Andrew D – Marketing Director

As a gay man who is in a committed relationship and honors the concept of monogamy (I know a novel concept), I am very supportive of equal rights for gays and lesbians to get married if they chose to do so. As a former Californian who had this right for a few months then had them taken away by brainwashed masses funded by the Mormon Church and other oppressive masses, I am ecstatic to have this right granted in my new home, Washington DC.

In this day and age, my parents still being together after 30 plus years, while many of my parents friends have since divorced, I have a great respect for the institution of marriage. I find it funny that many of my friends ask me if I’m going to get married just because it’s legal now, to which i always respond, I’ll get married when I’m ready, not just because it’s legal! I gotta admit I’ve always dreamed of a white wedding for myself and I will have my white wedding someday… when I’m ready!

While getting married is big decision for many and for others just a change of legal status to allow them the full range of rights and benefits, it is extremely important that the ability to get married be available to gay and lesbian couples. I always said if the gays can’t get married, the straights shouldn’t be able to get divorced… see how they like that!

I’m excited about the slow progress this country is making in the way of LGBT rights. The more states that allow gay marriage and that honor other LGBT rights, the more level the playing field is. It’s really only a matter of time before all this blows over, we have equal rights and people will forget why they ever opposed it in the first place. Sorry folks, the south won’t rise again, the president is black, and gays and lesbians are going to get married. The sooner you accept that and move on, the sooner you can focus on your own problems! But wait, the inability to self reflect is why you’re raining on our parade in the first place… that’s right.

Andrew F – Columnist

Marriage is like the U Street corridor of civil institutions: we gay people will move in and reinvent it so that no one has to think about why it was failing in the first place. Congratulations to anyone who will be filing today – you’re doing hard and important work.

Arthur – Sports Writer

Marriage is, to me at least, supposed to be about a loving commitment to another human being. It goes beyond anything that can be articulated on paper, but we try. Though you don’t have to have the documentation to have the connection, the paperwork signifies a recognition by society of loves equality. Allowing two loving, committed adults to have a civilly recognized union is, quite frankly, the right thing to do.

chris – Columnist

Marriage is the only religious sacrament that has a legalized counterpart. If we’re going to have it, I want my legally-recognized secular baptism, dammit. I’m of the mind that marriage as a legal institution should be done away with and replaced by civil unions for all who so elect, regardless of the gender identities of those involved or even the number of partners. If you can consent, you should be able to — so you can swallow your “slippery slope” argument, those who argue this will lead to allowing adults to wed minors. Yes, this means I support polygamist and polyamorist unions, and yes, “Big Love” is partially responsible for my position. Now that’s love folks. However, since marriage is currently the standard norm, queers who want it should have access to it. And all of us queers, whether we want marriage for ourselves or not, should rally together to support those who do — in one voice, speak now or forever hold our peace. Can I get an amen?

hannah – Chatterbox Editor

I think that all people should have the same legal rights to marriage. I also believe that people who believe in marriage as a religious institution should be able to get married in within the church.

Hans – Photo Editor

When I think about committed gay couples being forced to separate because one’s visa expired, or the idea that a hetero couple could get married at a drive-through while blind drunk in Vegas, while the lesbian couple down the street who have been together for 20 years do not have access to that “sacred” institution, I really can’t help but think of marriage as a civil right.

Jack – Columnist

I think the more radically equal legal framework would simply treat each of us as individuals, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize blatant homophobia in most manifestations of resistance to marriage equality for same-sex couples and like to see progress being made against that.

Jean – Staff Contributor

I am primarily interested in equality. I don’t think that gay people who want to get married are trying to mimic heterosexual relationships, and I dont think that being uninterested in marriage makes you strange. In the same fashion that many women who would never have an abortion still fight for the right to choice, fighting to make marriage a legal option for all couples who are interested is about not letting the government decide what is best for us.

I’d like to get married. I’m not in a rush, and i want it to be legal – but I believe in commitment and want to share the benefits my parents, friends and siblings have enjoyed. Its only fair.

Jess Five – Contributor

I think everyone should have the right to “marriage” – whatever they want to call it – if they want to call it “bananas” everyone should have bananas. However, I think it’s a repressive institution which has no business in the state. Marriage or bananas, should be an issue of the church alone. But as long as there is bananas sanctioned by the government, it should be open to everyone.

Josh – Houston Editor

I am, I’m afraid to say, starting to think of marriage as some kind of sparkly accessory. Much like a toy dog or gaudy handbag. (Or worse, a toy dog IN a gaudy handbag.) It seems we are fighting for it with so much fervor, yet time after time I meet gay “married” or partnered couples who engage in arguably anti-marriage activities like inviting a third into the bedroom or tolerating infidelity for sake of maintaining the relationship. Do we really want to be married? Is the fight for marriage equality based on a real desire to have a traditional monogamous relationship like our parents (might have) had, or is it based on our aversion to being treated differently? I tend to think it’s the latter. I think maybe it’s time the message on marriage focused exclusively on the equality issue. This is solely about not being treated as a different class of citizens in terms of benefits conferred. It is not about a large group of people who want their traditional monogamous relationships celebrated. If there are gay couples who have lives that emulate those of Ward and June Cleaver, I have yet to meet them.

Kat – Illustrator

I think marriage itself is a (somewhat antiquated) religious institution. I don’t believe that having a legal or civil recognition of relationships is a bad thing, but I think somehow combining a longstanding religious tradition with legal rights was asking for trouble from the get-go. Our current effort for marriage rights is a dual representation of the state of our society – on the one hand I think it represents the ongoing fight, in different venues and circumstances, for equal recognition under the law for everyone (you know, like the Constitution says); on the other hand, I think the fight for marriage equality is the surface of a deeper cultural movement to change the mindset about relationships and families. I think in an age of divorce, long term singlehood, non-monagamy, and all sorts of other nontraditional approaches to romantic and sexual relationships, it is necessary to change the way we think about a ‘legitimate’ relationship and what that means. If that is even relevant. Same sex marriage is just one facet to that side of the issue.

Matt’ – Newsprints Editor

I’m a huge fan of civil unions. For everybody. Let churches marry people. The state can handle the contractual and tax break stuff.

raphael – LA Editor

Marriage is legitimate aspiration for people, depending on their personal beliefs. But it isn’t for everyone, and nobody should feel bad about that. The state has a role in recognizing relationships–otherwise, it destroys families and communities. But it has to avoid judging which relationships merit protection and which don’t. It’s particularly bad that the state does so in an overtly religious context.

T – Contributor

I think marriage is a complex, financial contract steeped in religious
tradition, which denies fundamental rights to people on the fringe and
should be obsolete…but since it’s not, I sure as hell want in!

zack – Editor-in-Chief

For my feelings on marriage, check out my post from yesterday.