Well written and the message came across good. IF I may: re on your parents: " clear that they condemn and hate “my sin.” They say they love me but hate my sin. My only response to them is that I love them. I love them unconditionally." To clarify your parents love for you: they would love you the same even if your were a murderer but they would still hate the "sin". There isnt a condition on their love, only on what they can stomach. Same sex relationships are not something they can. But they still love you... no condition to that.

I beg to differ w/ you on your fight for "love". The fight is in asking the GP ( gen. public) if our current view of marriage is incorrect. Another point I would like to make is this: you keep refering to poison. Some people feel that permitting same sex marriage IS A POISON too.

Why should society have to change what marriage is for your sexuality?

Who is right? who is wrong? I dont know. I wish you all success on your struggle for marriage rights if you feel it best for the Country.

He is an inspiration to the rest of us who are military or military veterans and gay.

Thank you for your fight for true equality and unconditional love. I grew up being taught to hate the sin (homosexuality) and love the sinner (my older cousin). I never understood. We lost out knowing the real him. He paid for our ignorance by never having a real family who loved him simply because he was. I don't know how you change a person's heart and mindset about a topic that is so divisive. I don't know many days how to convince his mom that her son has AIDS and whatever sin she perceives he has and whatever punishment she thinks his disease is doesn't trump the fact that her child is oftentimes very sick and very scared and at a very base level needs his mommy (for lack of a better term). I wish I knew how to tell people that hatred in the name of religion is still hatred, that a society forcing people to hide in the closet for fear of coming out and being punished for being is wrong in so many ways I can't even begin to describe. I wish people understood that we can't play God and judge what He created. Mostly I wish my family could love my cousin for who he is before it's too late. Keep on fighting. I'll be fighting with you in my own community, in my own family. Whether it's a boyfriend or the older cousin you've always worshipped, the love will always be worth the war.

I wish that you were right about Americans not hiding from doing the right thing, but in this case I don't think you are. Most Americans have fallen into the same corrupt practices that this country was first created to escape. They want to grant rights to only certain portions of the population and deny rights to all others.

Its time that sexual preference, and the right to marry between two consensual adults, was protected by the Bill of Rights.

@ Tammy......... Thank you for sharing your story, I was moved. It is so sad to read the comments of my fellow, Christians, condemning Gay people!

My heart breaks, to read the vile words or tone of the comment. Because IF one takes time to read the four Gospels, Jesus at NO time condemns Gays! In fact, I am willing to bet, that if He were around today He would have dinner with them, as He did with the tax collectors and prostitutes of His day!

We, Christians, need to be careful not to judge and condemn, it is not our place to do so.

Although, I consider myself a Liberal, I am opposed to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. God did institute the sacrament or covenant of marriage to be between a man and a woman. I do not hate the LGBT community, and I hope they will find Civil Unions enough.

Peace everyone!

When will we Americans get it.
We are passing laws that make us no longer "the land of the free", and totally ignore an extremely important element of the Constitution which is "individual freedom" of especially religion but real personal freedom.
Let gays marry as much as they like, they have been, are and will always be a minority.
Just what are we hetrosexuals afraid of? That we all might end up gay in a thousand or two thousand years!!?? So what's the problem. Only problem, lower birth rate possibly, but we still have Invitro fertilisation!!.
Regards
Hodgson.

Jesus would also tell them "Repent" " GO and Sin No More" remember in Jesus time they knew the law by memory – get a Bible & read what God told Moses on the subject in Leviticus. You have only 2 options
either those words are the truth or they are a lie. God said to "Warn the wicked of their way" & that " Until Heaven & earth pass away not one jot or tittle shall pass from the Law" If God said it is a abomination he is not going change even if 6,000,000,000 people on earth choose to ignore his words & disobey his Commands.

I wonder how many of these Christians opposed to gay marriage were virgins when they married and how many have not divorced. I'm sure most of them are hypocrites so they have no right to judge others.

Before I start, please let it be known that I have the upmost respect for this man as a soldier and his bravery as citizen to shake things up. I Do not agree with his homosexual lifestyle, but I tolerate it.

According to the Bible, Homosexuality is far worse than sin; it's an abomination.

However, I will not use religion as a basis for my argument; but my religious beliefs and family situation are influencing factors. I do not believe that homosexuals should be allowed to marry. Here is my reason, Domestic partnerships and Civil Unions were set up for the gay commmunity to extend them the very near equivalent of marriage between an opposite sex couple. My parents, who are unmarried, but who have been together for 30 years CAN NOT file for a Civil Union or Domestic Partnership so that my father can be on my mother's insurance because my parents are an opposite sex couple. (There are other stipulations in the civil union and domestic partnership also, but the stipulations only apply to opposite sex couples. If you are a gay couple you qualify and dont have to worry about the stipulations preventing various straight couples from obtaining the union).
I do not believe that the Fight for Gay Rights should ever be equated to the fights for Equality; being that one chooses to open display their sexuality, where as, you can not selectively display your Skin Color. Last time I checked, gays werent being lynched and burned like Blacks.

The gay community has tried to force feed their lifestyle down the throat of the public under the guise of tolerance. The strange thing is that the gay community does not tolerate those who disagree but tolerate their lifestyle.

My parents said the same about me when I came out to them while stationed in Iraq. What they said and the message they sent were different. Hating the sin is fine. My sexuality doesn't make me an immoral person. The spoken words of God and Jesus never address sexuality. Man's opinion did.

I was born an American, gay, white, middle class, male with brown hair and blue eyes in Georgia. I had no control over any one of those things. I didn't hit a certain age and "decide" to like guys or not like girls. I didn't get to choose on "pick your sexuality day". I just am.

What I do know is this. Freedom of Religion,- Freedom FROM Religion is protected in the constitution. Coupled with the Separation of Church and State, I don't see how marriage is a state issue. We SHOULD define marriage – but not in terms of gender.

Is marriage a religious matter or is it a legal matter? Getting married "under God" in a church would not make someone married in this country. The thousand or so additional rights a legally married couple gets is the reason the paper work for a "civil union" is done at the courthouse.

THIS is what we are asking for. Equality in terms of legal rights – taxation, adoption, medical decisions, estate transfer in wills and on and on. Strip away religion from the way the state conducts contractual business and permits and licenses. It's blatant discrimination.

To any gays: heterosexuals are not "afraid" of you.

@ J.M. I couldnt agree with you more: "The gay community has tried to force feed their lifestyle down the throat of the public under the guise of tolerance. The strange thing is that the gay community does not tolerate those who disagree but tolerate their lifestyle."

And just for the record: in all my work places, I have probably only once NOT been approached by a "lesbian" ( eeek, hate that word). And god forbid if you spur an offer! A flat tire or two awaits you. "sorry Im not gay" apparently is offensive.

On a funny note: my b/f- hubby and I were together for 18 yrs. When I wanted to get on his insurance, I was denied as we were not the same sex. Had I been male, I could have gotten full benefits. We were contemplating the b/f getting a sex-change for which they would pay so I could get on the insurance ; ) The co. recognizes same sex partnerships but not domestic partnerships. Point for the gays ^5 .

Congratulations, Lt. Choi (re: LOVE)... I hope you get married.

"...Love is the Master Plan..."
Diamonds and Pearls

Prince
(It just is.)