Federal Judge Bernard Friedman plans to rule by March 21 on whether Michigan's gay marriage ban is constitutional , Tresa Baldas of the Free Press quotes him as saying after a nine-day trial ended Friday.
Friedman has a lot to consider given the nine days of heated testimony that revolved largely around statistics on whether gays and lesbians can be good parents, and whether or not the kids they raise fare well in life.Gay-marriage proponents argued that none of that should matter, noting having children is not a prerequisite for anyone to get married. What matters, they said, is that gays and lesbians are unfairly being denied the right to marry who they love while heterosexuals have enjoyed that privilege. That, they argued, is discrimination under the Constitution’s equal protection clause.
While Friedman will take up to two weeks to issue a written opinion, about 170 of Baldas' readers have no need to deliberate -- and say so in a lively back-and-forth under her article. "You guys should go have a beer or take a walk," suggests Robert Stricklen of Dexter. "You guys should go have a beer or take a walk. No one is changing their minds here."
Excerpts:
'A blasphemy?' So, when two heterosexual crackheads make a baby, it is God's will, but when a loving, responsible gay couple go to great lengths to adopt, it is a blasphemy? Welcome to the [attorney general's] world. -- Thomas Griebe, Northville
'It's not what was intended:' Sorry, folks, but I just don't buy the 'it's the same thing' mantra. It's not what was intended with the institution of marriage. -- Bill Cari, Livonia
'Culture changes:' Whether it is what was intended or not, the fact is culture changes. -- Rick Khouri, St. Clair Shores
'A slam dunk:' Children are not required for marriage. Think we got a slam dunk here, folks! Here's hoping for a really strong written opinion that will stand up during appeals. -- Cindy Clardy, Southfield "lesbian grandma"
'Slippery slope:' Why limit marriage to just two people? I'm just questioning the slippery slope where society would draw the boundary once one man/one woman no longer is the standard of marriage. -- Pieter W. Viljoen, Dearborn
'Such an embarrassment:' This is such an embarrassment. What a circus and wasted money. Even if you hate the idea of gay marriage, you have to know it's coming. -- Eric Schuh, Burton, Mich.
'Enough already:' The government is not here to define marriage at all, one way or the other. Marriage defines itself as the bond between a man and woman. It's in all religions -- Christianity, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhism, all. Again, the religions (and physical anatomy of being able to reproduce) define it, not the government!! Enough already. . . . Acceptance is not guaranteed under the Constitution. -- John Slegianes, Shelby Township
Better than foster care: Who gives a damn if two woman get married? If it keeps children out of the death camp known as Michigan foster care, I'm for it. -- Gerald Fitch
'It's not natural:' You don't have the right to force your alternative lifestyle on others, especially children. . . . It's not natural and that is a fact. If it were natural, then you wouldn't need opposite sexes to procreate. -- Rick Baker, Detroit
'The time has come:' Public opinion evolves as time goes by. It's time we grow up and accept the fact that . . . people of the same sex share love, companionship and friendship. And marriage is about love. The time has come to allow marriage to all committed couples who choose to. -- Denice Brown, Detroit
Heed the voters: I'm one the side of the majority of Michigan voters, including myself, who approved the ban in the first place. -- Don Sepanski, Livonia
'Go have a beer:' You guys should go have a beer or take a walk. No one is changing their minds here. -- Robert Stricklen, Dexter, Mich.
-- Alan Stamm
