Though I'm not directly affected by whether or not homosexual marriages are legal and/or are permitted by various sects and religions, I guess you could say I'm collaterally affected. My cousin and her girlfriend, who live in California,
...
more
Though I'm not directly affected by whether or not homosexual marriages are legal and/or are permitted by various sects and religions, I guess you could say I'm collaterally affected. My cousin and her girlfriend, who live in California, won't be able to get married now. Also, my father is beginning the transition to female. (he asked to be my "father" instead of "mother" still for now, hence the noun used) When the transition is done, my parents' marriage will be a homosexual one. While the state we live in won't invalidate their marriage once the transition is done (this may no longer be true if we move), our church most likely will, and religion is very important to my parents.
As a Methodist, I'd like to clear up the comment Backseat Boohoo made, but with the preface that it is not intended as an attack or to start an argument, but as a lament about the denomination in which I was raised.
The official position is that the United Methodist Church supports homosexuals being part of the congregation, partaking in sacraments and activities, and supports the civil rights of homosexual individuals, but Methodist ministers aren't allowed to perform gay marriages, such marriages may not be performed in Methodist churches, and homosexuals may not be ordained. Some congregations and ministers are willing to break these rules and perform gay marriages, but these marriages are unfortunately not accepted by the whole Methodist church, and can cost the minister in question his or her position and even ordination. (There are a few congregations who get around this by hiring a minister from a denomination allowing gay marriage to be on staff, who then performs the ceremony just outside the church building, with the methodist minister overseeing from the church steps)
There is a growing number of congregations in favor of overthrowing this official position, but no such measure has successfully been passed. Unfortunately, in practice many Methodist congregations aren't nearly as accepting as they are asked to be, even without allowing marriages. We are asked to accept them as individuals, not "abusing" them for their sexual orientations, but I have seen more than one homosexual couple and individual driven from the congregation I grew up in. This same congregation, of which my parents have been an active part for almost 20 years, would have a fast and harsh backlash if they found out that my father will someday be a woman.
For those not interested in the politics of a particular denomination of a religion notorious for its bigotry, I apologize for this long post. And if you couldn't tell, my answer to the poll is that I'm all for same sex marriages, in personal, religious, financial, and legal arenas.
less
