Are Dems/Libs who disagree w/ gay marriage and/or gay lifestyles bigots?

[ecstatic]

I ask because recent polls have shown that Democrats are not that much more supportive of gay marriage than republicans. Also, many black dems are against gay marriage. Is this an issue that every Democrat/Liberal should be in agreement on? Or does the issue transcend party lines?

Edited to change "oppose" to "disagree."

[truthspeaker]

1. some are bigots, some are ignorant

[sniffa]

2. poLiticaL hedging

cowards

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. fantastic idea

Let's ward away all possible dissent and criticism by labeling those who would disagree with broad and hateful terms.

Sorry, but I saw this movie already. It's called "The Bush Administration". I don't want to watch it again, especially not here on DU.

[Catfight]

4. articulately said. n/t

[ecstatic]

8. I had no idea that 62% would label fellow Dems as bigots

The results thus far are shocking to me.

[truthspeaker]

9. Well the poll is still new

But I'm not going to pull my punches against bigotry just because it comes from my own party.

But see my post above. I voted "Ignorant".

[Gildor Inglorion]

5. Of course they are!

Just as many otherwise liberal Democrats were strongly opposed to racial integration in the 1950's & 60's (not to mention mixed marriages!) I lived through those times; I remember them well. If our African/American colleagues think the current uproar over gay marriages and lifestyles is a different matter, they should remember that scriptures were also quoted to uphold segregation. In my opinion, it will take an entire generation's passing away to make our dream of equality under the law a reality.

[ecstatic]

10. But is it really the same as the civil rights movement

I keep seeing the comparison made here but many Americans, particularly Black Americans, disagree with that comparison. Is there not a difference between sexual preference and the color of one's skin?

*Just playing Devil's Advocate here!*

[Gildor Inglorion]

14. For the sake of argument, let's call it a choice...

(which it's not) - but even so, is it right to discriminate against someone because she chooses to be a Roman Catholic? live in Oregon? vote Democratic? Dye her hair blonde? An American citizen should have the same rights as any other American citizen. As far as I'm concerned PERSONALLY, the nonsense of civil marriage should be abolished. The government should have no more say in marriage than in ordination or baptism.

[ecstatic]

20. The problem with your argument

is that there is no scientific proof either way for nurture or nature being the cause of homosexuality. I think there is a large group of Americans who think that EVERYONE should be afforded equal rights.

This question is a little different as it focuses on mind state (i.e. internal disagreement) with gayness. Is feeling (secretly) that being gay is wrong similar to feeling (secretly) that blacks are not human?

[Gildor Inglorion]

25. "An American citizen should have the same rights...

as any other American citizen." I thought I was saying that EVERYONE should be afforded equal rights. (2) "Is feeling (secretly) that being gay is wrong similar to feeling (secretly) that blacks are not human?" Yes. Of course. And not only wrong and sub-human, but worthy of scorn, contempt, and physical abuse. How hard is it to see that? As for nature or nurture, I said, for the sake of argument, call it a choice. But please be assured, I didn't wake up one morning and think, "Gee, nothing to do today, I believe I'll choose to be gay so everyone will despise me."

[LeahMira]

15. Glad you said you were being a devil's advocate! :-)

I keep seeing the comparison made here but many Americans, particularly Black Americans, disagree with that comparison. Is there not a difference between sexual preference and the color of one's skin?

I see it as part of a sorting device. No matter the criteria, be it sexual preference of the color of one's skin, it's an attempt to allocate privilege to those deemed more "worthy." For some reason, Euro-Americans seem unable to perceive themselves as "worthy" without comparison to some "other" who is perceived as less "worthy."

Life is not a horse-race where there can be only one winner. Not every culture sees things the way we do. We could learn...

[Gildor Inglorion]

17. Damn, I wish I'd said that!

Thank you for expressing my feelings better than I ever could. :-)

[cheezus]

6. You have a right to your opinion for segregation. You're still a bigot tho

[Touchdown]

7. The problem with those who oppose gay people...

specific issues or generally (there is no "LIFESTYLE" BTW) is that it makes the assumption that it's about them, which it isn't. It's about gay people, and about living up to the standards of liberty for all.

If one finds gay people distasteful, or dusgusting, I care not one wit about it, but when that person seeks to restrict the rights of gay people, because of that distaste, that's when the "B" word becomes the truth.

Answer: The issue transcends party lines. There's been many Repubs supportive of gay rights, including Dick Cheney (at least once in his life).

[carolinayellowdog]

11. What does it mean to "oppose" a "lifestyle"?

I consider "bigot" rather strong WRT the marriage issue, but anyone who "opposes" the "gay lifestyle" is by definition a bigot.

[ecstatic]

12. What about disagreement?

Without any sort of movement or action behind it.

[Touchdown]

21. You can't disagree with the existence of something.

Gay people exist, end of story. One can find homosexuality to be immoral, distasteful, abhorrent, or disgusting, but what one cannot do is disagree with the existence of gay people.

It's like walking in the forest, coming across a rock, and saying "I disagree that that object is a rock"...it doesn't make sense.

[LoZoccolo]

16. See I think just the opposite...kind of.

The gay marraige or civil unions issue is usually framed in terms of giving people equal benefits and protections to all people - I would think that someone could argue having the government give one thing to one group of people but not another could much more easily be termed as bigotry than a strong personal disapproval of what someone else does without an imposition of different treatment toward that class of people.

This guy in the cube across from me is a Muslim and doesn't eat pork, and I figure he doesn't think anyone should, including me, and I understand that. But I don't think he's bigoted toward me for being a enthusiastic carnivore of swine flesh because I imagine he gives me about the same level of human respect that anyone else does though he disapproves of something I do.

[ecstatic]

18. I agree

I can disagree with a lot of things i.e. having too many tatoos or piercings. I just don't get how that would make me a bigot. This is not to say that I disagree with gay rights. I just don't get the results for this poll.

[welshTerrier2]

13. of course, they're bigots

everyone has a right to agree or disagree ...

but no one has a right to impose their views on other people's choices ... if they do, then they are bigots ...

[ecstatic]

19. I don't get it--Are we saying that disagreement with something = bigotry?

I guess I would just like a little more information on why someone who disagrees is labelled as a bigot. Actually, I'm finding the results quite offensive. I could easily say that the poll results highlight a certain bigotry against blacks, christians, etc.

[cheezus]

22. Of course we are!

If you disagree that the school should be integrated - that they should remain segregated. That's fine. You can disagree. You can have your opinion. You'd still be a bigot though.

[LSdemocrat]

23. I think this poll confused two different issues

Accepting "gay lifestyles" and accepting "gay marriage" are two very different issues in my opinion.

If you oppose the gay lifestyle, then yes you are probably a bigot.

If you oppose gay marriage, then that is a somewhat different issue. Personally, I don't think the government should recognize marriage at all, and just give everyone civil unions, leaving marriage to religious institutions.

[truthspeaker]

24. just disagreement for no good reason

And I can't think of a good reason to be opposed to gay marriage.

[Heyo]

26. No...

They're not biggots.....

I hesitate to use that word except in cases where it's warranted... you throw a word like that around any old time, it loses it's meaning.

People who wanted to LYNCH people.... or have them drink from seperate drinking fountains or sit on the back of the bus..THOSE are biggots.

People who are against gay marriage, but are cool with gay people.. are *not* biggots, and to say that dilutes the word.

Heyo