Marriage Equality - Ideas for Change in America

What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

Approach this from the standpoint that people reading this forum already agree with you on the importance of the issue, and are asking "What can we do to help make this a reality?"

You can also comment on and rank the suggestions submitted by others.

I agree with the first two suggestions - the word "marriage" is a religious institution and has no place in our government legal terminology. The govt should reclassify all current married couples as "Civil Unions" or similar terminology, and allow any two consenting individuals the right to enter into one for all legal and tax purposes. The govt should have no say or bearing on what constitutes a "marriage" - leave that terminology with the church. Separate Church and State as they should be.

Suggested by Rachel Roberts on 01/17/2009 @ 06:16AM PT
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I agree with D Hershey. It has to be about civil unions for all. I believe there's a place for raising awareness - but that is separate and different from tackling the issue of civil unions for all. In one case, we're righting an injustice. In the other case we're fostering some understanding among Americans. When we muddy those two waters then we create a double edged sword that is unwieldy to handle. Perhaps married couples from states that have civil unions for lesbians and gay men could put together a class action lawsuit against the feds for DOMA as it compromises the rights they should have. The ideal situation would be to get the Senate/Congress to make this happen, but since that is unlikely to work, the legal route is probably the most expedient.

Suggested by Lynn Schuette on 01/16/2009 @ 11:11PM PT
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Since the church is so hell bent on keeping a strangle-hold on the word "marriage" let them keep it and get the government out of the business of marriage altogether. If there are going to be rights associated with the "legal" contract then convert ALL legal marriages to civil unions and then open it up to two consenting adults.

If a couple wants to get married let them seek a church that will "bless" their union - straight or gay. This upholds the First Amendment by keeping the state recognized institution and the church institution separate. In addition this would also eliminate the idea "separate but equal" which has been ruled unconstitutional. This way there would be no reason to rewrite state and federal laws - the only thing that would change is the state recognized title.

Suggested by Dave Hershey on 01/16/2009 @ 10:27PM PT
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Mariah in my dealing with religious individuals the word gay is never used. "homosexual/s" is the word they use to degrade us. The homosexuals this the homosexuals that. I very rarely hear anyone use the word gay other than "oh that's so gay." That's about it. What you say is true about us, the problem is many people that hate us still think the earth is less than 6000 years old. Despite the fact were have more evidence for the theory of evolution than the theory of gravity, they don't care. You can not and i advise you for safety reason to not try to reason with the unreasonable. Their mind work neither off of compassion and love as they do with science and reason. To argue with them is a misnomer. If you fight them, the circular way their minds works, they always win, you are a damned individual, and you are the reason for all the bullshit that happens in the world. That is how it works. But what you can do is fight their figure heads. "Cut off the head and the body tumbles." if we fight the leaders of the churches that preach hate then we can win. Once the leaders are gone the flock will do something they have never done before in their lives... Think. Once they think they lose hatred for us and then everyone is happy.

Suggested by Chris Marshall on 01/16/2009 @ 12:43PM PT
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We need to raise awareness that homosexuals are not "evil." We need to stop using the word 'gay' as an insult; it's extremely degrading and hurtful. People need to realize that, even if you think homosexuals are sinners and are going to hell, that's the risk they're taking, and has nothing to do with you. Just think about it this way Christians - Heaven will have more room for you, right? Or maybe you should make sure your own hands are clean before you point fingers. Besides, aren't most religions supposed to be forgiving? What happened to that? Homosexuality, and bisexuality for that matter, are not crimes. They are not controllable, one does not say "hmm.. I think I'll become a homosexual." It is a part of nature, which becomes obvious by studying animal behavior. It is not just humans who have homosexual trends. The difference is, the other animals do not shun, attack, or insult their gay friends. Love is love is love.

Suggested by Mariah Bragg on 01/16/2009 @ 11:19AM PT
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