press of Waldoboro, ME Great column, JP. I've admired your writing for a log time, for both its courage and style — so, from a fellow freelancer and former staffer at various Guy Gannett newspapers, cheers!report abuse

CommonSense of Hallowell, ME allbiz says that if God thought homosexuality was right He would have told us so; Don Chase wonders whatever happened to one man one woman. I wonder whatever happened to God's ban on eating shellfish, if He had wanted us to eat lobster wouldn't he have told us so. If He had wanted us to stop stoning adulterers to death, why didn't He tell us so ? If Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and the other founding fathers had wanted a theocracy, why did they create a separation between church and state ?report abuse

Kate OHanlan of Portola Valley, CA Gay marriage will happen.

The US Census tells us that over a third of America's same-sex families are raising children. Families of same-sex couples undertake the same responsibilities and risks of any American family, so they need and deserve all the same financial, legal and social protections that our current marriage laws provide. Its okay for children to learn that same-sex marriage equals opposite sex marriage because they need to know that all Americans are equal in the eyes of the law. It is also healthy for children to learn this.

The American Psychiatric Association has confirmed that sexual orientation is natural, biologically induced, morally neutral, immutable, neither contagious nor learned, and has no relation to an individuals ability to form deep and lasting relationships, to parent children, to work, or to contribute to society.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Association have all endorsed civil marriage for same sex couples because marriage strengthens the mental and physical health and the longevity of couples, and provides greater legal and financial security for children, parents, and seniors.

Homosexuality has been scientifically proven to be as immutable, and innocent as left-handedness, red-headedness, and skin color. When America's premier child and mental health associations and their expert panels endorse marriage equality, there is no ethical reason to discriminate against gay people and their children.

We have to realize: 3% of every generation, of every culture, in every state, of every country will grow up and realize that they are gay.

The question that we need to ask ourselves is: what are we doing to make our world a safer and more welcoming place for ALL CHILDREN?report abuse

CRider of Augusta, ME The Bible is a document (and God's word, I believe) for the times in which it was written, a time before we understood that sexual orientation is a matter of birth; not choice. The New Testament decries the sin of heterosexual adults acting contrary to their nature and dabbling in the abusive and exploitive practices of same gender rape common in first century Rome. No big surprise there. It has nothing to say about the behavior of those who are by nature homosexual, unless it is to urge upon them the same standards for all Christian relationships: maturity, mutual respect, fidelity, and kindness. What better institution than marriage for fostering such love and compassion between two deeply committed lovers of any gender? The world is in desperate need of tender loving care. Let's pass marriage equality, and focus our energy on fixing the critical problems which really threaten the human family. The quality of my marriage is defined by me and my spouse, and is in no way diminished by the two guys or women next door having access to the deepest expression of love and commitment. Time to lead the nation once again, Maine. Dirigo.report abuse