I believe that early on, the religious prohibitions had to do with "go forth and multiply," the command to increase the tribe. Any "waste of seed" (any activity, solo or with a partner, that did not have the potential of producing offspring) was considered a sin against the "go forth and multiply" prescription. And the idea that God destroyed Sodom because they were practicing "sodomy" there is just somebody's half-assed (!?) idea. There is nothing in the Bible that specifies that!

I know at least two couples who are "out of the closet." Both couples are solid citizens. One of the guys is a member of a writers' group Barbara and I belong to, and he's an excellent writer. When we have social gatherings, he and is partner often come. A fellow in the other couple is politically active (not limiting himself to "gay" issues) and has recently been elected to the state legislature. Politically, he and I are in very close agreement on a lot of things.

I see no reason why these two couples (and a few other such relationships, both male and female, that I am acquainted with) should not have the full benefits that any committed couples have.

The "defense of marriage" issue?

Someone is going to have to do some tall explaining and come up with much better reasons than I have heard yet to convince me that letting these folks have the same rights and privileges that heterosexual couples have, in any way, effects Barbara's and my marriage.

I agree with Rapaire. And, although it is perhaps more famous for its social activism in general, there is a church near where we live that will marry committed same-sex couples, whether the law recognized the marriage or not.

Don Firth