founding father, Thomas Jefferson, would think of SSM? After watching a biography and reading his inaugural address, I think he would approve:

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression. Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things. And let us reflect that, having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions. "

First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801

It's hard to say what he would think of SSM. I'm sure the issue never crossed anybody's mind during those times.

I think he would approve, he was a man of reason.

Yes, exactly.

Hard to justify not allowing SSM when you read his words.

Jefferson is not the only founding father with this viewpoint. The founding fathers were great politicians because they understood that the primary problem with a democracy is the tyranny of the majority.

I have to agree with Gary on that one. Considering the number of homosexual people at the time, they probably were considered wierdos.

Just imagine what a father at the time would have thought about his son liking boys. And with religion being such a strong force too. Good luck with that.

They were pretty big hypocrites in that respect because they had black slaves. It benefitted them to be hypocrites. If they had gay slaves then they probably wouldn't support full rights for homosexuals, either. But they didn't. Indeed, they were supportive of and worked with many religious and cultural minorities like Jews and Catholics, supporting equality for all of them.

I'd say they'd support it, but the general population definitely would not. Back then there was debate over whether or not Sundays should be established holidays where no businesses were legally allowed to be open! I highly doubt something like same sex marriage would be permitted by the populace. Still, I think for the most part the founding fathers had more sense, even if it was not in all areas.

Almost 300 years later and the words of this man rings very true today. What defines a free man or woman in this new millenium?

Jefferson is overrated.

The "founding fathers" are mediocre and dated politically, and I don't like them socially.

But my "favorite" would probably have to be Benjamin Franklin. He was much more well rounded than the others, considering his important inventions, and was an abolitionist leader.