Posted on 02/12/2005 6:17:34 AM PST by Libloather
Hundreds of gays, lesbians to marry today
By ALLAN TURNER
Houston Chronicle
Feb. 12, 2005, 1:06AM
Wedding bells will ring this afternoon for Mike and Vince, Michelle and Kelly, Dennis and Bruce and hundreds of other Houston gays and lesbians who will tie the knot in what may be Texas' largest same-sex wedding — a wedding that, although the state rejects its validity, participants insist will strengthen their relationships and provide a beacon to future generations.
Between 100 and 200 couples are expected for the mass wedding ceremony at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 2025 W. 11th St., which ministers to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. The wedding and related activities — including a possible mass application for marriage licenses at the Harris County Courthouse — will be part of the national Freedom to Marry Day campaign to gain for gays and lesbians the rights granted married heterosexuals.
"This is going to be a real celebration of same-sex couples," said the Rev. Chris Chiles of Community Gospel Church, coordinator of the pre-Valentine's Day ceremony. "We know that we're not only making a commitment publicly, and asking God's blessing of the union, but that we are making a statement which is going to be changing the face of the country."
The 1:30 p.m. ceremony, which will involve clergy from a number of churches — most from Houston but including one from Livingston — flies in the face of national opposition to same-sex marriages. Only Massachusetts sanctions such marriages, although Vermont allows civil unions and California provides for domestic partnerships that ensure many rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples.
Nationally, President Bush has called for a constitutional amendment stipulating marriages are unions between a man and a woman.
Same-sex marriages have drawn staunch opposition from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Southern Baptist Convention and other denominations and faiths. And although the unions are not recognized as marriages by government, some denominations, including Unitarian Universalists, as well as some Episcopal churches, offer same-sex blessing ceremonies. Reform Judaism also is open to same-sex blessings and unions.
Texas is one of 38 states with "Defense of Marriage" laws banning recognition of same-sex marriages. And state Rep. Warren Chisum, House sponsor of Texas' 2003 defense of marriage act, said he will push this year for a popular vote on a constitutional amendment essentially barring gay and lesbian marriages.
"The fact of the matter," said Chisum, R-Pampa, "is that marriage — one man, one woman — is the basic, bottom-line structure of the family."
Gays and lesbians already can adopt children and gain many of the rights of married heterosexuals through legal contracts, he said.
"I don't think (gaining legal rights) is their real purpose," Chisum said. "Their real purpose is to dilute the family, to attack the family ... to weaken the definition of marriage so that they're seen as normal and traditional. In my humble opinion, they are not."
Chisum asserted that a primary purpose of marriage is procreation.
"Look in the book of Genesis," he said. "The first commandment God gave was to go forth and bear children."
Similar views were voiced last July by Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who then was president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"Marriage, as properly understood, is more than a lifestyle choice," he said. " ... A same-sex union is not equivalent to marriage. It is not based on the natural complementarity of male and female; it cannot cooperate with God to create new life; it cannot be a true conjugal union."
"That's just a cover-up for bigotry," Chiles rejoined. "If that were the actual case, the state wouldn't recognize marriages of couples over 50, men with vasectomies would have to be checked to make sure they're in working order before they could get marriage licenses. It's ludicrous. It is not about procreation; it's about a loving commitment to another person."
The Rev. Carolyn Mobley, associate pastor at Resurrection Metropolitan, said gay and lesbian couples share family values.
"Most of us grew up in traditional families," she said. "We share their values, care for loved ones, protection of children, rearing them in the fear of God, to be law-abiding — all of those are family values. ... Giving gay and lesbian couples the same rights in a union — that would not dilute Mom and Dad's marriage, make it any less binding or strong. We so value it that we want to share it."
Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, suggested conservative leaders cynically have embraced opposition to same-sex marriages as a "wedge issue" to advance a larger agenda.
"This is the new abortion. They've about whipped the abortion horse to death, but this is the new hot-button issue," he said. "If I were on their side, I'd be dancing every day."
Nonetheless, he contended, older Americans are the most fervent opponents of gay and lesbian marriage.
"In 20 years, this will be a nonissue, and conservative leaders recognize this," Foreman said. "They are diligently exploiting a closing window of opportunity."
Several who plan to exchange vows today said they hope their action will reassure young gays and lesbians that long-term committed same-sex relationships are possible. Smaller ceremonies will occur throughout the country, according to national Freedom to Marry spokesman Harry Knox.
Participants today will include Michelle Dean and Kelly Gilbert. The local teachers have been together nine years and were united by a Vermont civil union ceremony five years ago, and rear Dean's three children, ages 9, 11, and 16, from a previous heterosexual marriage.
"Cheapening the institution of marriage? Traditional couples have done that on their own," said Dean, 35. "The divorce rate is extremely high. We're not looking to cheapen marriage, but to be recognized. There have been many couples together for long periods of time in a committed monogamous relationship, and they deserve the same rights.
"As far as the relationships not being the same — no, they are not the same, but they are equal and should be given the same recognition."
Dean noted that when one of her children recently underwent surgery, Gilbert was not allowed to visit him immediately after the operation because she wasn't a relative.
"I've seen it too many times — a partner not being able to get into a hospital room because the family objects," Chiles said. "And death really does strange things to people. There was one couple where the parents were staying with the partner. 'We know this is your home, these are your belongings,' they told him. And not five minutes after their son died, they were pilfering through things (their son) owned."
While today's same-sex weddings will be sanctioned by a Christian church, some of those exchanging rings and vows expressed frustration with denominations that staunchly oppose same-sex unions.
Dennis Milam, who will renew vows Saturday with Bruce Aleksander, his partner of 30 years, blamed Christian fundamentalism for a host of ills.
"The United States is totally out of step with the rest of the Western world," he asserted. "It's fallen behind. ... The strong fundamentalist movement, in my personal view, is responsible for many problems. It's rooted in the American South, spreading through black and white. It has a belief in magic, superstition, literalism, dogma and delusions."
"It's a shame we're living through this period," said Mike Underhill, director of program ministries at Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, who will renew vows with his partner of 14 years, Vince Benabese.
"Go back 150 years and you'll find good Christians arguing on behalf of slavery, offering all sorts of biblical justifications. Go back a few years, and churches, including the Southern Baptists, argued against ordaining women," Underhill said. "Not just time changes, but people change. I honestly believe God is doing something new here."
Bering Memorial's senior pastor, the Rev. Marilyn Meeker-Williams, suggested religious opposition stems from "lack of respect for human differences."
Meeker-Williams will attend Saturday's mass wedding, but United Methodist policy bars her from actively participating.
At her urging, Bering Memorial's governing board in 1998 suspended all weddings in the Montrose-area church until the denomination's ban on same-sex weddings is lifted.
"Some minds and hearts are not open to the great diversity of humankind — diversity created by God," she said. "God is all loving and merciful and cares a great deal for justice.
"I have trouble understanding this discrimination that causes so much hurt and pain for people who are gay and lesbian."
The Rev. Jazebel Mobley, associate phrophetess at Thyatira Metropolitan, said gay and lesbian couples share family values.
Today they get married--tomorrow they will be out cruising the gay bars.
Good grief!
Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Resurrection+Metropolitan+Community+Church&btnG=Google+Search
Doesn't say, but I imagine these two are public school teachers. Wonder what subjects they teach?
Some Church, huh?Linked right on their website:
Feb 12th
Let's Get Married!
National Freedom to Marry Day
Saturday, Feb. 12th
Houston, TexasA Demonstration and Celebration for the Right to Marry!
We want you to participate in Texas' Largest
Same-Sex Marriage Ceremony!*1:30 PM — 3:00 PM
Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church
2025 West 11th St. at TC Jester
Reception Will FollowFor new and renewing commitments, and all community supporters!
Religious leaders from various denominations and faiths will preside.
For more information, see Houston Events below,
call 713-227-1717, or e-mail info@slagh.orgCouples must register in advance. Call 713-227-1717.
Click for mail-in Registration Form
Homosexuals love pageants. Ever notice how many wedding planners are gay men? They love the ceremony, the flowers and picking the music and the invitations but the poor souls have no understanding of what they are imitating. They may have weddings but true marriage is impossible for them no matter what our laws may one day say.
| Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1) |
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| What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda |
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| Myth and Reality about Homosexuality--Sexual Orientation Section, Guide to Family Issues" |
About the Metropolitan Community Church: Was Jesus 'gay'?
A message to my homosexual friends: We are up to your tactics now. The free ride is over.
People are not stupid (in red states). For the most part America believes you should have a right to do with your life what you want. If you are a homosexual and want to 'live it up,' you can. All that is fine; it's their business, we'll live with it.
However, when they try to pass for normal couples and even had the nerve to pretend elevate their, - what to me is - disgusting behavior, to the level of a man and a woman in MARRIAGE, that is SOMETHING ELSE. America knew it, red states knew it, Virginians know it (we are ready to amend the constitution as well), and decided that ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. 'Marriage' has HUGE consequences of all kinds (we all know them) and that is why people took a STAND in the past election.
Marriage is a "moral value" that must be defended at all cost.
You can 'shack up' with anyone you want to, you can call it 'civil unions,' you can call it 'committed relationships,' but MARRIAGE, is out of the question! America said in the last election. Homosexuals also KNOW IT. That is why they don't want anything short of it. It's the BIG PRIZE, the big one! Because what would OPEN THE FLODGATES... and would literally, like the recent Tsunami, trash all moral values in it's path... and that IS PRECISELY their goal. Why? Because only then, they would feel 'clean.'
If you disagree with me, that is fine. I also feel passionately about my side.
The trial/divorce lawyers in Houston are probably hosting the reception and any wedding costs.
Gay marriage and their revolving door relationships are a gold mine for trial/divorce lawyers.
It appears that the writer of this so called news has a long history of writing articles pushing the Gay Agenda.
http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?p=ALLAN%20TURNER%20Gay
Ben Vereen? Uhm, no.
Try Louis Gossett, Jr. I believe he even won an award for his portrayal of the drill instructor.
It was Officer and a Gentleman, though.
Of course, when people say that line to me (a true Native Texan) I usually tell the guys they're the wrong types to see MY horns, and I tell the ladies I only show my horns to my wife, now.
Weddings are super emotional events. A type of event that would naturally attract queers. Because weddings are visual events depecting "love" that anyone can look at. It's the umtimate event that queers can have (or pretend to be haiving) where the vast majority of people (including the 97% that are normal) can watch and see "a wedding". The worse that can happen is a couple of guys tongue kissing.
Anything that does not include the physical aspect of what queers do and can be participated in by the rest of us is something the queers want. Why? Because they can get normal people to attend and see that queers are "happy and normal just like us". It's the way queers make themselves feel better by figuring out ways to make us look at them and not be critical.
On the other side of the coin, find yourself in a gaggle of queer men (at the age of 18 like I did) and say to them "but your "?" is not supposed to be shoved up his "?" or in his "?" and they go crazy. Tell them what they do is not love in any fashion and they will scream at you. Tell them "it's not even sex" and they go ballistic. They do not want to talk about these subjects and have worked for decades to keep the public from addressing simply what queers do with each other. And why they scream about marriage or anything else they can do with their clothes on that the rest of can watch and see how normal they are.
For several decades the queers have worked very very hard to present themselves in purely emotional ways. And it's worked. Heck, they even have their own TV shows like "Queer Eye for thr Straight Guy" and the queers that MTV displays all over their channel. Note that you never see them get really physical on any of these TV shows (close on MTV though) so they can have young people see that it's A-OK to be a queer if you happen to be bored or whatever and need some attention or feel self-destructive or self-loathing to the point you don't want to put a gun to your head but may be willing to give some to some guy.
What you are seeing here with these "weddings" in Houston is just another organized event put together by people that need to be helped with their own inner lies. You can see the same technique being used by groups like CAIR to get the American people to believe ol' Islam, just like those loving queers, are good for this country.
BumP!
Gay marriage and their revolving door relationships are a gold mine for trial/divorce lawyers.
This isn't a "wedge issue" at all.
A marriage is between a man & woman.
Sheesh! -- Why can't these people grasp that?
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