Woops little Katkins... can't you tell Amos is kidding? It seems to me that he was making a blanket statement that was patently ridiculous, just like any that is made about gays and how 'they all' think.

Rick, it's not only being discussed, it's just about fought over in the streets. I'm from Vermont, the only state in the Union to have legislature offering the same legal status to gay couples as to hetero ones, and the civil union, which is sometimes called 'gay marriage'. It's not actually marriage, but it's the closest we've been able to get yet - legal rights of spouses, and protection under the law. Whether the local churches respect the union is up to them. But let me tell you, the protests, screaming and debtes that went on when the bill was being discussed were fierce, and they still are. Most of the protest, though, came from out of state - Anti-gay groups shipping their advocates to Vermont, to stand on the steps of our capitol building and spout their hateful rhetoric at us.

I'd like to hope that in the future, and the not very distant one at that, people will decide that 'love thy neighbour' means exactly that - not judge him, tolerate him, spit on him, ignore him or denounce him, but love him for who and what he is. #1 Peasant, you don't have to like what gays do. Heck, I don't like what George W. Bush does. But you've no right to denigrate or disrespect them - for one thing, their sex life is none of your business.

It seems like people will always hate. Maybe it's what we do best. But if people could open their hearts, arms, and eyes, and drop their preconceived notions about what black people think, act like or do, then maybe they can do it for gays as well. Churchs of various denominations have welcomed them, and often even married them. Sometimes it's just one parish, or just one pastor/minister/priest, but that's a start. If everyone tries just a little harder to understand... it's only love, how much can you disapprove of love?

-Jessica

PS This issue is admittedly a bit personal to me - my best friend is gay, (as are many other friends). She's received death threats, abuse, and disapproval - just because she loves a woman. So what? My father loves a woman. So, presumably, did yours. Why should it matter that she's a woman too? I want protection and aceptance for her and everyone like her, because nothing makes me angrier than knowing that people hate her just because of who she loves.