Yes, by all means, gay people should have the right to marry. Marriage has a stabilizing influence on society, and the state has a compelling interest to promote stability. Not to mention that it's the right, moral thing to do.

Even if they do not pay taxes or vote or abide the laws of the land they should have the right to marry.

A right is a right and is always right. If it is restricted in any way then it is not a right. The happiness of two adults who choose to marry should be a right as it is in MA.

if they cannot it proves that there is no separation of Church and state.

How hypocritical of Churches to condemn Gays, Lesbians, etc. We are all children of God and we are not to judge, at least that is the teachings of the Bible. So what is it?

I'm sure if you are a gay Catholic and have never been a member of their clergy, you can get married. Mobsters, Madames have been blessed by the church forever. Sally Stanford who was a well known madame in the highest circles. When she died the Catholic Church buried her out of a Cathedral with all the hoopla.

You just have to know how much to pay.

I ask my gay friends why the hell they would ever want to marry after watching the straight folks bollix it up so badly. I've known healthy couples who were man/woman, woman/woman, man/man. I've even known a few extended families with more than two partners. Healthy couples glow no matter what their sexual preference. Unhealthy ones act as anvils to anyone around them.

As a therapist, I have worked with gay couples as well as straights. Relationships are equally good or bad on both sides of the gender coin. It isn't gender that makes for a good relationship. It is people who developed the understanding that if you put yourself first in a marriage, you will fail. If you don't make yourself count in a marriage you will also fail. If you understand the art of compromise and even the art of losing a battle to win a war, you have the best chance of success.

Even if you have a great marriage, you will eventually die. So, make the best of it while you are here.

It reminds me of the relationship I had before I met my wife. It failed because we were both madly in love with her ... and I woke up in time to save my life.

What is marriage?

It's a real question.

In Oregon, marriage is, by law, a union between one man and one woman. That law was approved by voters about three years ago. And yet, Oregon does now recognize "civil unions" between same-sex couples. But not marriage, despite the fact that even the national news media are calling it that.

Pattycake,

At this point, we heterosexuals have pretty well gutted out traditional marriage as best I can tell.

It's "we agree to be together until one of us sez we aren't and then we aren't." Wow. I'm profoundly moved by the spiritual significance.

Makes the kids feel a little more secure, though. Emphasis on "feel."

The Left, the judges, politicians acting extra-legally, they'll shove homosexual marriage through regardless of how folk vote.

So why not give 'em the corpse?