Lawsuit Filed To Overturn New York’s Gay Marriage Law

Protesters Determined To Pour Cold Water On Happy Couples' Big Day

July 25, 2011 8:42 PM

Francisco Fuertes and Patrick Simeone were married in North Hempstead, NY (credit: CBS 2)

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — One day after same-sex marriages starting taking place across New York, opponents of the gay marriage law sued to overturn it.

PHOTOS: Hundreds Of Same Sex Couples Tie The Knot

The lawsuit, filed Monday, claims the state Senate violated its own procedures and the state’s open meetings law when the bill was approved last month.

WCBS 880′s Steve Knight On The Story

The Empire State joined five other states and Washington, D.C. in allowing same-sex couples to wed, and people continued to say their “I do’s” in every corner of the state from Niagara Falls to Long Island on Monday.

“I’ve been thinking all morning about all of my friends who have come and gone who would have loved to have been here,” newlywed Milagros Diaz said.

Marshall Mason and Daniel Irvine has been together for 37 years. They lined up outside the City Clerk’s office in Lower Manhattan early Monday morning to get the state’s stamp of approval.

“We didn’t plan to be married today or we would have dressed differently,” Irvine told CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer.

“It really means something to, you know, to look that person in the eyes and swear, legally, that I will love and cherish him to death do us part,” Mason added.

Retired Los Angeles cop Dan Leonard said he moved to New York 18 monthd ago, hoping to marry his partner, Rory McDonald.

“It’s beyond words. I’m impatient. Being a police officer, usually when we get sometthing done we get it done right away,” Leonard told Kramer.

New York City officials signed off on a record 659 marriage licenses on the day the Marriage Equality Act became law. By late afternoon Monday, another 331 had tied the knot. City Clerk Michael McSweeney said demand is so high everybody is working overtime.

“We have extended hours. We’ll be open two additional hours at the end of each day until Friday,” McSweeney said.

Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg took part, presiding over the marriage of two of his staffers at Gracie Mansion.

Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt tied the knot after being together for 14 years. Their daughters Maeve, 8, and Georgia, 6, were witnesses and ring bearers.

“John and Jonathan, usually when the three of us are together, we’re discussing the finer points of illegal guns or consumer fraud. I can’t tell you how nice this is for a change, and I can’t tell you how pleased I am that this day has finally arrived,” Bloomberg said. “Today in this city and in this state, history takes an important step forward by allowing every person to participate,” he added.

The couple exchanged rings, broke glasses in the Jewish tradition and had “eco-friendly” confetti thrown at them. Even though they’re a long-time committed couple with kids, they said the ceremony seemed to change things.

“Things are different. Everybody’s gathering around and telling you they love you and your family is getting to say things they were never able to say before because we could never do this before,” Mintz said.

“It’s just sheer happiness to see our kids standing there with us and this is just so much a day for them. They asked us so many times why we weren’t married like their friends’ parents were married,” Feinblatt added.

But not everyone is celebrating. Protesters marched across the state to demand that all people who live in New York State and not just the members of the Legislature be given a say on whether same-sex marriage should be legal.

By far the largest group marched to the United Nations on Sunday.

“Two percent of the population is dominating 98 percent of the people’s will. For a governor and a mayor and a city council to override the will of the people, they work for us and should have never decided for New Yorkers,” protester Desiree Bernstein said.

Demonstrations on both sides of the issue were held. On hand were members of the organization Connecting Rainbows, which supports gay marriage, and the Westboro Baptist Church, who are opposed. They showed up outside the Manhattan Clerk’s Office as well.

“They’re driving a stake into the heart of the most holy of covenants that God created and it’s going to bring on the doom of this nation,” said Ben Phelps of Topeka, Kan.

“It’s plainly against God’s law and every New Yorker knows it,” said Margie Phelps.

Should New York State have held a referendum on same-sex marriage? Sound off in our comments section below…

Lawsuit Filed To Overturn New Yorks Gay Marriage Law

Maggie

Dear gays,
Please come to my very very very nice neighborhood in staten island and over pay me for my 4 bed room 2 full bath finished basement house(with a pool) so I can move my kids out of this disgusting state

jim

No gays you want my UWS 2bed 2 bath thats fabulous! I want to raise my daughter somewhere she’ll have a sense of normal.
TED

no gay in their RIGHT MIND would be caught DEAD LIVING IN STATEN ISLAND…the armpit of NY STATE

garyb

last time i went thru there it smelled worse than an armpit..lol

Michael H.

Farewell. Enjoy the trip!
ejones

Sorry but “very nice neighborhood” and “Staten Island” are mutually exclusive terms.

Ryan

Remember that at it’s inception, Christianity was also a cult that was shunned and considered disgusting to the rest of the world. While I’m thankful we Christians are no longer persecuted for feeling the way we do, my heart aches for the men and women who are trying to love like the rest of us and be accepted like the rest of us. How many of my fellow Christians know what it’s like to be deemed unworthy because of the way they feel? How many are bullied because they believe our God is awesome? How many send their children to school in fear that some other child will ridicule them based on their parents actions? I doubt any at all. Yet the LGBT community lives with this daily.
Now is the time to spot this bickering! Our differences should bring us together not rip us apart. You don’t have to love, but you do have to respect.

Co

I don’t believe in god and I have no problem with gays,but they disrespected the centuries old law of marriage. Hopefully a common person vote will repeal this law. I’m not a hater,it’s just my opinion

Michael H.

they “disrespected” one of MANY laws, some far more than centuries old, pertaining to marriage. why do you always assume that your definition of marriage is the only one?
hereandnow

The “centuries old” law of marriage was that a man took ownership of his wife, and exclusive right to her reproductive capacity. It established paternal legitimacy and formalized the terms of inheritance (often through his male heirs only).

Marriage has changed and evolved over the centuries, and accepting the rights of same-sex couples is another step in that evolution.

Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

Thank you, Ryan! Well said.

Bob Fowler

So many of you do not understand the Biblical teachings regarding gays. Here is a bit of clarity. First off, GOD declared men lying with men an abomination. HE did not declare the men an abomination, just their act. GOD hates the sin, not the sinner.

If you have the propensity towards same sex relations, but don’t act on them, you are in fact gay, but have not violated any of GOD’s laws, regardless of what the zealots say. If you act on the urges, then you break GOD’s law. This would be the same as a drunkard (which is also an abomination to GOD), who refrains from drinking, or allows himself to get slammed. The drunkard is not hated, just the drunkardness.

Should a pedophile who has never touched a child be considered innocent or guilty? Should a rapist be charged based upon potential, or deed? The issue should be, the majority does not condone this behavior, yet 2% of the population has been granted special privilege, and the access to a religious term. Everyone should have equal rights, including the majority.

Rodin

I understand alright. I just reject your Babble and your god. So, without your Babble and without your god, what do you have to offer me in the way of argument?

PMM

Read Hobbes “Leviathan”.
Without the Bible and without belief in G-d the entire world would be in a state of total and absolute chaos!!!
I know, – you will say it is in chaos now BECAUSE of religion, but that is only because people misunderstand and misinterpret the Bible to suit their own purposes.
Regardless, – WITHOUT G-d things would be (and WILL be) 1,000 times worse than they are now.
Rodin

AND YES MEN DO CREAM IN MY MOUTH ON OCCASION
Bob Fowler

Rodin,
I’m curious as to what part of GOD and the Bible you reject? Is it the part where the basis for all laws come from? The root of the Ten Commandments is love. Is that what you reject? You either love GOD or love your neighbor with each of the 10. Are you upset because there is no law that allows lawlessness? I’m confused.

Perhaps you dislike the teachings to do good to everyone? Is there something systemically wrong with that? Or maybe you are just upset with the fact that you must adhere to a standard? I realize that a debauch lifestyle appeals to many, but is it really to your benefit to live like that? The fact that man corrupts the teachings makes man wrong, not the teachings. Sadly for you though, that won’t leave you any room to post something dull and boring (like your ever popular Babble).

Now I know that these logical arguments will only serve as fodder for your immature response, but I have learned to not expect anything that even remotely resembles an intelligent discussion when you are involved. I only posted the response so that others might better understand the depths of you ignorance. Thanks for playing again, we have some nice parting gifts for you as you exit the stage. Let’s give a hand to Rodin…
Bob Fowler

Rodin,

I apologize for neglecting the final part of your post, where you ask “what do you have to offer me in the way of argument?”

My answer is this; people who submit to GOD and try to follow the teaching of the Bible generally have the capability to think, whereas people who don’t (read this as YOU), are normally stuck when counting once the get to frog.

Michael H.

Marriage was a business arrangement LONG before the religions co-opted it as their own.

The rapist and the pedophile have no business in this argument because they are VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS. When two consenting adults express their love for each other in the eyes of the STATE they are harming nobody. Nobody’s rights are violated when a man marries a man or a woman marries a woman. Stop with your pathetic self persecution and GROW UP.

rojo

okay, so accordingly,with your argument, then it’s okay for a consenting brother to marry his consenting sister who love each other very much, because no body’s else’s rights are being violated.
Michael H.

You’re approaching an interesting topic. In Ancient Egypt it was common for royal families to marry from within. Fraternal polyandry (two brothers marrying the same women) was practiced by Nomadic Tibetans. . Those are just two examples of many.

Now that we know a little more about genetics I would hope the siblings would willfully not procreate, but to suggest that the definition of marriage has never included siblings would be an incorrect assumption.
Bob Fowler

Actually Michael, marriage existed in Eden, and that was between the first man and woman. Now it was in fact arranged, but I doubt it served any business purpose.

Rapist and pedophiles do have a place here though. If either claims to have violated the victim because they were in love, and especially with children of adultery, do you expect them to say that they don’t love their attacker? The slope is slippery once you start down it. 100 years ago, the thought of gay marriage would have been as offensive as pedophilia is today. Time doesn’t make things right, just more tolerated.
Michael H.

Bob, the story of the garden of Eden is just that. A STORY. Next you’re going to tell me the planet is only 6000 years old, right? You might as well be arguing that the earth is FLAT. The facts are not on your side. Humanity has been on this planet far longer than you think, and we didn’t start as a man built from dust and a woman from his rib. Keep your fairy tales out of a legal debate. You’d be laughed out of court if you were to start spouting your religious rhetoric.

Paul

Dear bob
If you would take all your energy spent on condeming and put it toward helping just one person the world would be better off. Let people worry about there own soles. We are all big boys and girls. No go off and help.

nancy

Dear paul,
actually bob is showing he cares. He is warning them, that what they are doing is wrong. If you see someone about to jump off a bridge, don’t you want to try to help them. He is very concerned, but all you gay rights advocates dismiss him as a bigot and that is not true. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t waste a minute here.
As for me, well, when it’s your time, don’t say you weren’t warned that gay sex was unacceptable.

hereandnow

No one is being granted “special privilege”; they are exercising their right to marry.

Abner

Phelps is psychotic. How many of you want to join his club?

Eileen

Yes, I totally agree that this should be protested!! This is so shameful and disgusting. Years ago this was a hidden thing, and now just like cults, we mindlessly allow this and now we have to apologize to them for speaking against it!!! And who is thinking of the next generation! “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…” (Isaiah 5:20)

Michael H.

I’m sorry. We can’t hear you over the thumping upon your bible. Could you put the book down and repeat yourself?

Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

Thank you, Abner!
Having lived in Missouri (only 90 miles from Topeka, KS where Phreddy resides), I’ve seen them in action and it isn’t a pretty sight… funny, but not pretty. He sends his children and grandchildren out to do his dirty work for him. Anybody who gives this man any credibility has lost their own credibility. Psychotic is only the beginning of what Phelps and his cult represent, psychologically.

Linda

Why do you think God destroyed Sodom & Goremmah? I believe a law suit should go back and overturn gay rights. The only reason gay rights came about was because it was an election year. God made people of all races, colors and nationalities, He did not make gays, they are an abomination to Him.

Ant928

Gee, they actually teach you to read where you live? Bible thumping freak.

Rev Jo

And G-d brought a flood to the world as well, because of the immorality rampant prior to the flood, so excuse us, if we protest your lifestyle and want this law changed. I for one would like to world to still, exist please.
Yes, I BELIEVE in G-d,
I like giving an example of how your actions would affect me.
” a man is on a boat and starts carving out a hole under his chair, thereby letting a leak start. All the other passengers start screaming at him and tell him to stop, but he doesn’t. He says, “i paid for this seat and I can do whatever i want to do witth it” So gays, do what you wanna do , but your gonna bring this ship of a world down.
adam

wow, according to REV Jo the gays have the ultimate power to DESTROY the world. go all powerful gays

Nosferatu Diallo

Where is this ‘Goremmah’ of which you speak?
Rodin

For being inhospitable towards strangers, towards those who were different, towards the angels; just like you are towards gays.

BTW I don’t believe in tales of “fire and brimstone” any more than I believe in women who turn into pillars of salt, food falling from heaven, burning bushes, parting seas or talking snakes.

BTW, what’s Goremmah? Did you mean Gomorrah or Gonorrhea?

Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

Rodin, I cannot, for the life of me understand how one who does not believe in the Bible understands the basic concepts so well. Sodom and Gomorrah were actually destroyed because of the sin of inhospitality to strangers. Any Bible scholalr knows the facts on this. The armchair Sunday christians have no idea what they are talking about. Their last original theological thoughts wre based on what Mommy and Daddy said when they tucked them in at night.
You are spot on the mark, theologiclly. Refreshing!
Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

Actually, I think they mean “granola”. (This is way too much fun!)
Rodin

Just dropped in to see if things were any better and saw this.

You underestimate non-believers. According to recent studies, it turns out Atheists and Agnostics trump believers of every stripe.It turns out that we start by doubting, which leads to questioning, inquiring, researching, studying, reading, digging, discarding, gleaning. It’s not an easy road but I don’t know any self-respecting Atheist who hasn’t traveled it. I’m Jesuit educated. Blame it on them. They taught me to question. I miss religion. I have no one to blame any more. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I lost god and found peace of mind, self respect and self reliance, accountability. With the loss of “god” I lost oppressive guilt, false expectations, selfishness, dependencies and the fear of death. You can say I found my “rapture.”

See this:
Basic Religion Test Stumps Many Americans
September 28, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/us/28religion.html?scp=1&sq=atheists%20religious%20knowledge&st=cse

I’ll see you some other time. Can’t stomach this.

hereandnow

Happily, we don’t live in a theocracy, so your bible holds no sway in the public arena of governance.

Unless you can make a rational argument in favor of denying gays their rights, without relying on religion or scripture, you have no case. “I don’t like it and my Big Book of Ancient Tales says it’s icky” is NOT grounds for a legal challenge.

Ant928

Besides I look at it this way….”Support gay marriage…let them be as miserable as the rest of us!”

All kidding aside I’m happy to see this get passed in NY. Maybe the rest of the country may catch up!
LiberalsAreEvil

Marriage is for a MAN and a WOMAN. This immorality that took place over the weekend is bringing the USA down more. God have mercy on us.

Michael H.

If you want to live by god’s law go live in Vatican City.

Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

Thank you, Michael. Either there or Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other Middle East country.

TED

right because the PEDOPHILE PRIESTS are TOO BUSY RAPING KIDS AROUND THE WORLD to worry about praying for the USA

and the WESTBORO church is ANOTHER FINE EXAMPLE of RELIGION

this is like shooting chickens in the hen house

Nancy

Get over it! There is nothing wrong with two people who love each other to spend the rest of their lives LEGALLY together. If you don’t like it fall off the face of the earth!
Robert Senn

lets stop wasting money on something that is not worth the paper its wrote on out side of ny i know its rhe onley way ugly people can get together look at the pictures in the news next in nj yey marry move out

TED

yep it is WROTE on PAPER…they MAY BE UGLY….BUT YOU ARE STUPID…they can get PLASTIC SURGERY…YOU ARE A LOST CAUSE
Michael H.

You’re right about one thing. The marriage only applies at the state level and will only be recognized in several states. It’s time for the next step and movement at the Federal level needs to start taking place. As we speak there is a case moving through the California courts that could wind up at the Supreme Court of the U.S. Then and there will be the final stop marriage equality makes before it becomes law of the land.
ejones

Clearly, no one “wasted” any money on educating you.

Doobieman

Why don’t we vote on everyone rights, let’s start with all the crazy ultra religious peopls, then go after the Wasps, Catholics, Jews, Moslems, Women,Men Blacks, The Elderly, The Young, Stop the hate people, you believers better watch out, you have be righteous to get into heaven, get your cooking oil, it’s gonna get very hot.
fleetwood86

To all those gay marriage propoents who cry HATE and BIGOT to those who oppose it: who are you to be the final arbiter of societal values? Now that your gay lobby was able to strongarm the lame Albany legislature into adopting your radical agenda against the will of the vast majority in NYS, would you be as staunch an advocate of polygamy? Oh, you want to limit it two adults? Why? Because it suited your agenda? OK, how about first cousins getting married? Or how about a brother and sister? Not in a deviant way, of course, they just love each other and want to be together, so why not get married? There is a reason we have definitions for words–it’s because they have specific, defined meanings. You’ve managed to successfully sabotage yet another institution into abject meaningless. Congratulations. Or should I say “potato salad”? Same difference, right?

LiberalsAreEvil

I would not call it mental disorder…it is plain evil. They corrupt morality.
Ant928

Who are you to be their final arbiter?
Rodin

Are you trying to convince yourself or are you obsessive-compulsive / anal-retentive?
Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

Nice to see you back, fleet… you obviously haven’t learned much in your absense, have you? Obrigato!
Michael H.

Actually, polygamy, polyandry, group marriages…If the tax law, divorce law, property and child custody laws can be properly amended to accommodate them, i see no reason to limit it to two adults. We are talking about consenting adults entering into a contract with each other. By all means, keep your traditional marriage. I will be. But who are you to deny others the bond of marriage based on your definition based on what your god told you. Marriages have always included couples who either could not or would not procreate. Are you going to deny the infertile or the elderly the ability to marry one another?
hereandnow

June 2, 2011 — Support for marriage equality/same-sex marriage/gay marriage is at a new high in New York, according to today’s new Quinnipiac Poll… Voters in the survey backed legalizing marriage between same-sex couples 58-36%, “higher than ever” Men support same-sex marriage 58-37%; women, 59-34%. (NY Daily News)

vy

God is NOT stupid, and if someone was gay in a committed, monogamous spousal relationship, was good to the people in their life, raise good quality children to a productive adulthood, God will look at the entirety of their life and make God’s judgement.
And on that basis I would much rather be judged by a smart, compassionate God, than these so called religous people who are always ready to condem anyone who lives their lives differently nthan they do.
And Gay marriage is not about religion.
It’s about legel protections for 2 people in a spousal relationship to legally support and make decisions for each other if either one becomes too unhealthy to make those decisions themselves, or to inherit their spouses assets and parental responsibilities if one should die while coparenting minor children.
Oh and just so the US religous Taliban knows, most children raised by gay parents are straight, but also tolerant.
The children of gays are gay in no higher numbvers than those of the general population.
edward

it is people who think as you do that murdered 6 million jews and believe in genocide as the means to deal with those who do not share your twisted sense of values.
GayNProud

You are a sad and sick individual.
danny

Or maybe we should hold a lottery so the likes of you can live in a backwards country where gay men and 8 yr old boys are hung.
Rodin

Ben Phelps, daughter Margie and their the Westboro Baptist Church are opposed to same-ex marriage in New York State, this scourge of the plains!

“They’re driving a stake into the heart of the most holy of covenants that God created and it’s going to bring on the doom of this nation.” “It’s plainly against God’s law and every New Yorker knows it.”

This from noxious bigots who rant “God Hates you;” “God hates America;” “Thank God for IED’s and Dead Soldiers,” “Pray for more dead soldiers,” “God killed your Sons” at families attending military funerals and bring their children to witness and participate in their indecency. These hate mongers who hide behind religion and free speech come to New York chanting and carrying placards that proclaim “9-11 GIFT FROM GOD” and you at CBS give them air time and pixels when they should be shunned? You feed them, give them the exposure they come for?

Where’s Dolan? Where’s Di Marzio? Where’s Diaz? Where’s Bill Donohue and his League? Confront these blasphemers like you did politicos. Is same sex marriage worse than this insult or is this your ally?

THANK GOD I’M AN ATHEIST! I’m good without gods.
normal

Dakotahgeo, see that you have nothing to do but continue to stalk this page.

And you should expect and try to tolerate any anti-Bloomberg comments. Most people that live in NYC (doubt that you do) can’t stand him let it be known anytime his name is in a story.

normal

**and let it be known….
Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

Hey, normal! Nope, I’m retired and I can do anything I want, thank you, even if it’s giving a verbal and psychological spanking every once in awhile, heh heh heh.
Enjoy your babbling, my friend… nobody is listening, everybody is pitying you, except your ‘choir,’ of course.
Chao chao!

MIKE

THIS IS A DISGRACE TO HUMANITY!!!!!!!!!!!!

MAN WITH WOMAN IS THE WAY IT SUPPOSE TO BE!!!

THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY!

LiberalsAreEvil

AMEN!!
Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

Unfortunately, more and more people and more states are say, “Nope! Sorry about that!”
Since you have nothing more to say, I’m sure we won’t hear from you, right?
(And personally, normal, I could care less whether you people agree or disagree with Mayor Bloomburg or your Senate! Not MY department/problem!
Paul

Really? Why?

Do you also have issues with black marrying white, Asian marrying white, poor marrying rich? At one point all of this was evil also

Michael H.

I think you need to put down the bottle and take a good hard look at your life.

The answer to that question is easy. What will a gay person say to whatever god awaits them? “Why am I gay? well…you made me that way”

I welcome judgement day and will gladly announce to whatever deity awaits me and say that with a clear conscience that I chose to support the rights of all people, gay, straight, interracial, hell even poly relationships. If it is consenting adults in love who are we to judge? Your hatred has no place here, and I hope that your god opens your eyes when it comes time to judge, and says to you “you held nothing but hatred in your heart for my children, and you shall suffer for it”

Or, when you die you just become worm food. Either way, I go to sleep at night with a smile on my face, knowing that every minute you spend grinding your teeth over issues like this is another minute you’re wasting over something that does not concern you in the least.

Very conservative

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

danny

If acceptance is a mental disorder, then I am proud to have a mental disorder. What are you proud of? Hate? Bigotry?
Johnny Handsome

@Very conservative
I’m liberal for the most part in my views. As you can see I’m against same sex marriage but I’m so much more against you cheap greedy conservatives hording the wealth only to make yourselves richer and what you deem as powerful. You’d rather starve the poor and those in need than pay what is fair. To those of you who think your wealth is power – there is a special place for you. I told Michael I hate no one but in the case of those who hoard and look down their noses at the poor and needy – the torment you bring on yourselves will never be lightened. You have truly gained the world but lost your souls and if you only knew what that meant you would beg your Creator for mercy and forgiveness at every turn of the clock. But your wealth has blinded you. So live your life and be happy with the blessings that have been bestowed on you.

Johnny Handsome

Michael H.

I could care less about who you are or how you go to bed at night. That’s YOUR life, I hate no one. Again, Mans deeds have been made fair-seeming to him. Not my place to judge.

So Michael, you are the champion of the people. Do you Stand Up for the pedophile and rapist of little children? They feel their love is justified? Unlike others, I do not feel my Creator is a loving GOD. My GOD is a JUST GOD. These are HIS rules we are to live by. HE who made you, makes the rules so your little “you held nothing but hatred in your heart for my children, and you shall suffer for it” means nothing to me. I hold hatred for no one – just he deeds they do.

Johnny Handsome

that should be just the deeds they do. Do you really think I miss a moments sleep over who you sleep with or choose to love? No. Again – live your life as you see fit. Your Creator made you that way – Enjoy the gift of free will He has given you. Enjoy the people He has placed in your path. Enjoy the fruits He has bestowed on you. Sleep well and soundly. Let not your deeds trouble you for you are right in all you do. Again – your deeds are made to you to seem correct.
Michael H.

The rapist and the paedophile are VIOLATING the rights of others. I do NOT stand up for them. I stand up for CONSENTING adults doing as they wish while harming nobody. ENOUGH with your false analogies.

I do not live by YOUR god’s rules. I live by the laws of this great nation! Man’s laws are accountable to the PEOPLE. Your malevolent deity is accountable to nobody and has shed the blood of millions of innocents over the course of millenia!

Johnny Handsome

Michael, don’t sound so…. defensive. Again, I don’t care what you do. Love who you want. Live your life. I judge you not. Be happy. Its your choice and your will to make this life as you wish. You will not be asked what I did in this life nor will I be asked what you did. Believe me, Michael – I have more than enough… sin if you choose to call it that to keep me out of GODS grace,
Johnny Handsome

“Hey Handsome, I’m good without gods”

As you should be. Its your life. You are given free will to do as you please.

Rodin

I’m good without god.
Rodin

Hey Handsome, I’m good without gods.

Johnny Handsome

As is your choice. Live life as you wish.
JustSaying

I really couldn’t care less about you or your stance on gay marriage Rodin. Or your religious beliefs or lack thereof for that matter. In short, whatever happens in your life, it won’t affect me in the least little bit so I have no reason to try and change your mind about any of your opinions or beliefs. If I tried to persuade you otherwise, it would be an indication that I care, which I most certainly do not.

Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

How christian of you! Good to see your cranky face back again, Just Saying!

Michael H.

“Do you Stand Up for the pedophile and rapist of little children? They feel their love is justified?”

As I said before, both the rapist and the pedophile are violating the rights of others, namely innocent children. Gay marriages violate nobody’s rights, and to compare the two to each other creates a FALSE ANALOGY. Do you understand how completely stupid your argument is?

Rojo

to all those people that think that by people commiting adultrey and having sex with someone of the same gender is considered that!! IThe bible clearly states, that it is an abomation, same as it says not to kill or steal. . You justify it and excuse it as love.
G-d made man and woman. Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. And when your time comes and you come before the heavenly throne and you have to tell g-d you were gay, and you couldn’t control yourself and you were so in love. i guess when the murderer comes before g-d and has some explaining to do, it’s because, they couldn’t control their urges to kill either, they just had to do it.

Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

JH… you’re boring us by making no prescient point whatsoever. What ARE you trying to contribute to the common GOOD here? Expound, please?

jmunro43

All the video I’ve seen from ceremonies so far has been fantastic, it’s great to finally see some influential politicians supporting this obvious civil rights issue. Democracy Now! had an interview with the first couple to be married last weekend, and footage of the ceremony, it was really beautiful. Check it out: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/7/25/hundreds_of_same_sex_couples_marry
Micha

Gay Marriage is now legal in NYS- Get used to it! Many of us are happy about this, but of course we have the backward ideologists who only use religion in a negative context to comdemn this. I wonder how many of you quoting the Bible volunteer at soup kitchens or donate clothing to the needy… probably not ONE of you. If you don’t like gay marriage, good- they wouldn’t have you anyway. Worry about YOUR sins, not everyone elses “alleged” sins. I am sure God will have plenty to talk to YOU about when your time comes..

Dakotahgeo

Thank you, Micha! As a ordained minister, I’ve had plenty of chances to view these Sunday “Christians” in action. They have too much time on their hands and wouldn’t know the lord’s work if it slapped them in the face. There’s nothing quite like working in a center that feeds the poor… that’s the most heart-warming thing one could do. And the people are so grateful! The armchair theologians you see on these websites haven’t even looked at the Bible or studied its many lessons through reference books, Concordances, and other Biblial scholarly writings. To them, the Bible is a WMD, a weapon of mass destruction against anybody who disagrees with their narrow interpretation of the Holy Bible. Pray for them…pity them!
Dakotahgeo, M.Div. Pastor/Chplain

jhon

You know God does not hate people at all, He only hates what they do. And what gay people do (sexually) is what God does not like. I’m not a holy roller nor do I claim to know every thing but I do know that in the bible that it states that God does not like man to be with man nor woman with woman nor ether with animals.
God told man and woman to go forth and populate the earth. This can not happen with out the union of man and woman.
Rodin

jhon -

How do you know, where you there? Huh?
rojo

rodin
if a man and woman did not go forth, how did you get here in the first place?? I know poof, you miraculously came from nowhere.

Dakotahgeo

I think the howling of the right wing pundits, citizens, and American christian Taliban pretty well demonstrate that a small minority of New Yorkers simply can’t be trusted to vote in the affairs of the majority speaking in favor of same-sex marriages. They’ve lost credibility that they bever really had and are howling at the prevailing winds. All the best to the newlyweds… same sex or not.
Dakotahgeo, M.Div. Pastor/Chaplain
Flynn

- Parents murdering their kids because their bored with them.
- Countries committing genocide because they don’t like the way a certain people walk, talk, dress or pray.
- People cheating others out of their entire savings, leaving them destitute, while they sail off to tropical islands.

I can think of a dozen more reasons why a “Biblical God” would want to wipe the planet clean with a plague, flood or what have you.

And yet, the one thing that you are convinced is going to bring God’s wrath upon us all is the love of two people?

Maybe…just maybe…allowing gays and lesbians this right is exactly what’s SAVING this world.

Dakotahgeo

Thank you,Flynn… well said!
netty611

Hey there Flynn , you words so true and clear. I hope many read it and allow the words to sink in. So much madness going on. Lets just be happy that people are now allowed to be equal in this aspect of life.

Dakotahgeo

Thanks for the support, netty611… I wish they had a “Like” button on this website. For the most part the CBS censors do a very good job!
Dakotahgeo, M.Div. Pastor/Chaplain
Johnny Handsome

Do you or anyone here think that because same sex marriage is not allowed, it will be better for gay folk?

Linda

Why do you think God destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah.

Bruce Pillsbury

To put up a gay disco?
Rodin

To lay a gas pipeline?
ejones

He didn’t mean to, but he was fracking for natural gas, and well…
Dakotahgeo, Pastor/Chaplain

If you knew your Bible at all, Linda, you’d know that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah violated the most sacred rule of their society, being inhospitable to strangers. All other instances quoted in Leviticus have to do with Temple prostitutes and fertility rites. For one who “knows” WHAT the Bible says, you cme up way too short, together with your self-righteous friends. My God and I had a little visit about you and God is NOT happy with the way you treat others of His creation. So maybe you might worry more about yourself and leave others alone. Unless, of course, you feel “called” to be a PITA!

Steve

God Bless You !
Nelson

If that’s the case, then gays are being very selfish by having all of the attention that needs to go to the rest of the world go to this very misniscule act of equality (same sex marriage). Which by the way, will never be. According to the dictionary and it’s definition of Marriage.
Moe.L.

I agree with you on your comment, Not only that their are some people going to jail from killing or robbing people and when they get out of jail they get a welcome home party. While their in jail they get packages sent to them and money. But just because gay’s and lesbians want to love and marry who they love the world wants to turn agaist them. Have anyone ever thought that if every state was legal to marry all people straight gay or what ever, those kids or the adults that was killed because of people telling the world it’s so wrong to be gay would be here today. You see we as humans do and act like we do because the goverment says so HMM. Another thing if we worry about what’s going on in our own homes and lives it woulld make the world a better place…

nana

God help us, this is not right, the laws of men are wrong God help us all.

Michael H.

If you want to live under a Christian theocracy go find a country where the law of “god” is the law of the land. See: Vatican City

Dakotahgeo

Or any of the Islamic countries… they will welcome you with open arms! But you’d be well advised to follow their other laws. Better check those out before packing your bags!
Rodin

… or Israel.

danny

nana, did god create man? Then mans laws were created by god, no?

LiberalsAreEvil

No…one of God’s Law is to procreate. Homesexuals cannot procreate. God created a WOMAN with a womb to bring forth new life and a MAN to start the process. Get it?
Michael H.

LiberalsAreEvil,

By YOUR logic infertile and elderly couples should not be allowed to wed. Is that true? Is that what you believe? Or are you going to be selective in how you apply your god’s laws?
Rodin

“On the sixth day, God created man. On the seventh day, man returned the favor.” – Anonymous
Rodin

So infertile couples are a godly error? What if the WOMAN wants to start the process? I don’t get it….
rojo

No matter how a child is conceived, it has a mother(egg) and father(sperm) and when gays are allowed to adopt a child, they are taking the rights away from that child to have a mother and father. A man and a woman are different in how they raise a chlld, the woman bring a gentleness and the man is most of the time stern. together they compliment each other.
Please don’t bring up excuses of out of wedlock kids, who have no idea what they are doing. They are bringing a generation of mixed up kids into society. Most of you are rational adults who will realize the importance of a normal 2 parent household. A child needs a father and mother, not 2 dads or 2 moms. A gay father can not tell a kid how it feels to give birth to a child, he doesn’t have the experience to adequelty express it.
Those who are saying to offset the comments that couples who are infertile, shouldn’t have kids. That is a totaly different ballgame. They have a medical condition, and thank g-d there are fertilty treatments or adoption, to make their dreams a reality, but let a child have a mother and father.
Michael H.

Rojo, straight parents keep messing up over and over again. Look at all of these straight parents raising gay kids! Your argument falls flat on its face!
rojo

Michael H

your right, unfortunately, we have really stupid reality TV shows(watch stupid stuff and you become stupid) and gangsta mentalilty and violent games, no wonder kids are messed up nowadays. Not an atmosphere condusive to raising normal kids.
If we go back prior to this “modernation of this society,” kids were normal and grew up in normal households. So maybe if society cleaned up its act and became morally grounded, like it was before, then I am certain it would get better.
Michael H.

Here’s a rude awakening. Gay people have always existed. Messed up kids have always existed. Single parents have always existed. Non-”traditional” families have always existed. My comment was meant to be snarky and not at all serious. It was meant to point out a major flaw in your argument. The “traditional” family you espouse is only by your standards. Not everybody has to live by your standards.

BF

What has our world come to. The governor is living with a mistress in Albany and the Mayor is marrying two gay people who will eventually commit sodomy. Not to many years ago this stuff would have repulsed a community to the point of asking these gentleman to step down. This is definitely because we have to much sugar in our drinks and our heads are clouded with to much smoke and our food is to salted. We all lack the moral value to really stand up and say there should be some moral values. By the way have you noticed that we are broke, except for the insulated rich. Look at Leviticus 26 in the Bible. Get ready for a fun ride because we are self destructing ourselves with all of our pride and super intelligence.

Michael H.

The Governor isn’t married, so by definition the woman he is living with can’t be a “mistress”.

I promise you, those two people have been committing “sodomy” for a long long time now. Them getting married isn’t going to change anything.

You quote Leviticus, but you don’t understand your own scriptures. Did not Jesus’ coming establish a New Covenant? The Old Testament (or at least most parts of it) no longer applies as per your Christian beliefs yet for some reason you are the ones quoting it non stop to shore up your bigotry.

Johnny Handsome

I don’t hate gay folk. I’m not here to hate. GOD dd not make you to marry the same of your kind but that’s a minor problem compared to the ills of the world. Love who you want. Kill who you want. Hate who you want. Rape who you want. Steal from who you want. All of mans deeds have now been made fair-seeming to him. But don’t worry. We will all be told of what we use to do. We will all be shown where we went off the path. Live your life as you see fit. A gift for a Beneficent Creator. Just know that you will without doubt answer for all you have done here. For every word that crossed your lips to every deed – good or bad. You will come to know. That is promised all men. And GOD does not fail in HIS Promises.
Michael H.

“Rape who you want. Steal from who you want.”

BOTH of which are violations of another person’s rights, be it the right to life, liberty, property or happiness.

Gay marriage violates NOBODY’S rights. Or are you too dense to understand such a simple concept?

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