American Civil Liberties Union

I think the American people spoke on this many times already. I think taking people to court to get your way is kinda chidish isn't. I guess I forgot that nobody is more important than the aclu especially since they know what is best for you no matter how much us poor ignorants think we can think for ourselves and in most cases have made are views be known. In my opinion the aclu are nothing but terrorists,political,environmental and legal terrorists.
I grew up in the 60's. I turned 18 in 1968 and would have gone to Canada before going to Viet Nam to fight a people that had never done anything to us and that was strickly an imperialistic war. I thought the aclu was neccesary and was there to help right injustices. I found out first hand that they do not care for U S citizens, only about themselves and there private ajendas at any cost. They are a dangerous old boys club and wheather the bleeding heart democrats know or care is another matter.
Try thinking for yourselves rather than a thought that some left wing leberal or socialist activist tells you to believe in.

I believe that a gay couple can for a "union" but marriage really should be between man and woman. In this country immorality keeps pushing the envelope. The day of the nuclear family is dwindling. I am sure that that makes aclu happy because if it is wrong it must be aclu. I may be overdramatizing, but it does seem to ring true.aclu has its own agenda (far left)not what is best for morality,but what is best for the immoral minority (not race)becoming majority.
also, what about that kid on the bus in Illinois? had the race been reversed, you would have been all over that! right?

Thanks God that, in this country, we have people that thinks different(of those narrow minded right-wing folks) and fight for what's right, even when they are not directly benefiting from it. As part as one of many gay-families that are forced to be separate for the lack of federal rights, I just wanna say THANKs ACLU for your efforts...it gives, not only to me but to many others, I little hope that one day our families will be united again! God bless you all!!

the aclu take away freedom of speech. it tries to kill religion in america. it is their way or no way . aclu queers are digusting perverted animals.

Everyone is afforded the right to freedom of speech, that's what makes this country different from almost every other country. Ignorance is rampant, and I'm glad the ACLU is there to protect our God-given rights in this great country. There is supposed to be a separation between church and state, so if that's what you want to call "killing" religion, you are one of the rampant ignoramouses. Long live the ACLU!

Of course the ACLU has its "own agenda." Its agenda is promoting liberty. I wish more people had that agenda. As a married straight man, I feel a bit like a white member of a whites-only country club. It's the exclusion of gays -- not their inclusion -- that cheapens the institution of marriage.

It is Childish to assume that cause the majority wants it, then it is right. The ACLU has the difficult job of defending Civil Liberties whereever they are violated. This makes them sometimes hated by the left, and sometimes hated by the right but make the cause all the more noble. I am a happily married man, with 2 children, who attend a Methodist Church, but I thank God for the brave people who work for the ACLU doing such thankless work.

God Bless the ACLU for fighting for historically marginalized and oppressed minorities/communities. Having an organization that fights for people's rights is a blessing when people filled with hate and injustice attempt to strip away our human dignity. I am proud to be an American and proud to have such an amazing group of people serving our brothers in sisters in our struggle for equality. -much love- mario

It's about time that the Respect for Marriage Act be enacted to restore equal rights for all loving people to share their lives together and receive the same benefits and privileges at the Federal level as others who happen to be of different genders. Of course, being married federally has its negatives as well and same gender couples will share those negative consequences with all the other married people.

I am pleased that among the prime sponsors is a newly elected congressman from Colorado Jared Polis. He is making good on one of his campaign promises.

Marriage is a religious concept that was appropriated by the Governments to stand for a concept of two people living together in a contractual relationship. The simplest way to cure the problem is to redefine "marriage" and its synonyms used in all Federal (and State and Local) laws as the contractual union of two people without reference to gender or the process of entering into the contract.

i think gays should burn in hell

So, we should have less and less government, except when it comes to legislating who can decide to commit their personal lives to whom?

Getting courts involved isn't childish, it's our Democracy. Read up on it. What isn't our democracy is this popular mob rule, where uneducated voters can deny other citizens equal rights. Currently, heterosexuals have SPECIAL rights. Brown vs. Board of Education clearly stated that separate is not equal, so we clearly have some reading comprehension problems.

Folks, this isn't a theocracy. Never was. You want that, move to Iran or Israel. The Bible does not determine our laws, never did, and some of the Biblical ideas are not particularly special. We don't need the Bible to know it's wrong to steal and murder, and it's wrong for the ACLU to data mine their members for personal gain.

But this country seems more and more to be a collection of the selfish, who really DEMAND a class society. Equal isn't the goal for them. Being considered equal to someone you consider to be a disgusting perverted animal (like Blacks were at one time) is never going to sound good.

So start there, with your self-esteem. Realize that gays are humans who pay 1st class taxes and contribute fully to society. Finally, it's extremely simple -- if you're not in favor of gay marriage, don't marry a gay.

ACLU is a joke!! You are nothing more then hypocrites when it comes to religious right in this country. Christians and World War 1 Vets cannot have a Cross in the Mojave desert ,but the Jews can have a great big menorah on 5th ave in the middle of Manhattan during Christmas. People will get tired of Jews in this country as other countries have over centuries. History has a funny way of always repeating itself. ACLU is anti-American and pro Israel. Thank God we have the power of the Vote in this country. Enabling true Americans to vote out the crap!

We're a gay couple married in California last year. We have the support of our children and grandchildren who all attended. We pay our taxes just like the rest of you and should have the same rights and respect as all other Americans. The time for this bill is now! We're just people like you, who live in a quiet neighborhood and don't bother anyone except maybe by taking better care of our house and yard than the ones around us. It means the neighbors work harder to not be "shamed" by the gay couple nextdoor who keeps to themselves. We were already a couple of 15 years when we got married. I guess it's really more like old fashioned values and work ethic that we have. What it boils down to is that everyone should live their own lives and let everyone else worry about themselves. Usually when someone points their finger at someone else in hatred they have something to hide in their own closet. Live and let live.

join liberty counsel! they kicked ass on aclu florida prayer case. the aclu needs to be knocked down, thank god

As long as some see other tax-paying citizens as digusting [sic] perverted animals, obviously inferior to them, there will be no desire to treat our neighbors and all citizens as equals. Note, phill, I didn't say 'separate but equal'.

Not only is this theocracy fostering hate, it is a classist society, spending inordinate resources finding and promoting our differences, instead of our similarities.

Courts aren't childish, they're part of our democracy. Popular mob rule was not intended to be part of our democracy, however. Ruling by popularity is about as immature as it gets. Are we in junior high playing dodge ball again, or are we looking out for our fellow human as we would want to be treated?

I know the ACLU isn't directly tied to the "Respect for Marriage Act", but they are definitely responsible for numerous landmark cases helping to ensure the civil liberties of gay citizens and bringing gay marriage cases to the forefront. So for that I salute all the folks fighting the good fight!
It's understandable that some people will be resistant to change, no matter how many hundreds of thousands or millions could benefit from it(that applies equally to healthcare to). Cheers hoping to a speedy passing.

Don't get your hopes up, boys and girls. If you think the Dems are going to support DOMA's repeal while healthcare and about twenty other bits of legislation are in play, you're smoking something better than what I have. It's not that DOMA is on the back burner. It isn't even on the stove. Our friend and ally Barney Frank doesn't support it, proving once again that he's neither our friend nor our ally.

No, we're not going to get anything of value out of this president or congress. Nothing but worthless curmbs, like giving Harvey Milk another medal.

It's good to see some sane discussion here rather than the usual tirades of the bigots who have been monopolising this blog for far to long now.

No one was there for me from your org. when my rights were violated at work. I filed a case with the Human Rights of NYC and asked for your help to no avail.

I'm gay. I'm white. I'm southern. I'm the boy next door. I dated your daughter in high school. I dated your son in college. I shake hands with CEOs and Presidents of companies. I dance in the clubs until 2AM. I have a house. I have children. I go to church from time to time. I played every sport imagined in my younger years. I am a jock. I am masculine. I love shoes. I laugh. I cry. I hurt just like the rest.
I came from a loving Mother and Father. No one "made me gay" like you hear. I have traveled to almost 30 states and out of this country. I search for happiness and desire a comfortable life. A aspire. I hate raw tomatoes. I care about people more than anything else. I'm a hiker. I like live sport events. I desire. I want peace. I am fearlessly American and defend that. I would die for you my fellow American. I'm college educated. I own a business. I pay taxes. I have employees. I like coffee in the morning. I am witty and make friends smile. I contribute to society and my community. I love a good story.
I love the beach. I hurt so I know I am alive. I don't want to change your kids or change you for that matter. I love a good action flick. I was raised Christian. I know how to make money. I am strong. I've never met a normal person without life problems. I relate to people like me but more so to people different from me. I respect other people. I hate to shave. I respect myself. I keep my grass mowed. I get depressed. I can be lazy. I try to be honest. I have told a lie. I am not perfect. I am the guy other people call when they are not feeling emotionally well. I hold my head up when I walk. I am your son, brother, cousin, friend, coworker, play on your softball team, sit next to you at my daughters recital, eat at the same restaurants, and shop at the same places you do. I know who I am.
I have experienced death in my family.
I am someone's Dad. I read books. I have tried drugs. I hate smoking. I exercise. I watch what I eat. I have gained some weight. I am creative. I am the guy next door. I am the guy at the grocery store. I have morals. I know right from wrong. I did not choose to be gay it chose me.

I am loved by one.
I am loved by many.
I believe in a higher power.
I demand respect.
I am not so different from you now you see.
I deserve the SAME Federal Rights as other couples who are contractually bound in marriage.
I demand equal rights.

I am a Southern Gay Man in the United States. I am the guy next door.

i don't hate gay people, i don't hate any group of people, i believe that being gay is morally wrong, therefore i will not support a government act to make something i believe to be wrong legal. it says clearly in the constitution that marriage is between a man and a woman, our country was founded on christian principles, i don't see why we should make things that go against christian beliefs legal

Jared, where in the Constitution is marriage defined? On which purely Christian principles was this country founded? By this I mean, principles that are unique to Christianity? When you can explain this, I will listen to any argument you have about using Christian morality to drive our laws.

Ray Thornton, taking people to court to get your way is not childish. It is our right as an American citizen to receive justice. Individuals and groups in the U.S. have used courts “to get their way” for a long time. Moreover, I am thankful for the outcomes. I personally enjoy integration (Brown v. Board of Education) and the right to vote among other civil liberties the courts have granted through cases. Perhaps, you should read the 20th blog by a Southern Gay Man. This is the single best piece of literature pertaining to gay rights I have ever read. When I read his blog and put it into perspective, I thought to myself, how could someone read this particular blog and not support gay marriage? Simply put, he is a normal human being, which is often the "guy next door" that does “deserve the same federal rights as other couples who are contractually bound in marriage.” It is obvious that most anit-gay campaigners do so due to religious beliefs. However, the 1st Amendment long ago established the separation of church and state. So, why should marriage be preserved in a normal sense, and why should religion play a role? Since the creation of the Bill of Rights in the 17th century, there is nothing normal in comparison to the 20th century not even marriage itself. So, why should people hang on to the original meaning of the word marriage? To put it briefly, it really does not matter what legislation chooses to call gay marriage. The important issue is that two individuals have the right to pledge themselves to each other and be respected legally in that right.

Ray Thornton, taking people to court to get your way is not childish. It is our right as an American citizen to receive justice. Individuals and groups in the U.S. have used courts “to get their way” for a long time. Moreover, I am thankful for the outcomes. I personally enjoy integration (Brown v. Board of Education) and the right to vote among other civil liberties the courts have granted through cases. Perhaps, you should read the 20th blog by a Southern Gay Man. This is the single best piece of literature pertaining to gay rights I have ever read. When I read his blog and put it into perspective, I thought to myself, how could someone read this particular blog and not support gay marriage? Simply put, he is a normal human being, which is often the "guy next door" that does “deserve the same federal rights as other couples who are contractually bound in marriage.” It is obvious that most anit-gay campaigners do so due to religious beliefs. However, the 1st Amendment long ago established the separation of church and state. So, why should marriage be preserved in a normal sense, and why should religion play a role? Since the creation of the Bill of Rights in the 17th century, there is nothing normal in comparison to the 20th century not even marriage itself. So, why should people hang on to the original meaning of the word marriage? To put it briefly, it really does not matter what legislation chooses to call gay marriage. The important issue is that two individuals have the right to pledge themselves to each other and be respected legally in that right.