Is the battle for gay rights a civil rights battle?

[BigRedChief]

From Obama's inaugural speech.

"We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths — that all of us are created equal — is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall ... Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law — for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."

Today Obama placed an original place for the battle for gay civil rights, Stonewall along side the same original battleground's for women's rights(Seneca Falls) and African-American rights(Selma).

So the poll question is............

Is the battle for gay rights a civil rights battle?

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Pablo

Half the people in this thread don't believe it's a civil rights issue?



Mouth-breathers.

What civil right are they lacking?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Because it shows that half the people on this forum are clueless about what a civil right fundamentally is. I find that quite frightening.

I should have made the poll public but I thought it would cause some on the board to not vote.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I should have made the poll public but I thought it would cause some on the board to not vote.

Maybe you should have defined what civil right they are battling for exactly. Because as far as civil rights go I can't think of one they aren't already afforded.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

Maybe you should have defined what civil right they are battling for exactly.

There is no way in hell I get to decide what is a "civil right" or not. Thats for the voters to decide.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

What civil right are they lacking?

They are denied the right of equality since they can't get married and be afforded all the benefits married couples get. Being gay is not illegal in any state.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

There is no way in hell I get to decide what is a "civil right" or not. Thats for the voters to decide.

Well by that definition then anyone voting no is correct so I'm good.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

They are denied the right of equality since they can't get married and be afforded all the benefits married couples get. Being gay is not illegal in any state.

By that definition you'd have no problem with two brothers getting married then because it is within their civil rights.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

By that definition you'd have no problem with two brothers getting married then because it is within their civil rights.

In most states incest is against the law and you can go to jail, just like being a polygamist.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by niblet

Is the battle for polygamist rights a civil rights battle?

The root word of civil comes from the latin "civis" which means "citizen."

Whatever the battle for whatever the set of "rights," it's a civil rights battle - a battle over what rights a citizen has.

The right to copulate with little boys is a civil rights battle. Whether they are right or wrong doesn't change the fundamental nature of what kind of battle it is (ie. rights for citizens).

Anyone who says the battle for gay rights isn't a civil rights battle are not only wrong, but they're ignorant to the point of being morons. They should seriously question themselves about whether they even have a place in public policy discussions given how demonstrably ignorant they are. These are truly the kind of citizens the founders were trying to protect us against when they eschewed democracy in favor of a representative republic.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

By that definition you'd have no problem with two brothers getting married then because it is within their civil rights.

Speaking only for myself, I wouldn't have a problem with it legally. I'd probably skip out on that wedding ceremony, though.

[Dave Lane]

Quite frankly given the virtually crazy group of nutjobs in DC I expected this to be 5 yes and 50 no.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

By that definition you'd have no problem with two brothers getting married then because it is within their civil rights.

Now that I think about it, are you thinking about making a change?

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

In most states incest is against the law and you can go to jail, just like being a polygamist.

That's all I was looking for, marriage should be determined by the state.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

Well by that definition then anyone voting no is correct so I'm good.

That was the point. You define if this is a "civil right" or not.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

That's all I was looking for, marriage should be determined by the state.

Here's the problem with letting states decide. If they have equal rights because its in the constitution, then it applies to every state.

Same basic principle as why JFK sent federal troops to enforce allowing blacks to enroll in any college they are qualified to attend. Why we sent troops to ensure integration in the South.

No matter the state some rights are applied at the federal level. It's the same whether its in Alabama, Georgia, New York or California. States rights don't apply here.