Coffee mug wins that battle. Hands down my friend.
Oh, and no toaster for you. You only get the toaster for converting someone to be gay.
Anyone who says that gay marriage would “defile” so-called traditional marriage obviously doesn’t have much respect for “traditional” marriage, either, IMHO.
Kudos to you!
Yeah, but you only get a coffee mug for converting someone to SDMB staff! 
Or is it… 
For my money, divorce is a hell of a bigger defilement to the majority status quo regarding marriage than gay marriage could ever reasonably be, but don’t suggest that to some of the more out-spoken opponents of SSM who have also been divorced at least once.
The truly hardcore drink straight from the kettle.
Anyone specific you had in mind?
Thank you **Uncommon Sense ** for looking as something that is not in your realm of thought, or belief, and evaluating the situation on a different level. And thank you Otto for phrasing it in such a way that others are able to understand. You really do speak for many on this board.
I have been with my SO for almost 23 years now. We have gone through some serious medical problems with him and I am happy to say that, despite the lack of legal rights, every hospital, every nurse, and every doctor has ignored those laws and treated us with respect. We have had no problems with me being there before, during and after operations and therapy.
I personally wish there was a Gay option to the traditional heterosexual marriage…I would be quite happy with signing a few legal papers giving us the same rights as heterosexual married couple, and then having an event of a different nature with friends and family to publically announce the fact…I guess that could be called “marriage” in the traditional sense, but I envision it more as a non-religious ceremony (religion hasn’t been good to me) and more a party with a purpose. I just want to announce that we love each other, intend to spend the rest of our lives together, drink up, give us a toaster and party hearty.
At any rate, you give me hope that in the near future more people will realize Gay and Lesbian couples want nothing more than the legal right to love someone, and live with them; without the fear that laws on the books will supercede your partner’s rights and allow some distant relative to come and take over your home and estate from the person you shared your life with.
And it’s as simple as that. Anyone who still believes that there’s still some “gay agenda”: I had no idea about Dmark’s life and the terms of his relationship, and DMark’s goals are as different from mine as anyone else’s, but it all comes down to the same thing: just a basic level of dignity for people in a serious relationship.
DMark’s a guy who’s proven it can work. I’m just a guy who’s wondering why you have to wait 23 years to get the same thing everyone else has. Where’s the disparity here?
So much on this board is depressing as hell that reading this OP is almost too much of a delightful suprise. Consider me gobsmacked.
Uncommon, all I can say is, it is a good thing when someone like yourself comes to see what we are arguing for and are willing to at least consider what is behind the words. I wish more people were like you, at least willing to consider what we say instead of simply dismising it.
Thankyou all for your kind reponses and understanding. I didn’t expect the reaction would be this positive and supportive. I don’t know what I expected, really. I just knew I had to say something to express my thoughts and support for everyone in this situation since I feel that I was part of the problem for so long.
I was born with a thick skull, it’s genetic I tell you.
Thanks again.
Let’s continue the work.
Please, people, please: no white after Labor Day!! (Will no one heed the Gay? Think of the children!)
Uncommon Sense, I’ve always thought that changing your mind is a sign that it’s still working 
. Thanks for your encouragement.