Why Gay Marriage Matters

Yet another story that shows why not allowing same sex marriage causes real harm to real families.

Janice Langbehn and Lisa Pond had planned to take their three children on a family cruise. The Olympia, Washington couple had been together 18 years and with their children were looking forward to the holiday. But just as they were about to depart on the cruise from Miami, Florida. Pond, a healthy 39-year-old, suddenly collapsed. She was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami with Langbehn and the children following close behind. But once Langbehn and the children arrived at the hospital the hospital refused to accept information from her about Ponds's medical history.

Pond ended up dying and her partner and children had virtually no contact with her prior to her death:

Langbehn says she was informed that she was in an antigay city and state, and she could expect to receive no information or acknowledgment as family. A doctor finally spoke with Janice telling her that there was no chance of recovery. Other than one five minute visit, which was orchestrated by a Catholic priest at Langbehn's request to perform last rites, and despite the doctor's acknowledgement that no medical reason existed to prevent visitation, neither she nor her children were allowed to see Pond until nearly eight hours after their arrival. Soon after Pond''s death, Langbehn tried to get her death certificate in order to get life insurance and Social Security benefits for their children. She was denied both by the State of Florida and the Dade County Medical Examiner.

This is not an abstract. This is a real family in a real crisis and they were treated abominably. And there is one and only one reason for that: anti-gay bigotry. Let's hear those "pro-family" groups defend what happened to this family.

Things like this really tick me off. I have no words.

Bigots should die.

that is beyond rediculous. i can't even think of a more fitting word than that. it's fucking pathetic what this world is coming to

I can not even think of a reason not to allow same sex marraiges, Or atleast some form of recognized civil union.

The only thing I don't like about homosexuality is it's glorification.
I went to my little cousin's high school and it's like they think it's cool to be gay or something.. And wtf are gay rights, aside from the union issue wtf right should they have that they do not have already? Should they have more rights than straight people? 'cause the way I understand it, all human beings are guarunteed the same rights.

I can not even think of a reason not to allow same sex marraiges, Or atleast some form of recognized civil union. The only thing I don't like about homosexuality is it's glorification. I went to my little cousin's high school and it's like they think it's cool to be gay or something.. And wtf are gay rights, aside from the union issue wtf right should they have that they do not have already? Should they have more rights than straight people? 'cause the way I understand it, all human beings are guarunteed the same rights.

I believe when the gay community talks about "gay rights" they are generally refering to the rights that other people have, but they are denied, based solely on the fact that they are gay.

In theory, all human beings are guaranteed the same rights, but in practice it just isn't so. Based on your social status, financial status, race, sexuality, etc, you either gain or lose multiple rights that other people either have or don't have.

A good example of a "gay right" which homosexuals are denied would be marriage. This is what people are talking about when they say they are "for gay rights." It isn't that they wants rights of their own that nobody else can have, it's that they want rights that everyone else has but they are denied.

Well put, but can you produce, other than marraige, any rights that gays have been denied because they are gay?

From perusing through this thread, you've all said it better than I ever could have.