# Is it just me, or does this anti-gay marriage article seem particularly... \*mean\*? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 20, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394 "2003-11-20T23:42:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/1 "2003-11-20T23:42:01Z")
[I’m talking about this one.](http://www.townhall.com/columnists/maggiegallagher/mg20031119.shtml) There’s just something about the concluding paragraphs: > [@](#): > > How about something simple: Marriage in America is and shall be exclusively the union of one woman and one man. > > Then, when The New York Times or People magazine start treating same-sex unions as if they were marriage, we at least can point to the U.S. Constitution and say: Not in the United States of America. that strike me as particularly… self-righteous, maybe? But the whole damn thing makes the author sound like a wandering horde of gay people trampled her petunias and soaped her windows. Of course, I may be biased by [the National Review Online link](http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/03_11_16_corner-archive.asp#019887) I stumbled on, whose writer seems to call gay people “the wrecking crew,” as if they were joyfully attacking marriage with crowbars and jackhammers, giggling with glee all the while. Is it just me? Am I completely misreading both these people? God, I hope I am… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/2 "2003-11-21T00:34:12Z")
I can’t tell. _All_ anti-gay-marriage articles sound mean to me. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/3 "2003-11-21T01:34:42Z")
I can’t understand why people get so worked up about preventing gays from getting married. I don’t see anything compelling in this opinion piece other than “that’s the way we’ve always done it” and “won’t SOMEBODY think of the children?!” ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/4 "2003-11-21T01:57:30Z")
Today must be a day for infuriating quotes. Two quotes out of the Denver Post that made me make faces on the Lightrail and go ARRGH, too. “… The problem is not the individuals with the traditional beliefs. The problem is caused by those who overturn society’s norms to validate their own lifestyle.” ~David Schultheis, Republican State Rep for Colorado. and “The time is now. If we don’t do something about this, then you cannot in 20 years- when you see the American public disintegrating and you see our enemies overtaking us because we have no moral will. You remember that you did nothing.” Sandy Rios- President of the Concerned Women for America. I was livid when I got off the train. Still ticked now. ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/5 "2003-11-21T02:20:19Z")
Maggie Gallagher likes to a mention a study linking cocaine use to homosexuality, implying a causal link. I don’t lose sleep over anything she writes, at all. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/6 "2003-11-21T03:37:26Z")
Cocaine makes you gay? Amazing! ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/7 "2003-11-21T03:59:18Z")
John Derbyshire is Ann Coulter with a penis. He is a hateful, hateful man and says nothing that anyone should pay attention to. You’re not misreading him–he is virulently homophobic. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/8 "2003-11-21T04:07:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynne\_kilii \* > \*\*Today must be a day for infuriating quotes. > > \ > > “… The problem is not the individuals with the traditional beliefs. The problem is caused by those who overturn society’s norms to validate their own lifestyle.” ~David Schultheis, Republican State Rep for Colorado. > > \*\* What I love about this gem is how little sense that second bit (the part about “overturning society’s norm’s”) actually makes. Like the gay folks are out there in the hayfield with the Pitchfork of Societal Doom. More like the Seeds of Trying to Live a Normal Life… ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/9 "2003-11-21T04:27:01Z")
> [@](#): > > And oh, by the way, there is no great reason to have a state legislature, either, since the justices believe they have the right not only to strike down laws they consider unconstitutional, but to order elected officials to pass new laws to their liking. The form of democracy is maintained, but it is drained of its substance. This woman is an idiot! She clearly has no idea of how government works, and no understanding of the SJC decision. One of the functions of the judiciary is to interpret laws and determine whether they fall within the guidelines of the Constitution. They didn’t order the legislature to pass a new law to their liking, they said, “You guys passed a law that violates the Constitution. Fix it. Either get rid of the law or change the Constitution, your choice.” The system is working exactly the way it’s supposed to. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/10 "2003-11-21T04:27:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KSO \* > \*\*John Derbyshire is Ann Coulter with a penis. \*\* I don’t know this Derbyshire guy from Adam’s off ox, but that line is going to give me nightmares. Thanks a lot! ---
**Author:** ![Frankenbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c0e974/32.png) [@Frankenbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frankenbear)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/11 "2003-11-21T04:33:36Z")
It certainly comes across as mean to me. It also saddens me. I can’t imagine ever being so narrow minded as to say/think/write “No! You can’t get married. You’re both male/female.” I don’t see the point in denying same sex marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/12 "2003-11-21T05:22:55Z")
Well, you’re probably not the only one who thinks it’s particularly mean. But on my meanness scale, I’d rate it pretty low. The people who give me the shivers are the gloaters, the ones who laugh and nod with that sickening air of satisfaction at people dying of AIDS, who get that gleeful tone in their voice talking about human beings burning in Hell, the ones who would look at a gay parent crying after having his adopted child taken away and just shout, “yes!” THAT’s what I call particularly mean, the kind of people that make me ashamed to belong to their species. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/13 "2003-11-21T06:25:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KSO \* > \*\*John Derbyshire is Ann Coulter with a penis. > \*\* I thought Ann Coulter was Ann Coulter with a penis. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/14 "2003-11-21T07:03:59Z")
OTOH Neal Boortz, who I usually don’t like (he’s like a Rush Limbaugh lite) has a pretty good article about gay marriages/civil unions [here](http://boortz.com/nuze/200311/11192003.html) (2nd article down). I disagree with him about the gay adoption issue, but the rest of it sums up my feelings fairly well, as opposed to the starwman-filled crapfest in the OP link. ---
**Author:** ![nisosbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@nisosbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisosbar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/15 "2003-11-21T13:05:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynne\_kilii \* > **"The time is now. If we don’t do something about this, then you cannot in 20 years- when you see the American public disintegrating and you see our enemies overtaking us because we have no moral will. You remember that you did nothing." Sandy Rios- President of the Concerned Women for America.** I also saw this quote, and actually, I laughed! 😃 Gets me to thinking - I’d like to rent billboards along the highway with a simple message: “Ask yourself: ‘will gay marriage damage MY marriage?’” Something like that - the answer is clearly no, counteracting the message from fundamentalists that marriage will be damaged by gay marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/16 "2003-11-21T13:23:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Geobabe \* > \*\*This woman is an idiot! She clearly has no idea of how government works, and no understanding of the SJC decision. One of the functions of the judiciary is to interpret laws and determine whether they fall within the guidelines of the Constitution. They didn’t order the legislature to pass a new law to their liking, they said, “You guys passed a law that violates the Constitution. Fix it. Either get rid of the law or change the Constitution, your choice.” \*\* Is that a true statement? I don’t know how long Massachusetts marriage law has existed in its current state, but I presume the legislature didn’t _just_ pass the law, nor has the Mass. constitution changed recently. Mass. marriage law which does not provide for same-sex “marriage” has always existed in concert with the Mass. constitution. Why did it take hundreds of years for someone to “discover” this discrepancy? BTW, it’s not their choice. The 180-day deadline doesn’t give them time to change the Constitution. That’s the point of the deadline. The legislature can enact same-sex “marriage” themselves, or just let the Court begin ordering clerks to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (PS to the Derbyshire uninitiates: go to his [website](http://www.olimu.com) and browse his stuff. You will emerge either a fan of a brilliant opinion journalist, or a Derbophobe.) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/17 "2003-11-21T14:07:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynne\_kilii \* > \*\* > “… The problem is not the individuals with the traditional beliefs. The problem is caused by those who overturn society’s norms to validate their own lifestyle.” ~David Schultheis, Republican State Rep for Colorado. > > and > > “The time is now. If we don’t do something about this, then you cannot in 20 years- when you see the American public disintegrating and you see our enemies overtaking us because we have no moral will. You remember that you did nothing.” Sandy Rios- President of the Concerned Women for America. > > . \*\* Damn straight!! As a heterosexual, I demand the _exclusive_ right to have 8 divorces and a sham green-card arrangement and 24/7 access to marrying drunken floozies in Vegas! Just like our founding fathers intended! ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/18 "2003-11-21T14:08:34Z")
Because it took that long for someone to be brave enough to challenge it in court. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/19 "2003-11-21T14:16:14Z")
> [@](#): > > That’s the point of the deadline. The legislature can enact same-sex “marriage” themselves, or just let the Court begin ordering clerks to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Just a note, dearest **Arcite** : It’s not same-sex “marriage,” but just marriage, _sans_ adjective, _sans_ snarky quotation marks. The uniting of two people in a legal, and for some spiritual, union is marriage, and **Arcite** ’s immature sarcasm cannot change that. And the governor of our neighbors to the north (Maryland for us NoVa Dopers) has weighed in with his [opinion:](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1784-2003Nov20.html) > [@](#): > > Ehrlich, who won election last fall as a moderate, said he is “generally of a libertarian mind-set” on homosexuality. He said he opposes measures that seek to criminalize gay sex, saying that “the government really should not be sticking its nose into consenting adults – their behavior in the bedroom.” > > Gay marriage, on the other hand, “is far different,” Ehrlich said. “The institution of marriage, obviously, is the bedrock of our foundation. It’s been under attack; it’s been weakened for many, many decades now. I’m not going to play a part in further weakening this incredibly important institution.” Will someone explain to me how people who wish to bind themselves closer to each other with legal and financial entanglement are weakening marriage? And why has the guv not bothered to condemn no-fault divorce, quickie marriages performed in Vegas wedding chapels, and reality shows like “Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire” if he’s so concerned about the crumbling of the institution of marriage? ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394/20 "2003-11-21T14:50:08Z")
Hey! You guys got it all wrong. It’s way past time to confront a group that represents an inordinately large amount of marriages ending in divorce. Who might this insidious cabal be? “Baptists have the highest divorce rate of any Christian denomination, and are more likely to get a divorce than atheists and agnostics, according to a national survey.” > **[Interesting Divorce Statistics, Facts, and Rate](https://fldivorce.com/blog/interesting-divorce-statistics-facts-and-rate/)** > > Get the latest divorce rates and statistics throughout the United States. Also see: [http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/home.pat%2Clocal/3774008e.b11%2C.html](http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/home.pat%2Clocal/3774008e.b11%2C.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-does-this-anti-gay-marriage-article-seem-particularly-mean/214394.md?page=2)