" Gun;
I can understand why you don't like the Bible. As a matter of fact you must dispise every major religion of earth. Those who wish to put down the Bible generally quote from the old testament just as you do. It just seems so much more dramatic to quote the old rules from before Jesus. Seems you missed a few chapters (a whole book actually). It seems to me you have allot of hate in you for someone who accuses everyone else of hate and a mighty holier than thou attitude for someone who hates holier than thou attitudes. You stereotype allot of people (like those who go to church) for someone who claims to hate stereotypes. Yours must be a very confused life. But heyyour god must be a kick! It seems he clearly has no rules about right and wrong. My God has allot of issues with all types of things...some I manage to live up to and some I dont. I try though. I sure wish he would just lighten up and let me do what I want like your god does for you and you gay friendsoops, that sounds just likes the argument my son uses on me every time he wants to do something he shouldnt. (Say in whinny 10 year old style)== Darnother kids always get the cool gods that let them do whatever they want. (Deep daddy voice says)== Sorry son, just because you really want to doesnt make it right and do you REALLY want a god that doesnt care enough to make rules to keep you safe? You may go back to you own voice now :) "

" The author is not in touch with the rest of the world, but everyone is entitled to their opinion... "

" No I think I have made clear who decides in my house....my husband and I do....but we manage to leave out all the holier than thous and the judgemental BS. I would strongly disagree that the Bible can teach wrong without teaching hate....for goodness sakes...it says to stone to death homosexuals, adulterers, and children who disobey....HELLO....does that not seem INSANE to you? You say it is a lifestyle choice I say they are just the same as you and I....I have absolutely no desire to be with another woman....I never have....but some of my gay friends have said they can't imagine being with someone of the opposite sex...it grosses them out. Point taken I said. It is so typical for you neo-cons to compare being gay to being a meth addict which is just plain stupid and has no merit. I choose not to teach my children from the Bible or to particpate in church because of people like YOU!! I don't teach my children the Bible because I believe it to be stories written by average men and in fact I find many parts to be very offensive. My God wouldn't dream of writing such hate, I think he is embarrassed that such bologna is being pawned off in his good name. I am not upset about the commercialism....but was just making the point that homosexuality is certainly not being shoved down anyones throat when you compare it to heterosexuality. Come on you have to admit cable TV is getting pretty riska??? "

" Gun; (who decides in my house-I DO! Who decides in yours? PRIDE? Gay rights? The ACLU? Yes, the bible has it's place here in my house. From it, it is easy to teach wrong without teaching hate. I do it every day when I teach him about drug addicts, drunk drivers, child molesters, thieves and the people who say I must put up with them because "it is not their fault". Tech your child that these are just other people with their own ways if you wish, I would teach her to avoid them and their "lifestyle choicess". Teach her it is just a lifestyle choice to do meth or other woman for that matter, and to embrace them if you wish. If that is self righteous then so be it. Self righteous is a name often applied to those who expect proper behavior by those who think they are above it. As for being holier than thou--read your bible and you will find I am in fact holier than thou (at least on this subject). Poor choice of word on your part unless your bible says something different than mine on men laying with men. Do your teach your child to disregard all of the bible of just the parts your gay and lesbian friends don't like? Actually, my view is not biblical at it's root but you asked. What a word game you play--TV shoving hetero down your throat? What a stupid argument. You are upset a normal, socially and biologically acceptable lifestyle you claim to live yourself is what is promoted on TV? You keep using "they" when speaking of heterosexuals...hmmmm, I think your closet may be open. Me self righteous? DARN RIGHT! "

" Against gay marriage? Don't have one! "

" MTRICH...so who decides what is "right" and what is "wrong" in your house? Do you decide...does the Bible dictate. How do you teach a child....that person is living "wrong" but don't dislike or hate them. I would love to hear that conversation. I am sure it is full of self rightousness and holier than thous. I have several gay friends...none of the guys wear dresses but as do your co workers have to put up with you and maybe your lack of fashion, we should not sit in judgement of a guy wearing a dress. I have not had a gay/lesbian sensitivity course....my employer must not feel it necessary as we are professionals who have respect for everyone...we don't need that sort of direction. Once again I will ask to whomever can or is willing to answer...HOW IS "THEIR" LIFESTYLE BEING SHOVED DOWN YOUR THROAT?? Have you people seen cable TV lately....I would say heterosexuality is being shoved down our throats on every channel, in shows, in commercials, in magazines, in all forms of commercialism. How many homosexual ads do you see on TV with two guys or two girls trying to sell pharmacuticals or hair products or cereal for goodness sakes. You don't see the homosexuals pushing for legislation to ban heterosexuals from getting married because they have so horribly desimated the "santity" of marriage with their 50% divorce rate...As a married hetero I would vote for that...just to teach a good lesson. "

" my child has been raised knowing there is right and there is wrong...hating someone for being gay is wrong--but being gay sure isnt right. It is not proper, it is not normal. Quit shoving it in my face. Gun...you are clearly in denial on behalf of your gay friends if you don't understand (even without agreeing with) what (Bob) is saying. Have you been under a rock or have your reality blinders slipped down and started cutting off the blood flow? Of course they are demanding changes to our languagehave you not had your gay/lesbian sensitivity training course at work yet? The one where they tell you all the words you cannot say without offending some guy in a dress? You question his comment on changing the laws? How bizarre good lord, that is exactly what this is all aboutcommon you cant be that ...wellI guess you can,,,, "

" Hello.there are benefits to being married. Sharing Health insurance, Pensions, visitations. Did you know that most facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, and even jails) will not let people outside immediate family visit their loved ones. That means if a gay man has spent 10+yrs with his partner and stood beside him in every way that straight man stands by a wife.. he may be denied the ability to stand by his partner on their death bed. His partner may also be denied health insurance that would be available if he were straight and married. Some say being gay is a lifestyle choice, but I ask you this if being with the same sex was normal would all the straight people that are complaining become gay? I wouldnt. If gay people want to get married and be as miserable as us straight people who are we to tell them NO? "

" GUN: Did you ever think perhaps they are targeted by all the events they host to celebrate they are gay? When was the last time you saw a straight person wearing a button or marching in a parade to advertise they like the opposite sex? The homosexual people I know aren't overt, it's not discussed. We enjoy talking about other things for WHO we are, not WHAT our preference is. I don't appreciate anyone being overt in their choices and pushing it to me. It shouldn't be too hard for anyone to respect that choice, but it seems like it is. "

" @ barest: No, homosexuality isn't 'normal', but so what? Life would be stagnant if we never had divergence from the norm. "

" And Barest...I will teach my children to love everyone...to NEVER discriminate against another person. I will teach my children that they are no better than anyone else. I will teach my children that people like you should be ashamed of themselves for thinking all of the above. Above all my children at the ages of 6 and 5 KNOW that their friends Sue and Beth are amazing people who love them and treat them with respect and friendship. There is nothing "wrong" with them, they are just two women who love each other. How sad for your children....just another example of discrimination being passed from one generation to the next....as discrimination is taught and learned, not inherited. "

" Ding Ding...we have another mis-informed ignoramous running around!!! I would like Mr. Leach to please explain what he means EXACTLY about changing our language, our word definitions, our sex education, our social studies and our laws? What is this guy yaking about? Our language is pretty clear, word definitions cannot be changed as far as I know....our sex ed would stay the same because once again...WE DO NOT TEACH OUR YOUTH ON HOW TO HAVE SEX...I think I can grasp the social studies and laws part but WOW this guys is wack. Not just because his opinion is different than mine, but because of his factual inconsistancies. I dont know what in your face means I guess. What they hold hands, maybe kiss....like all the "straights" do? The gay community NEEDS hate crime legislation because there are many crimes commited against gays because they are GAY...DUH!! This is NOT THE CASE with your average every day straight person. When was the last time anyone heard of someone getting beaten up or killed cuz they are straight??? Can someone answer that question please? And this BS about the whole marriage contract not being any good...bla bla...whatever. If my husband was on his death bed as his wife I have to make his medical decisions for him...I dont need a will to do that...who the heck else is going to do it? "

" "al" how so that straights put their sexuality IN THE FACE of gays/lesbians?

When have straights ever demanded special treatment when crimes are committed against them.

When have straights had a parade to flaunt their sexuallity as gays do in the city by the bay?

Iran is proud to claim they have no gay people there. Of course, the problem in Iran is that anyone discovered to be gay in Iran winds up dead. And gays in this country think they have it rough! "

" Also if the gay/lesbian community wants to get "married", then I hope they get the same taxes that we do. TAXES!!!! I have to pay them, which unfortunately a lot of older couples I know have had to get a divorce because they make MORE money when they aren't married versus when they are. I also agree with the other person who wrote in on gay marriage being an oxymoron. I agree. They should stop using the "traditional" terms for their Untraditional concepts of gay mariage. I am SO TIRED OF HAVING IT SHOVED DOWN MY THROAT. I am SO TIRED of hearing that its "normal". I will teach my kids that gay/lesiban is NOT normal, since in order for them to come about naturally is by their mother (female) and father (male)! "

" Seems to me that the reason why the gay/lesbian community is "IN-YOUR-FACE" is that the straight world has been in theirs for so long. "