Most Americans are against gay marriages. Personally, as a heterosexual female, I don't see the difference between a common law marriage between a male and female or a gay couple wanting to be legally married and obtaining rights to social security death benefits, or any rights given to a legally married couple. According to Social Security law, Social Security recognizes common law marriage for the purpose of paying survivors and spouse's benefits. Social Security follows the laws of the State where the couple reside. Many States do not honor common-law marriages but most States (even those in which a man and woman could not enter into a valid common-law marriage) will generally recognize a common-law marriage validly entered into in another State.

A common law marriage between a man and a woman has to meet four criteria, with some States have an added exception to the rules.

So where I am going with this is .... I don't see the point of denying gays the right to be legally married and receiving the same rights as married heterosexuals (who have a high divorce rate), when common law marriages can receive the same social security benefits as a married couple (social security benefits seem to be a sticking point for most Americans ... unless they are really in denial about why they really don't want gays to marry).

Has the comparison between these 3 types of marriages ever been discussed here, has my question already been beaten to death? I've never heard the 3 types of marriages talked about in debates on TV or radio.

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verypudelyyours, I find the reason people are against gay-marriage to be a simple one, discrimination. Denying gays marriage is the same as historically denying blacks freedom and women the right to vote, among others. Its simply the next step in discrmination. Just like people used to use logic and reason to justify slavery and female oppression people try to put down gays with reason. In the end, it may not be direct hate, but discrmination is always at the heart of it. Its that simple, even if they wont admit it.

Exactly ... and hypocrital too, in that people don't want to say why they are really against gay marriage, but social security benefits is an easy politically correct reason. It all comes down to what is in their mind ... the act of two men or two women disgusts them. But man & woman is ok. Americans should get their minds out of people's bedrooms and look at the relationship for what it is. Nice suggestion to Americans but it won't happen none too soon.

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[quote="verypudelyyours";p="118874"]Here is the definition of discrimination:


noun

treating people differently through prejudice: unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, ethnic group, age group, religion, or gender
Now is homosexuality a : Race? Ethnic group? Age group? Religion? Gender?

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Internet stalking is a crime and college educated stalkers(actup)need to be punished!

There is no requirement to be in a militia to bear arms!

Amazing! You were able to find one dictionary which listed discrimination as usually occuring based on race, age, gender, religion or ethnic group. I guess that means that that specific definition is universally accepted and true.


Oh, wait. It isn't!


Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit;

2 : to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit <discriminate in favor of your friends> <discriminate against a certain nationality>

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"Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." - Hassan-i-Saba

How do you discriminate on this?
Would not this fall under “Ethnic group”?

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Internet stalking is a crime and college educated stalkers(actup)need to be punished!

There is no requirement to be in a militia to bear arms!

Gays are a different from other people. They are treated unfairly and different from othes. Its that simple.

Category. "Homosexual" is a category - a group of people who can be, and are, discriminated against.

You obviously do not understand how dictionaries work. Try going back and graduating from the 1st grade, then maybe people will take you seriously.

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"Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." - Hassan-i-Saba

Here is the definition of homosexual:
somebody attracted to same sex: somebody who is sexually attracted to members of his or her own sex
adjective
1. attracted to same sex: sexually attracted to members of the same sex
2. of homosexuality: relating to sexual attraction or activity among members of the same sex
There is no homosexual : Race
There is no homosexual : Ethnic group
There is no homosexual : Age group
There is no homosexual : Religion
There is no homosexual : Gender
So to fit your definition of discrimination you use this tactic.
Well homosexuality is a perversion of the laws of nature. Now since this is a perversion can we discriminate against perversions?
Can the child molesters use this to defend their perversion?
WoW a homosexual ora person defending homosexuals using insults! So much for that claim of homosexuals being tolerant!

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Internet stalking is a crime and college educated stalkers(actup)need to be punished!

There is no requirement to be in a militia to bear arms!

I thought you were done on this tangent, can't you see no one agrees with you.

Lets just smash the state and be rid of this whole mess!

Freedom independent of the government and moral legislation!

DHard, why are you after homosexual so much anyway, you dont seem to be tolerant of people who love eachother getting married unless it conforms to your specific, might i sat narrow views.

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social critics are a pain