My head hurts. I think I'm getting on the ban marriage all together bandwagon.

Wow, what a sensitive subject. It's a difficult answer, especially since I am neither black nor gay. But I will give this a go.

First of all, I think most people relate "Civil Rights Movement" with the plight of the African-American Community here in the states during the sixties. But let's look at the definition (according to Merriam) Civil Rights: the nonpolitical rights of a citizen; especially: the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to United States citizens by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress

Since slavery does not apply here, let's look at the 14th amendment,

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law, which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Ok, sounds like the gays qualify.

Now how about, how similar is the Gay right movement & the African-American rights movement?

1. "Who had it worse" arguments never work. The biggest difference here is that the African American civil rights movement began with slavery. A crime that was allowed by our government, which set a VERY VERY long and arduous path for the African-Americans to walk. That path they paved is why the march of the gays is not going to be quite so arduous. Which is why the black community and gay community should really be embracing each other. And if the gays really want to change things, they need to look at the black community to see how it's done.

2. At this time because of the animosity towards gays, we have no real idea how many gay hate crimes occur everyday. So it's hard to say what the casualties really are. Same with how many gays are treated badly in such a passive way that it can't really be proven that it was related to them being gay. Except for the massacre of gays during the holocaust in Germany. Such animosity towards gays is why this moment in WWII history is not even taught in schools. Read the linked article, and then tell me that the gays have not suffered. They have.

So yes, it is similar on the sense that every civil rights movement has the same goal, which is reinforcing their civil rights as guaranteed by the 14th amendment?

And it's different for two reasons.

First of all, every movement has it's own unique story to tell. African-Americans, Gays and yes, women's suffrage even. Heck, even the Irish Catholics couldn’t' find jobs when they were fresh off the boat. They could barley eat in restaurants outside their own neighborhoods. Until Joe Kennedy came along and had a son...but I digress.

Second, the gay community is unique in the sense that there are many many black gay men and women. Where is their voice in all this? How can we ignore the fact that here is a community that includes people from EVERY other oppressed group in history? That must mean something.

On the issue of gay marriage & church. I feel that churches should have the choice just as they do for other situations. I myself, had premarital sex. I married a man who is not Catholic. I did not marry in the church, I married in the mountains beside the American River. These things all mean that most churches (including the one I grew up attending) won't recognize my marriage "in the eyes of God." If California is going to pick on the gays, then they should also pick on those of us who had sex before marriage, children out of wedlock, have been married before, etc. etc. Don't use the label "In the eyes of God" unless you plan on including everyone that won't be recognized "I the eyes of God." Besides, as a girl who grew up Catholic, and loving God & the Bible, I have to say a lot of it is crap, and should be taken with a VERY large grain of salt.

On the legal level, our country was based freedom to live their own lives and be free from religious persecution. That's why separation of church & state is so vital. Laws SHOULD only be based on real factors that affect the greater good and general welfare of the people. Gay marriage has NO impact on anybody, except the gays getting married. It's as silly as voting to ban wearing white after labor day. Who cares? Why? And how does it affect you?

Yes, oh please yes. I think that she is more than qualified, and has way more passion than the other candidates (though Kerry is a wise choice as well) and frankly she deserves it.

I think the Black Gays are going to step up and take control of this situation.

Thank you! This was so far beyond me that I seriously thought I was missing something!

Exactly. People make too many decisions based on headlines & 30 second PSA's instead of reading the fine print.

Ok, so I was right. And again I ask, seriously? Why would this bother anybody? I don't see the offense.

Seriously? I'm not getting this. I did read the article. And I still don't it.

I am sooooo tired if this fight. Not because I'm annoyed but because it makes me sad. And I have come to the resolve, that just as the slaves broke free of their chains, just as women fought tooth & nail so that they could step into a voting booth, and just as Rosa Parks decided she was going to sit in the front of that bus, the gays will have their marriage. It's inevitable. 65% of the people who voted NO on Prop 8 were people in their twenties. Guess what? In 15 years they are going to be the ones in charge, and their kids are going to be the new voters raised with a liberal black President. If Prop 8 doesn't get overturned now, it will.