Beyond Goodridge

Do marriage and partnership laws need to be expanded to cover the many different ways people are financially and emotionally interdependent? Or should marriage, whether same-sex or different-sex, continue to be the legal foundation of the family?
Read the story: Chaos theory
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We have to be realistic and accept the fact that divorce, same-sex marriages, and other social ills are going to be an unfortunate part of our society. Having said that, we must make sure that the children in these so-called families are given every chance to thrive.

Mark, Foxboro

Thankfully, things just got less complicated, not more complicated. The House passed a bill by more than 3 to 1 making permanent the 10% tax bracket, and expanded it from $6,000 to $7,000. Hopefully the Senate will concur. In a radio ad a couple of months ago, a gay marriage proponent's primary reason was that gay couples could claim Social Security benefits. So the prime reason behind gay marriage is directly related to big government. That's why making the tax cut permanent, and expanding it, is good news -- it nullifies the reason for gay marriage. The national debt is now $7.13 trillion. If that accelerates, it won't be long before major spending cuts are made. Also, in 2006 the voters might nullify it. If it only lasts 2 years, and is confined to only 1 state, its effects will be minimal. f

Peter, Cambridge

What is Marriage after all.... the union of two into one. It is a sacred act that spans all cultures. Americans should take a look marriage in some Asian cultures. My past partner, Japanese, and present partner who is Cambodian have marriage ceremonies that would shock most spanning days and bringing together hundreds of family and friends to witness the joyous occasion. And we think that marriage here is something special. Well what is my point? The point is that marriage is what we make it. Here you can lope to Vegas and do it in a few minutes then like Brittney call it off in 48 hours. Or you can take it seriously as do others. For myself, if I were to get married to my male partner, I would take it very seriously. It is one thing to live together but all another to say “I DO”. Am I ready for this? Tough question! My father, rest his sole, would say I have no right to marry as they did. But it is his marriage to my mother that is what marriage is all about. They were married for over 48 years. Will the likes of Brittney ever see that commitment? Very unlikely! So I pose a question to all you nay sayers for Gay Marriage. With all the Brittney’s, Tom Cruise’s, and others out there that throw insult to the institution of Marriage, how can you be so against two men or women who want to strengthen their relationships with marriage. The prediction that I have is that Gay couples will last far longer on average because we have to work at it. There will be no children by mistake, no marriages because it the thing our parents have pressured us into, none of this at all. In short, I think that we will be more true examples of what a marriage should be. Formed by love and respect, maintained by hard work. Mark my word.

Bart, Boston

The Gay Prayer of a Chaplain A multitude of women and men now come to the Garden with love and humble intent. Crowds have gathered to scourge them in their hour, yet they step willingly and with faith in the midst of lions toward their Savior. Behold the hour of the Lamb who goes to the slaughter for your inequities. We come to the Temple for eternal life and raise our heads to God for your knife, spill our blood. Once again we are sacrificed by the Romans, adding to the red pool in the Grail. Cup of life hold me, I have come out of love like the Son of the Father, made by the same Creator we are charged to love one and other. Some of us are here to walk together in that love, and some of us are here to share it with the children we cannot have who have been abandoned by the men and women who have created them. The mob is frightened and blinded to this pure intent and rather we be loveless leaving the children by the roadside, may God forgive them. They would gather to hold back the dawn of the sun that gives us the life and Light they would take from our Spirit, they will not triumph over this good. Though they mock me my head will not bow, though they condemn me my Spirit shall not be put to the death and I will not fear them. I will walk in the light of goodness, even toward those who revile me in Gods name. I will bind their wounds though mine will be bleeding, I will comfort their sorrows though mine be at their hands, I will love their cast off children though their parents may hate me. I will do all this in the name of the loving God that has made us all, alike or different in His many images. Come now all you who would swear to love one and other and pledge truth to the same. Come all you women and come, all you men to the Alter to make your vows before God. You are pleasing in His sight and His hand is upon you in blessing. Live your lives together in honor and goodness so your Spirit may be embraced by the Lord at the end of your days. May God bless and keep you now and at the hour of the rising of your soul to the heavens. Amen

Patricia

I am on the board of the Alternatives to Marriage Project. As an organization, we constantly ask and are asked these questions, i.e., should laws be expanded to cover the many different ways people are financially and emotionally interdependent as well as whether marriage should be the legal foundation of the family. I invite you, the reader, to visit our website at www.unmarried.org. And on the eve of this historic day, I wish every happiness to all same-sex couples who will soon marry. Respectfully, SW

Sarah, Medford

Poor lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (lgbt) individuals and/or same-sex couples seeking to create a family (with or without children) often have little knowledge about how to obtain some kind of legal recognition for their families, whether through second-parent adoption, co-guardianship, domestic partnership benefits, civil unions, or powers of attorney. Oftentimes, the lack of affordable legal representation, discriminatory local or state laws, and social hurdles often impede and/or hinder the socio-economic well being of poor families. Our families can not afford to wait until a utopian institution develops. Let us get on the marriage trail while we have a chance.

Jesus, New York

Are the marriage subsidies really worth this trouble? Wouldn't it be better if two people who love eachother and want to spend the rest of their lives together, be able to decide how to share their wealth and provide stablility for their children without the meddling of politicians. In the eyes of the law marriage should be nothing more or less than a contract between two people, and when appropriate, judged according to its terms. I support ammending the Massachusetts constitution, but it should read "The State shall make no law regarding marriage"

Pat, Nahant

It is disgraceful that 4 judges out of seven - a swing vote of 1 -could attempt to change the definition of an institution that has existed for thousands of years - marriage and the family. Marriage has literally been between males and females in every society on earth as long as there has been civilization,whether between 1 male and 1 or more females. Its purpose is to provide a basic, stabilizing building block for raising children and organizing society. Marriage is not about romantic love or about what any two individuals want to do together - two individuals without children only matter to each other and do not leave any real legacy to society. The relationship is only important to each other, not to the broader society. But families with children actually create society and pass down civlization, culture and simple survival and well being of the race. Please do not tell me about the "families" gays have. It is extremely sad to see these children being adopted by gay couples that have no mother or father depending on the gender of the couple. This is simply wrong and should be banned. It is equally troubling to see children of lesbian parents with no fathers in their homes. Are we to say that fathers have no value or that there is no difference in the genders? How do boys learn to be men in this environment and how do girls learn to relate to males? These "families" are inherently unhealthy. We are destroying ourselves by enshrining selfish, empty, self-absorbed rituals like gay "marriage". Homosexuality, regardless of how much it is publicized, is an aberration and a psychological disorder. It is inherently abnormal and unhealthy. While we should feel tolerance for people afflicted with this, we should not allow people with this fundamental disorder to dictate the rules of our society. In a healthy society, gays would receive treatment for their homosexuality or at least it would be openly acknowledged as a problem, instead of having all of us whispering behind our hands now because we're afraid of being characterized as bigots and haters, when we're actually afflicted with common sense. This small minority of maybe 5% at most should not be allowed to dictate our morays and institutions. If nothing else - if society has actually degraded to an extent that people can see no greater or more important reason for marriage than the fullfillment of individual whim - the people should vote on this and not have the issue dictated to us by 4 judges. Please also do not raise the issue of interracial marriage to me - ultimately the physical appearance of the people does not matter - it is the purpose of marriage itself that matters and that can only be fulfilled by people of opposite genders, regardless of race. By the way, the Globe coverage on this issue has been appallingly one-sided in your cheerleading for gay marriage. Most of us are actually opposed to this as that rather pathetic woman who went shopping for the ketubah in an orthodox shop found out. Just having 4 judges say this is okay does not mean the rest of us will accept this practice. We will just have to wati till 2006 to vote this down and then deal with the inevitable resulting chaos and lawsuits. I know I will receive many many comments from your readers saying how hateful I am, but I am being truthful and I probably am speaking for the majority of people, even in this state, and certainly in this country.

arabella, boston

I don't believe marriage is the only way to define a family. A family is defined by the love and support ones give to each other. I know many married heterosexuals that do not engange in that type of behavior. However, marriage does give people financial gaurantees.

Aimee , Lexington

Conception is the true start of a family and since same sex couples can't conceive thru each other, is it truly a family? I wish these couples well in their "Civil Unions" But it shouldn't be considered a marriage.

Jake, New Boston NH