Here is a passage from the law:
(a) Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights,
protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same
responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether they
derive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules,
government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources
of law, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses.

Site:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=fam&group=00001-01000&file=297-297.5

The only thing, that I can see, that homosexuals are denied is the ability to legally call their union a marriage. Do you really need a piece of paper to define your relationship with someone?

The best resolution I see for this issue is to call all relationships civil unions and leave the term ‘marriage’ for the religious institutions. Those for the seperation of church should be all over this solution. Unfortunately, I doubt the extremes on either side would be willing to compromise on this solution. It would be either all or nothing. If only clearer minds would prevail…

Also, as a Mormon, I’m shocked at the viterol that is directed at my brand of religion. The church, itself, did not finance the ‘Yes’ side, but it did encourage it’s members to get involved with the issue. Many of our members were very generous with their time and money. We are a very organized church and it showed when it came to the passage of Proposition 8. Yes…LDS members were very visible during the campaign and I can see why the other side might see us as the “face” of ‘Yes on Prop 8″. Though, there are only around 800,000 members in the state of California with a population of 36.5 million people. Many other groups were responsible for the votes the passed the proposition. Ethnicities, such as African Americans and Hispanics, were responsible for a large percentage of the vote total for the ‘yes’ side as well as other larger religous institutions, such as Catholics. So, again, why focus all your fustration and hatred on Mormons?

I know you’re talking about g*d, but really you’re talking about humans, values, love, and – unfortunately – paranoia and self-justification.

I don’t need to say much here, AA, because you know me well. I just want to caution against making this only about religion . . .

As an atheist, I have grown as disgusted by the “new atheists”, who are at least as strident, arrogant, and evangelistic as extremists of established religions. They have, in fact, created a new religion which embraces eugenics, techno-fascism, and transhumanism. It is a fearsome and genocidal movement, full of conceit and disregard for the human spirit. In their narcissistic minds, they are become the new g*ds and are very dangerous.

I would rather ride the bus with a gentle, humble christian than with one of these.

Be at peace, my friend.

@Natalie – “Personal responsibility.” Yes! If everyone can just focus on their own life and how to hold themselves responsible instead of pointing fingers at everyone else. I judge, but mostly because people don’t take personal responsibility. Instead they shift blame.

@vanessaleighsblog – Ubuntu… If only more people could just make this easy judgement. Love you back sister.

@FreetoBe – Love… I heard this morning that a guy said it is easier to be nice than to be horrible. It is easier to love than to hate. Hate wastes time. Man, wish more people could see those first two Commandments first!

@donfried – Hi Don! Awesome work by the way! I guess we will all be going to hell. Seeing that I can’t get down to that church. Don’t forget to take some ice to cool down. Damn bigots.

@skuttlefish – Haha! Ouch man! Mmm. Maybe I should start a line of t-shirts. How about “I’ll work for boerewors” or “Real men braai”?

@TheGT – Thank you!

@Cokebiscuit – Okay. But you can’t let your religious views be forced on others by the state now can you? And the animals argument is just crap. Two consenting adults…

@SanityFound – Niknak riligion! Haha! You are brilliant SF!

@Keven Bennett – You said it. Bigotry.

This is what makes you a bigot, Coke.

It’s not the part where you are following the Bible, it’s your extrapolation beyond what the bible says.

One of the Ten Commandmants:
Thou shalt not judge

Ah I do get so tired of Niknak religion, crunchy, tasty, cheesey and gets tuck in your teeth eventually causing holey pain … have you tried the chutney niknaks? sooo deeevine!

Like anyone would use a car manual to guide the use of a new car,Christians use the bible as a manual for life.On the issue of homosexuality,the bible is clear.Homosexuality is detestable in the sight of God.It’s that simple.And that doesn’t make me a bigot.Men aren’t meant to have sex with men!That’s madness.However,it’s even more wrong to discriminate against a homosexual or be violent towards them.We are all equal in the sight of God and no man has the right to be aggressive towards another man.No one.

We are men.We have free will.But I believe that we’ll account for the kind of lives we live when we die. Even if you are an atheist, think about what the next crazy thing that will be clamored for if homosexuality is made to seem normal.Maybe people will be asking to marry animals…or even worse.

We can’t just live the way we feel is right because more often than not the way we feel isn’t.

Once again, great blog. Many great points. Wishing these words would self propagate themselves. Or something.

By the way, I recently wrote a play on Charles Darwin. He was an agnostic and his wife was a religious Christian. She was terribly concerned that she was going to spend forever in heaven waiting for him to finish his sentence in the nether regions. An exchange between them to that effect is in my play.