Same sex marriage fight comes to West Michigan

24 Hour News 8 ^ | February 20, 2004, 8:07 a.m. | 24 Hour News 8

[MaryFromMichigan]

(Grand Rapids, February 20, 2004, 8:07 a.m.) Jaeden Wagner admits she's a little young to get married. But that won't stop her and her partner from showing up at the county building Friday morning to apply for a marriage license. The Grand Valley State sophomore says she's entitled to the same rights as everyone else.

The fight for same sex marriage comes to West Michigan today. Some local gay and lesbian couples plan to converge on the Kent County Clerk's office in an attempt to obtain a marriage license.

If gay and lesbian couples ask for a form, staffers for Kent County Clerk Mary Hollinrake will show them one. On the front, it requests information from the "male" and "female." - On the back of the form is the law: “No man" it says, "shall marry another man," and "no woman shall marry another woman."

If they want to get married, Hollinrake says they need to visit the capitol, not the county building.

But gays and lesbians won't find a vote in state representative Jim Koetje. Instead of supporting same sex marriage, the Walker republican says he'd rather vote for a proposed constitutional amendment banning it.

He also says he doesn't appreciate the self proclaimed act of "civil disobedience."

But Wagner says the event in Grand Rapids is just the first step in the march to the capitol city.

[laker_dad]

Did you see her on the news this morning? Woof! Piercings in the eyebrow, lip, nose... butch hair cut...

[Hotdog]

"Do NOT let the homosexual movement hijack yet another word-- Marriage."
I agree...they tried to (and have) destroyed the word "gay"...lets call it like it is...they are QUEERS!

[rintense]

Great. Not a visual image I needed to see. Ick.

[laker_dad]

It was one of those "train wreck" moments... I couldn't NOT look. LOL Unfortunately, my daughter is going to GVSU this fall...

[rintense]

I knew this landslide would happen once the 'word' got out. I'd bet that every single city has had gay couples asking for licenses saying it's their right. This is anarchy in the making, and the government must step in to stop it.

[Protagoras]

Copied from a different thread;

"Collecting a deceased spouse's social security, claiming an extra tax exemption for a spouse, and having the right to be covered under a spouse's health insurance policy are just a few examples of the costly benefits associated with marriage. In a sense, a married couple receives a subsidy."

[MaryFromMichigan]

"Same sex marriage fight comes to West Michigan"

and next- to a town or city near YOU...

[BaBaStooey]

I'm a little surprised she's trying this in Kent County. Thats one of the most conservative areas in Michigan.

She'd be a lot better off trying it in Detroit or Lansing.

[MaryFromMichigan]

...or Saugatuck

[BaBaStooey]

Here are the voting results in Michigan from the 2000 Presidential Election, color coded by township. The darker the red, the bigger the margin for Gore. The darker the blue, the bigger the margin for Bush.

The striped townships are apparently inconclusive, or too close to call, or pretty much even.

[MaryFromMichigan]

Thanks. First I've seen that map.

[CSM]

"They provide nothing, they remove the choice you refer to above."

I am not sure I understand this statement. My employer does provide bennies for same sex partners, yet my state has made same sex "marriage" illegal, my state requires a man to marry a woman.

There is no "right" to have health insurance. It is a benefit that becomes part of compensation to attract employees. Any employer is free to offer employment without that benefit. Any employee can chose to accept the employment or to not accept it.

The SS point is a good one, but SS in and of itself is flawed and should not be the basis for their argument. I think the rest of any potential benefit to marriage can be taken care of in the private sector.

[Protagoras]

I have mentioned law suits several times, I guess you just want to ignore it. Oh well.

I'll try one more time, discrimination against certain married couples would be the basis. And it would certainly work.

[Protagoras]

Any employer is free to offer employment without that benefit.

They will make the case that it has to be offered to all or none.

[CSM]

I agree that the gay population would file lawsuits, and I agree with your ability to remove HC from the compensation package. I wasn't ignoring that comment. I was however confused by "they" in your statement. I thought you were referring to the government, not to the gay population.

I would prefer to see all benefit packages with flexibility. A normal employee making $50K per year will cost the employer $114. I would prefer to reduce government interference and bennies to end up with more options. I would like to see something like, $65K pay, $10K for the option to spend on bennies or take home, and reduce the government grab to $15K. Employee and employer both win with this type of package.

[philetus]

Fistgate to be Held Again on March 15
Posted by EdReform to philetus
On News/Activism 02/19/2004 2:38:59 PM PST #297 of 304

... the next logical step would be society accepting them asking small children: "If you haven't had sex with an adult, how do you know you won't like it?


Unfortunately, there are people working on it. Their first order of business is to get pedophilia removed from the DSM:


American Psychiatric Association Symposium Debates Whether Pedophilia, Gender-Identity Disorder, Sexual Sadism Should Remain Mental Illnesses

On Monday, May 19th, 2003 in San Francisco, at a symposium hosted by the American Psychiatric Association, several long-recognized categories of mental illness were discussed for possible removal from the upcoming edition of the psychiatric manual of mental disorders.

Among the mental illnesses being debated in the symposium at the APA's annual convention were all the paraphilias--which include pedophilia, exhibitionism, fetishism, transvestism, voyeurism, and sadomasochism...

Earlier, in the December 2002 issue of a prestigious journal, the Archives of Sexual Behavior, Moser--along with several other prominent mental-health experts--argued in favor of de-pathologizing pedophilia. Some of the commentators writing in that issue said that there is little or no proof that sex with adults is harmful to minors. Another mental-health expert argued that society should not discriminate against adults who are attracted to children--noting that many beloved authors and public figures throughout history have been high-functioning individuals who could actually be classified as pedophiles.

"Any sexual interest," Moser concluded in his Archives commentary, "can be healthy and life-enhancing..."

"People with Paraphilic Sexual Interests Suffer Like Homosexuals Did Before the 1973 Decision..."


If they can succeed in removing pedophilia from the DSM, they can claim their perversion is as normal as homosexuality. Then they won't hesitate to ask the question. Or insist that the age of consent be lowered.

[laker_dad]

Fortunately, her interview on TV did nothing to help out their cause. She/he/it was so "unusual" looking that normal people would equate gay with abnormal. She/he/it was obviously a troubled person. Rebelling against society must give them a buzz or something...

[ClintonBeGone]

What rights and benefits does marriage provide? How does a married guy have more rights than a single guy? I just don't understand what they are clamoring for......

This homosexuality's got to be a genetic disorder -- I've yet to discover a straight guy DEMANDING to get married.

[ClintonBeGone]

If this "marriage" thing is allowed, I will no longer provide medical insurance to my employees.

Well, if you're in Michigan and purchase through Blue Cross/Blue Shield, it's too late. In fact, they will issue policies (if you, the employer want one) to unmarried same sex couples, but NOT to unmarried opposite sex couples. Talk about discrimination!

[ClintonBeGone]

The rights to your Social Security and pension after you die.

Not unless the federal government says so. I wonder if any branch of the federal government offers same sex benefits.