily in the final three generations before the societies fell.”

This is a surprisingly narrow idea. Look a bit harder and you’ll see plenty more evidence.

What point were you implying “you’ll see plenty more evidence”?

Cupcake…

As awzee has hinted that off topic rants are not super welcome i’ll just say this regarding breeders. I said its just my personal non popular view that those who don’t want kids aren’t getting expensive wedding gifts from me, they can afford their own junk :) gay and straight alike.

And totally agree on not using sexual orientations to completly define a person.

Blest wrote:

♡ML♡ wrote:
The problem is that some people look at homosexuality and see it as a deviance, something that can be “fixed”, something that is un-natural. It has been quite obvious to me for some time now, that gay people are born the way they are. Looking at those pictures up there, could anyone possibly imagine one of these men or women being in a loving relationship with someone of the opposite sex? We can ask any homosexual person who’s tried for years to adapt to the norm, how “natural” it felt to have sex with someone of the opposite gender. They would tell us that, in fact, that is what was un-natural to them. If it were that simple for gays live happily in a relationship with someone of the other sex, isn’t it obvious that they would simply choose to, if only to make their lives easier living in our societies?

That’s my personal view on the matter and I’ve decided to express it here. That being said, I do not wish to go any further into discussing the subject. Even though I’m not homosexual myself, I do feel it necessary, from time to time, to express my own observations.

Thank you for the post, Awzee. The pictures are absolutely wonderful. Everyone on each of them is radiant with love and joy. It is really beautiful to see… :)

I’m curious to know what you think marriage is though. If marriage were just “You have sex with somebody and you love them” then of course homosexuality would be given the right to marry. So would bestiality, polygamy, incest, pedophilia, and any other kind of sexual appetite. So what is the difference between loving somebody you have sex with, and marriage? There are many loving sexual partners who would never get married, and many people who are married that do not enjoy having sex with their spouse… and may not even love their spouse. So, if a loving sexuality are not requirements or even components of a marriage, what is marriage exactly?

That’s the question that most people don’t understand, and so the answer itself boggles the mind as well. But once you figure out the answer, you gain a better understanding as to why marriage has only existed between a man and a woman for thousands of years. In the Roman Empire, there were homosexual relationships all over the place. Sexuality was not an issue, and neither was the sexual relationship of a pedophile and a young person. But they didn’t attempt to make those kinds of relationships into marriages. Because they knew that there is a difference between sexuality and marriage.

It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior. The point of sex in all species of life is to reproduce. To deny that is to say that biology and science don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.

Even if people are born with a natural attraction to the same sex, it is probably a genetic defect of some kind. It’s probably why many GLBT groups actively lobby against genetic study into sexuality. Knowledge is the enemy regardless of what they find with science. If it is discovered that homosexuality is a genetic thing, then it would give a mother the right to abort a child with the “gay gene”. It would also allow for future science to produce some kind of cure for homosexuality. If the opposite is true, and they discover that sexuality has no genetic code at all, then it ends up being a psychological thing. It would either be a mental stronghold that can be built and destroyed, or it would be a preference, just like preference in food which you can develop a “taste” for over time.

I’m not against gay marriage. I’m just not for it either. The truth of the matter is that we don’t know enough about homosexuality and its affects on our culture and species to knowingly and wisely allow things to happen or not. All of this stuff going on with gay rights, it’s all just instant gratification. People want what they want, and they want it right now. They can’t just be patient.

Blest.. why can’t you just be happy and supportive of others instead of running them into the ground? You’ve managed to turn something wonderful into something ugly by twisting it to fit your interpretation. I think from here on I’ll just view you as the troll you turned out to be.

And Awzee, I loved your post!! And that comes from someone that recently got married.. ahem… to someone of the opposite sex, lol…

Blest has been a troll ever since he came on.. Help.com……go away dude

Anon, you seem to be not be engaging, just defensive. And off topic to engage anyway. My last off topic reply, shout me if you want.

[awzee wrote:
]i guess some people can’t handle not pushing their own agenda. :P

There are at least two agendas to every issue. To be able to see both is a rare quality.

I look forward to the day that gay marriage is legal in every state. When the activism and the feeling of a protected minority are replaced by something that can be discussed and argued against rationally as if it was the norm.
I support kindness and love. But this involves neither. This is politics, and I don’t like politics.
Truth be told, I’d probably be arguing like Blest is, but I’m pessimistic of anything useful happening from it. Or in other words, I care less than he does about the welfare of people.

Anonymous wrote:
Blest has been a troll ever since he came on.. Help.com……go away dude

I disagree with many of his views, and perhaps his replies are off topic, but a troll? So long as he respects people, and the rules of the site, he has something to offer.
If the OP doesn’t want someone on their post, they can just say so.

“Opinions don’t have to be respected, just allowed”

Woops. Ok, that was my last off topic reply. Ahhh. Ok awzee, a fine post and made me share a smile with them. I’m out.

Chunkymoves wrote:
Anon, you seem to be not be engaging, just defensive. And off topic to engage anyway. My last off topic reply, shout me if you want.

Chuckled over your last reply, lol.

That was so cute. You could see the pure joy on thier faces. The two old ladies in the wheelchairs really made me want to cry because it was so sweet. I hope more people can enjoy marrying the ones they love, regardless of who they love.

Anonymous wrote:
Blest has been a troll ever since he came on.. Help.com……go away dude

I don’t know, he seems to be a regular helper person, but, speaking of trolls, look at the happiness on these faces: http://www.imisstheoldschool.com/wp-c…
(those are the ones that were allowed to stay and argue about stuff.)

Thats funny, way funny

mindhealer wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Blest has been a troll ever since he came on.. Help.com……go away dude

I don’t know, he seems to be a regular helper person, but, speaking of trolls, look at the happiness on these faces: http://www.imisstheoldschool.com/wp-c…
(those are the ones that were allowed to stay and argue about stuff.)

I loved how happy they looked with each other! You could see love in their smiles =)

Those pictures are all so sweet and adorable :D

disturbing

Gusty wrote:
disturbing

Whats distrubing?

je t’aime wrote:
Those pictures are all so sweet and adorable :D

I agree :)

berzeker23 wrote:

je t’aime wrote:
Those pictures are all so sweet and adorable :D

I agree :)

agreed for agreeing and because i love je t’aime LOL i love the french saying of i love you than english :(

lovely..

I miss Mitch and Cam

Very beautiful specially the old ladies (one is in a wheel chair) they touched my heart!

CharlotteL wrote:
Very beautiful specially the old ladies (one is in a wheel chair) they touched my heart!

i mean can you guys imagine their story?

awzee once again you are a dear one.Bless you.
Thank you for sharing.

Love is love any of its forms and is divine.
It literally holds the whole universe together.

I don’t care what anyone says I love my pillow.

I can’t figure out which one of these is the gay or the straight one.

http://www.imisstheoldschool.com/wp-c…

spiratec9 wrote:
I can’t figure out which one of these is the gay or the straight one.

http://www.imisstheoldschool.com/wp-c…

Maybe it would help to read information about gay trolls?
http://tinyurl.com/9yl4o5

spiratec9 wrote:
I can’t figure out which one of these is the gay or the straight one.

http://www.imisstheoldschool.com/wp-c…

Oh sorry I was looking at the dolls.

spiratec9 wrote:

spiratec9 wrote:
I can’t figure out which one of these is the gay or the straight one.

http://www.imisstheoldschool.com/wp-c…

Oh sorry I was looking at the dolls.

Perhaps a better explaination.
A gay doll would be attracted to a similar doll.
A straight doll would be attracted to an opposite doll.
One is pink and one is blue.????????

CharlotteL wrote:
Very beautiful specially the old ladies (one is in a wheel chair) they touched my heart!

Even me !

spiratec9 wrote:

spiratec9 wrote:

spiratec9 wrote:
I can’t figure out which one of these is the gay or the straight one.

http://www.imisstheoldschool.com/wp-c…

Oh sorry I was looking at the dolls.

Perhaps a better explaination.
A gay doll would be attracted to a similar doll.
A straight doll would be attracted to an opposite doll.
One is pink and one is blue.????????

You do sound very puzzled. :/

Okay guys; there have been a few reports pertaining to some of the replies on this post.
Firstly, I don’t think any of the replies are insulting. Some may be offended by some replies because of their opposing view but I don’t think the replies themselves are offensive in general. Secondly, the post has well and truly gone off topic against the request of the OP. If you wish to discuss the political and social nature of marriage further then please make another post.

ohh Thats sad its going to close.
its very happy post! :(

:|

[awzee wrote:
]

ℓινιηg4уσυ wrote:
ohh Thats sad its going to close.
its very happy post! :(

as far as I’m aware, the post will remain open. I think people are still enjoying it and getting something really sweet out of it, which was the intention of the post. :)

thanks fractal.scatter for moderating.

:)

Fun post LOL as usual :)

[awzee wrote:
]homosexuals are no more “dangerous” to society than they were before they were able to legally marry. it is married people as a whole who are responsible for upholding or destroying the sanctity of marriage, not just homosexuals. if you think that homosexuals are more depraved than the heterosexual person and therefore cannot promote and maintain the beauty, promise, and dedication of marriage, then I’m going to have to disagree with you on principle. i have seen nothing to suggest that homosexual people are any less moral or capable of understanding the seriousness of love and marriage.

i think we should rather rethink why in, for example, nevada it’s more legal to get a drive-thru marriage, than it is for a same-sex couple who have been together for 50 years to get married.

So, you can see the future now? You know for a fact, for 100% certainty, that this will not in any way, shape, or form damage our society? Isn’t that a little bit arrogant, to say the least?

This has nothing to do with morality or people on an individual level. Something happens to societies when they start changing the natural ways that human beings operate. When you start perverting the fundamental aspects of a species, it has strange effects; especially when it’s done too quickly. This is a fact. If you make cows eat corn instead of grass, it does weird things to the cow. If you put a goldfish in water without letting it adjust its body temperature to the new fish tank, it will die. If you start screwing with things that have been around for time immemorial, and you do it too quickly, it can screw up a society and a culture.

Now, I don’t know if gay marriage will do that. Maybe the damage has already been done, and gay marriage is just the latest symptom of our society’s decay. Maybe it’s just a random coincidence that 13 famous civilizations throughout history had similar things take place at the ends of all their societies. But the point is that I don’t know. And neither do you. But rather than being patient, and waiting, and figuring things out, people have been impulsive and selfish and greedy. They can’t wait a hundred years or so. They gave in to instant gratification, because they wanted to get married and they wanted it NOW.

That is what triggers alarms in my head. That is why it bothers me. The point about the goats and the dogs getting married was just to illustrate that I couldn’t give a flying duck about gay marriage in and of itself. It might as well be a guy marrying a pillow. The point is that we have no knowledge of people marrying pillows. We have no historical record to find out if societies where Man-Pillow relationships exist will even function. Just as we have no record of whether or not a society that has gay marriage will work. But the WAY that homosexuality has pushed itself into the culture leads me to believe that it will not.

As I have said before, I shall say again. I am HAPPY for people on an individual level. I’m happy for the pot head who thinks that weed is the greatest thing on earth. I’m happy for the lunatic who giggles while he stares at his hands. I’m happy for the gay people who are smiling and getting married.

Being happy for somebody and being cautious about what they are doing to make themselves happy, are not opposing ideas. In fact, they are strongly related. If nobody was concerned about gay marriage, then that would mean that nobody is concerned about our culture, society, or the gay people that live within it. Among things I’m worried about is cultural backlash where some crazy person goes and starts killing gay couples. It’s not out of the realm of imagination that somebody might do that. If one is incapable of being concerned about bigger issues while simultaneously being happy for individuals, then that is a sign of a childish and foolish mind.

Stop giving in to this “Us or Them” mentality. Just because I’m not FOR gay marriage, doesn’t mean that I’m against it. I’m just trying to put things into perspective. I am happy that people are getting married and enjoying that newfound responsibility, just as I am happy when a 15 year old learns to drive. But with that 15 year old learning to drive, there are MUCH more important things to consider than just the kid’s happiness at the new experience.

I think this as to be the best post ever! Loved all the pictures, bliss!
Thankyou for sharing. :)

Evansent :) wrote:
I think this as to be the best post ever! Loved all the pictures, bliss!
Thankyou for sharing. :)

agreed, but hmm i wont put my but and controversial thoughts. i like this post and think some should butt out.

I for one am happy for anyone who have found happiness and hope the same for so many others

Evansent :) wrote:
I think this as to be the best post ever! Loved all the pictures, bliss!
Thankyou for sharing. :)

yes it is hun :)

[awzee wrote:
]you know what’s also a relatively new idea in the face of the history of human civilization? the idea of inalienable human rights. even then, it’s even newer to expand those inalienable rights to people of all races and creeds. i don’t have to understand “what makes black people black” to understand that they are people who deserve every chance to live a life with the freedom i have.

and i don’t know why you’re so defensive. i never attacked you or called you anything. i didn’t report you. that’s just you winning fans all on your own.

what concerns me isn’t that you’re against gay marriage. a couple people on here stated that they didn’t support it, and i know a few more who didn’t say it, but thought the same thing. what triggers alarms is MY head is when you start debasing homosexuals by comparing them to goats, dogs, and inanimate objects. and THAT, to me, indicates that you have a distorted view of humanity.

in conclusion: i really don’t care what your reasons are for ranting. i already said that i didn’t want that tangent on my post. and if you read what fractal.scatter said, you’d know that it’s time to keep your mouth shut and start a new post if you want to have a soap box to stand on. any more off-tppic and political debate replies will be reported.

You made a post about portraits of newlywed gay couples in New York. I am commenting about those portraits. It would be like reporting an art critic for saying negative things about artwork. I’m not leading off into any tangeant, I’m just expressing my opinions of the images you presented.

The point about the goats and dogs and pillows was not to compare them to gay people. It was to show you that happiness doesn’t always mean people are happy. Sometimes, they’re just insane. That’s the big problem with insane. Sometimes it looks like happy.

I am sorry that my views on the subject aren’t all peppy and perky. I never made the cheerleading squad at school. But I’m not off topic in talking about newlywed gay couples in New York, since that’s what this post is about. Consider your own words:

“And I can’t understand how someone would want to deny that joy from someone else, based upon the gender of the person they love. I think the United States is heading in the right direction. People need to learn to stop treating homosexual people like sexual deviants. They just want to love and live like the rest of us.”

You said that you can’t understand how someone would want to deny that joy from someone else. I attempted to explain it to you, so you COULD understand it. Either I did a poor job of explaining it, or you’re choosing to ignore what I say. You said you think that the United States is heading in the right direction. I think it isn’t. You proclaim that people need to learn to stop treating homosexual people like deviants, I suggested that they stop behaving like deviants. And if they truly want to love and live like the rest of us, then perhaps they should love and live like the rest of us, instead of trying to get us to accept their corrupted and alternative version of love and life as respectable.

Those are all things that YOU brought into the discussion, not me. I simply responded to them. I have not been rude, I do not think of homosexuals as goats or dogs, regardless of what inane assumptions you gathered from my replies. And I am not veering off topic. If I have, then please point out exactly where my posts got off the topic of gay marriage couples in New York, and the block of text where you ponder the opposing viewpoint.

Blest, your recent replies have again been off-topic against the request of the OP and contrary to my request. OP has already said they do not wish this post to be a place to debate the things you are debating irrespective of how well formed your replies are.

i love this post :) it allows people to see you can love and be loved by whomever your heart desires awesome :)

Aww :) the couples are so beautiful!! Congratulations newlyweds! I pray that someday I can have a love as strong as yours!

I love the two Caribbean guys.. Out and proud and safe!

Regarding the above distorted views;

The main reason the gay rights movement strive for marriage (civil partnership)is so the people they love can be recognised as family members.
Can you imagine being denied entry to a hospital where your partner was admitted because ‘the state’ says you aren’t family…
Or having some estranged family member turn off your life support machine instead of the persons who knows your through and through.

Power to the people….

I enjoyed the photos…I think that everyone deserves and needs to love and be loved, and should be allowed to acknowledge that love both publicly and legally.

I also believe that there are some people that were born gay.

However, I do not believe that all people that claim homosexuality were born gay.

I am also very concerned about how the widespread publicity of the gay lifestyle is influencing our youth.

Now high school and college students who were never gay, are calling themselves “bisexual” and getting involved in homosexual relationships as a fad.

This I have a problem with.

On a positive note, I love how happy these couples look, and I was amazed about how many of them look like each other! At least half of the couples look like they could have been related.

This just brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing. I hope someday to find a love like that! Gay or straight that kind of love is wonderful. The joy on their faces can be called nothing but overjoyed and amazing. LOVE is LOVE no matter who it is.

this is such an amazing photo essay!!!!!!!! 3 3 3

Beautiful post, shmozy, made me really happy to see them so happy. Very moving. I fully support gay marriage.

Sorry for all the politics, just have to say one things, and that is that I freaking HATE the word ‘breeder’ and find it completely offensive. I wish gay people would stop using it.

Thank you for sharing, i think its beautiful.

shmozy! wrote:

emmylou2u wrote:
Sorry for all the politics, just have to say one things, and that is that I freaking HATE the word ‘breeder’ and find it completely offensive. I wish gay people would stop using it.

i’ve actually heard straight people use the word “breeder” more than i’ve heard any gay person use it. almost all the gay people i know love children and really appreciate pregnancy and family. i think most “childfree” communities are probably made up of more heterosexual people than homosexual.

I first heard it from a gay friend of mine, and since heard it from other gay people and then here. Never once have I heard it from a straight person. Differing experiences, I suppose.

The first thing I notice- nearly all of them are old.
The second thing was the happiness. o-o

that is disgusting, if your hearts go for them then know that the one who created your hearts is disgusted by what they do.

zak328 wrote:
that is disgusting, if your hearts go for them then know that the one who created your hearts is disgusted by what they do.

give it a rest you muppet

SpinningPlates wrote:

zak328 wrote:
that is disgusting, if your hearts go for them then know that the one who created your hearts is disgusted by what they do.

give it a rest you muppet

if you are going to post on a controversial topic then accept that some people are going to comment against it. so i will not shut up. i stand by what i say.

zak328 wrote:

SpinningPlates wrote:

zak328 wrote:
that is disgusting, if your hearts go for them then know that the one who created your hearts is disgusted by what they do.

give it a rest you muppet

if you are going to post on a controversial topic then accept that some people are going to comment against it. so i will not shut up. i stand by what i say.

Do you think the people in those photographs give 2 sh**ts about your bigoted opinion.

There is no controversy here….

SpinningPlates wrote:

Do you think the people in those photographs give 2 sh**ts about your bigoted opinion.

There is no controversy here….

if you haven’t noticed there is controversy because it is forbidden in the bible and the quraan which means people who follow these two books will be against it.

i am only doing my duty to point out an evil, whether you call me a bigot or anything else i dont care. what is my own dignity worth when tommorow my body will be rotting in the mud then my creator will bring me back to life for reckoning.

i want to reiterate again just how beautiful i think these pictures are, and even more beautiful are the stories of love that they tell.

zak328 wrote:

SpinningPlates wrote:

Do you think the people in those photographs give 2 sh**ts about your bigoted opinion.

There is no controversy here….

if you haven’t noticed there is controversy because it is forbidden in the bible and the quraan which means people who follow these two books will be against it.

i am only doing my duty to point out an evil, whether you call me a bigot or anything else i dont care. what is my own dignity worth when tommorow my body will be rotting in the mud then my creator will bring me back to life for reckoning.

Since its only controversial to those who believe in the bible and quran, I suggest you save your bigotry for the mosque. Your comments are not welcome here, and in fact are unlawful in many countries, including my own.

To the rest of the world, this is beautiful.

Oh - and I am sorry you have no dignity. Such a shame. That is something that the people in these photographs have been fighting for, so I wonder if you see the irony.

emmylou2u wrote:

zak328 wrote:

SpinningPlates wrote:

Do you think the people in those photographs give 2 sh**ts about your bigoted opinion.

There is no controversy here….

if you haven’t noticed there is controversy because it is forbidden in the bible and the quraan which means people who follow these two books will be against it.

i am only doing my duty to point out an evil, whether you call me a bigot or anything else i dont care. what is my own dignity worth when tommorow my body will be rotting in the mud then my creator will bring me back to life for reckoning.

Since its only controversial to those who believe in the bible and quran, I suggest you save your bigotry for the mosque.

Or the church? No? Let’s not be a bigot in reponse to bigotry …

Anonymous wrote:

emmylou2u wrote:

zak328 wrote:

SpinningPlates wrote:

Do you think the people in those photographs give 2 sh**ts about your bigoted opinion.

There is no controversy here….

if you haven’t noticed there is controversy because it is forbidden in the bible and the quraan which means people who follow these two books will be against it.

i am only doing my duty to point out an evil, whether you call me a bigot or anything else i dont care. what is my own dignity worth when tommorow my body will be rotting in the mud then my creator will bring me back to life for reckoning.

Since its only controversial to those who believe in the bible and quran, I suggest you save your bigotry for the mosque.

Or the church? No? Let’s not be a bigot in reponse to bigotry …

zac328 is muslim, he does not go to church, he goes to mosque. There was no bigotry in my response.

emmylou2u wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

emmylou2u wrote:

zak328 wrote:

SpinningPlates wrote:

Do you think the people in those photographs give 2 sh**ts about your bigoted opinion.

There is no controversy here….

if you haven’t noticed there is controversy because it is forbidden in the bible and the quraan which means people who follow these two books will be against it.

i am only doing my duty to point out an evil, whether you call me a bigot or anything else i dont care. what is my own dignity worth when tommorow my body will be rotting in the mud then my creator will bring me back to life for reckoning.

Since its only controversial to those who believe in the bible and quran, I suggest you save your bigotry for the mosque.

Or the church? No? Let’s not be a bigot in reponse to bigotry …

zac328 is muslim, he does not go to church, he goes to mosque. There was no bigotry in my response.

Fair enough … Zak328, if you are muslim then I don’t think you’ve read your own scripture correctly. I suggest you have a look at chapter/surah 109 again and understand it’s meaning.

Anonymous wrote:

emmylou2u wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

emmylou2u wrote:

zak328 wrote:

SpinningPlates wrote:

Do you think the people in those photographs give 2 sh**ts about your bigoted opinion.

There is no controversy here….

if you haven’t noticed there is controversy because it is forbidden in the bible and the quraan which means people who follow these two books will be against it.

i am only doing my duty to point out an evil, whether you call me a bigot or anything else i dont care. what is my own dignity worth when tommorow my body will be rotting in the mud then my creator will bring me back to life for reckoning.

Since its only controversial to those who believe in the bible and quran, I suggest you save your bigotry for the mosque.

Or the church? No? Let’s not be a bigot in reponse to bigotry …

zac328 is muslim, he does not go to church, he goes to mosque. There was no bigotry in my response.

Fair enough … Zak328, if you are muslim then I don’t think you’ve read your own scripture correctly. I suggest you have a look at chapter/surah 109 again and understand it’s meaning.

To you be your way, and to me be mine…

SpinningPlates wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

emmylou2u wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

emmylou2u wrote:

zak328 wrote:

SpinningPlates wrote:

Do you think the people in those photographs give 2 sh**ts about your bigoted opinion.

There is no controversy here….

if you haven’t noticed there is controversy because it is forbidden in the bible and the quraan which means people who follow these two books will be against it.

i am only doing my duty to point out an evil, whether you call me a bigot or anything else i dont care. what is my own dignity worth when tommorow my body will be rotting in the mud then my creator will bring me back to life for reckoning.

Since its only controversial to those who believe in the bible and quran, I suggest you save your bigotry for the mosque.

Or the church? No? Let’s not be a bigot in reponse to bigotry …

zac328 is muslim, he does not go to church, he goes to mosque. There was no bigotry in my response.

Fair enough … Zak328, if you are muslim then I don’t think you’ve read your own scripture correctly. I suggest you have a look at chapter/surah 109 again and understand it’s meaning.

To you be your way, and to me be mine…

Sounds good in theory. In reality, that sadly doesnt work.

wait - 8th picture down.. the short guy. Isn’t he a famous actor?
I’m sure he’s in a sitcom I’ve seen recently.

SpinningPlates wrote:

To you be your way, and to me be mine…

I don’t think you have understood the meaning yourself.

the verses were revealed when the pagans came to the prophet and said that for six months we will worship your god and then for six months you worship our gods. the verse means that no we do not strike deals like that in our religion, if you want to do that then for you your religion and for me mine. the verse is not there to give permission for everyone to do as they like. that would not make sense as there are other verses which command the muslims to call towards islam and to command good and forbid evil.

zak328 wrote:

SpinningPlates wrote:

To you be your way, and to me be mine…

I don’t think you have understood the meaning yourself.

the verses were revealed when the pagans came to the prophet and said that for six months we will worship your god and then for six months you worship our gods. the verse means that no we do not strike deals like that in our religion, if you want to do that then for you your religion and for me mine. the verse is not there to give permission for everyone to do as they like. that would not make sense as there are other verses which command the muslims to call towards islam and to command good and forbid evil.

my apologies, I was only quoting the lines I do not really know the intepretation.

I will say that I have met Muslims that are tolerant of homosexuals and would live along side them even if the didn’t believe that being gay was the correct way of living.

shmozy! wrote:
people, we don’t need to turn it into a political, ethical, religious, or social argument. everyone is entitled to their own opinions. if you feel like changing someone else’s opinion, there’s a lovely box on the home page that says, “Start here.” feel free to make your own post. thanks. :)

AGREED!!!! Just take this post for what it is - photos of happy people in love celebrating their wedding day.

shmozy! wrote:
people, we don’t need to turn it into a political, ethical, religious, or social argument. everyone is entitled to their own opinions. if you feel like changing someone else’s opinion, there’s a lovely box on the home page that says, “Start here.” feel free to make your own post. thanks. :)

You go Ozy.

H.R. wrote:
i want to reiterate again just how beautiful i think these pictures are, and even more beautiful are the stories of love that they tell.

Love that response.

that very old couple wearing blue looked really sweet.

you, my good lady, have made my day :)

These pictures absolutely filled me with joy. Thank you so much for posting this.

This is a beautiful thing.

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

I doubt this poster is reading the thread in question any longer, but for the curious, here are a few articles, studies, etc. discussing the ongoing debate within the scientific community over homosexuality. (It is interesting to note, however, that many of the studies are quite unabashedly biased. Those against the notion that there is a scientific basis for homosexuality are often conducted by faith-based, Conservative-leaning scientists and psychologists. Vice versa, those for said notion are often conducted non-religious/atheist, Liberal-leaning scientists):

http://www.jeramyt.org/gay/gayscience…
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange…
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/…
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/373…
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontli…
http://www.livescience.com/13408-brai…
http://www.livescience.com/13409-myth…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saO_RF…

In any case, it’s folly to claim so broadly ’scientific fact’ when the scientific community is still trying to figure it out themselves. I also find it ironic that one should attempt to use science as an argument against homosexuality, only to be openly Conservative — a group whose members tend to reject science in favour of religion. Perhaps one should conduct research before making egregious claims.

And, in anticipation of a negative response, another article (this time about why one may deny the information they have just read/watched):

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/e…

Enjoy.

[jack wrote:
]lovely..

I miss Mitch and Cam

ironic. im watching modern family right now XD what a kawinkydink ^^

i whould never be gay but this is REALLY beautful

Blest wrote:
Should time prove me wrong, I will be happy to be wrong. But that is the problem. Nobody but me seems to have any interest in being patient enough to see whether it’s a good thing or not. They’re so wrapped up in their own selfishness and their petty little lives to see anything beyond their own desires. Instant gratification has triumphed over patience, diligence, and wisdom. So forgive me if I do not find it appropriate to celebrate the folly of impatience and greed.

Blest, I have been loving to read your thoughts and basic questionings about marriage, and I have had such thoughts too. I’ve even thought “if gay people can get married and have tax benefits, why can’t friends who don’t have sex?” Wooo, radical.

People don’t think about concepts like marriage. They don’t examine the meaning like you have been doing here. Thank you - I am enjoying. (I feel like I am saying that in a Japanese accent, and bowing.)

I am bamboozled. I have a few friends who are gay and I am not sure they aren’t a little crazy and “arbitrary” to be being that. I have some who I know are truly and deeply in love, and their gayness is completely natural, innate. I still don’t know what I think about it all.

After writing this I went and watched Lawrence O’Donnell for a while and lost my drift, so now I’m quitting and have only read half of this page, but wanted to send words of appreciation for your own thoughts, which are like mine only better formed.

At least most of them.

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

Not this one though. ^

What I appreciate is the daringness of asking what marriage IS.

Blest wrote:

Marquis De’Carabas wrote:
Yeah, it’s much more pleasant than reading boring discussions about marriage.

I know. It’s so much more pleasant to just indulge in instant gratification instead of having to deal with all those pesky “ideas.”

That .. is not very nice.

LadyMufflewump wrote:
At least most of them.

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

Not this one though. ^

What I appreciate is the daringness of asking what marriage IS.

Maybe the title of another post. Its a traditionally religious ceremony, but non religious people get married too and religion can be completely taken out of it (as in the case of my wedding) and its still a legal marriage.

I guess I dont see why marriage has to be defined - does it really matter who gets married? How does it affect others if a certain couple is married? What if it is two really dumb people who end up having really dumb kids? Should they be allowed to get married? Or two gangsters who end up having gangster kids? Or a number of other worse things. Isnt that worse than a happy, intelligent, socially concious gay couple?

emmylou2u wrote:

LadyMufflewump wrote:
At least most of them.

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

Not this one though. ^

What I appreciate is the daringness of asking what marriage IS.

Maybe the title of another post. Its a traditionally religious ceremony, but non religious people get married too and religion can be completely taken out of it (as in the case of my wedding) and its still a legal marriage.

I guess I dont see why marriage has to be defined - does it really matter who gets married? How does it affect others if a certain couple is married? What if it is two really dumb people who end up having really dumb kids? Should they be allowed to get married? Or two gangsters who end up having gangster kids? Or a number of other worse things. Isnt that worse than a happy, intelligent, socially concious gay couple?

What could be worse than the Kardashians marrying and raising kids?

Sans Unleashed wrote:

emmylou2u wrote:

LadyMufflewump wrote:
At least most of them.

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

Not this one though. ^

What I appreciate is the daringness of asking what marriage IS.

Maybe the title of another post. Its a traditionally religious ceremony, but non religious people get married too and religion can be completely taken out of it (as in the case of my wedding) and its still a legal marriage.

I guess I dont see why marriage has to be defined - does it really matter who gets married? How does it affect others if a certain couple is married? What if it is two really dumb people who end up having really dumb kids? Should they be allowed to get married? Or two gangsters who end up having gangster kids? Or a number of other worse things. Isnt that worse than a happy, intelligent, socially concious gay couple?

What could be worse than the Kardashians marrying and raising kids?

Possibly this:

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

Astro Man wrote:
it’s folly to claim so broadly ’scientific fact’ when the scientific community is still trying to figure it out themselves.

Astro Man wrote that the scientific community is still trying to figure out homosexuality when scientists don’t have to figure out anything between a man and a woman because for sexual intercourse to result in conception, it is a ’scientific fact’ that it takes sperm from a man and an egg from a woman to have a child. And the baby, the result of their union, comes out of the birth canal.

Anonymous wrote:

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

Astro Man wrote:
it’s folly to claim so broadly ’scientific fact’ when the scientific community is still trying to figure it out themselves.

Astro Man wrote that the scientific community is still trying to figure out homosexuality when scientists don’t have to figure out anything between a man and a woman because for sexual intercourse to result in conception, it is a ’scientific fact’ that it takes sperm from a man and an egg from a woman to have a child. And the baby, the result of their union, comes out of the birth canal.

But that’s about reproduction not attraction. There is still much research to be done in this area, because unlike the things religious people teach you, sceince looks at what they can find in nature. The truth is, they have found homosexual pairing in nature in other species as well as humans, so assuming it’s “unnatural” is no longer based in the facts they know.

It’s one thing to say you are against it for “religious” or “moral” reasons. It’s a whole other issue to say that there has been some sort of scientific conclusion on human sexuality that’s undisputable. The more research that we do, the more that we find that things we all assumed were facts, were just based on our preconcieved notions.

domestic wrote:
It’s one thing to say you are against it for “religious” or “moral” reasons. It’s a whole other issue to say that there has been some sort of scientific conclusion on human sexuality that’s undisputable. The more research that we do, the more that we find that things we all assumed were facts, were just based on our preconcieved notions.

domestic wrote:

But that’s about reproduction not attraction. There is still much research to be done in this area, because unlike the things religious people teach you, sceince looks at what they can find in nature. The truth is, they have found homosexual pairing in nature in other species as well as humans, so assuming it’s “unnatural” is no longer based in the facts they know.

There are close to 1500 animal species that practice homosexuality.
There is only 1 to my knowledge that practices homophobia.

Anonymous wrote:

domestic wrote:
It’s one thing to say you are against it for “religious” or “moral” reasons. It’s a whole other issue to say that there has been some sort of scientific conclusion on human sexuality that’s undisputable. The more research that we do, the more that we find that things we all assumed were facts, were just based on our preconcieved notions.

It is an indisputable scientific human sexual fact it takes sperm of a man and an egg of a woman to have a child. And the result of their union, a baby, naturally comes out of the birth canal, or at least tries to: but before Caesarians, if it didn’t, mothers and babies died.

Sexuality and reproduction are related but not the the same thing. Every sexual act in nature or among the human population does not lead to the creation of offspring. It isn’t even about homosexuality in that respect. I’m not sure you understand what I’m saying, but it really doesn’t matter. I’m not trying to agrue with you. I’m just saying there is a difference between somthing being socially inacceptable, which would be “deviant” behavior and “unnatural” which would be something outside the natural order of things.

domestic wrote:
I’m just saying there is a difference between somthing being socially inacceptable, which would be “deviant” behavior and “unnatural” which would be something outside the natural order of things.

H.R. wrote:
There are close to 1500 animal species that practice homosexuality.

emmylou2u wrote:

LadyMufflewump wrote:
At least most of them.

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

Not this one though. ^

What I appreciate is the daringness of asking what marriage IS.

Maybe the title of another post. Its a traditionally religious ceremony, but non religious people get married too and religion can be completely taken out of it (as in the case of my wedding) and its still a legal marriage.

I guess I dont see why marriage has to be defined - does it really matter who gets married? How does it affect others if a certain couple is married? What if it is two really dumb people who end up having really dumb kids? Should they be allowed to get married? Or two gangsters who end up having gangster kids? Or a number of other worse things. Isnt that worse than a happy, intelligent, socially concious gay couple?

I just think it’s interesting to ask what marriage really is all about, instead of taking it for granted that you really know, or that other people share your views about it. I’m not against gay marriage …

H.R. wrote:

domestic wrote:

But that’s about reproduction not attraction. There is still much research to be done in this area, because unlike the things religious people teach you, sceince looks at what they can find in nature. The truth is, they have found homosexual pairing in nature in other species as well as humans, so assuming it’s “unnatural” is no longer based in the facts they know.

There are close to 1500 animal species that practice homosexuality.
There is only 1 to my knowledge that practices homophobia.

Really? That’s a lot. Your source?

well, I’m not sure where he got the number but if you want a broad cover on the research and how common it is, here’s a link to the ever popular wikipedia’s page on it. (It does reference a specific researcher who uses that number, which could have been his source.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexu…

H.R. wrote:
There are close to 1500 animal species that practice homosexuality.

Anonymous wrote:

H.R. wrote:
There are close to 1500 animal species that practice homosexuality.

There are oh so much more than 1500 animal species that live naked; and have intercourse where everyone can see. And a friend of mine was using a urinal, and was told that he has a nice looking penis. And for someone being raped, maybe their body will have pleasure in the act as an animal, while their brain is disgusted by it as a human.

relax, you already made a response to this comment.
I don’t think anyone’s confused about your stance.
If you’d like to talk futher, since I kinda encouraged this tangent, please shout me or start a new post on the subject.

Ozzy would probably prefer we not go off on this tangent too much more.

Sorry Oz

Anonymous wrote:

Blest wrote:
It is a scientific fact that homosexuality is a deviant behavior.

Astro Man wrote:
it’s folly to claim so broadly ’scientific fact’ when the scientific community is still trying to figure it out themselves.

Astro Man wrote that the scientific community is still trying to figure out homosexuality when scientists don’t have to figure out anything between a man and a woman because for sexual intercourse to result in conception, it is a ’scientific fact’ that it takes sperm from a man and an egg from a woman to have a child. And the baby, the result of their union, comes out of the birth canal.