These are some questions to ask yourself. If you answer in the affirmative, move on to the next question. If you answer in the negative, please stop and explain your answer. Continue until all questions are answered. This series of questions will allow us to see the disconnect we have with each other.

1 - Are homosexuals human?
2 - Do humans (in general) have the desire to create long lasting bonds based upon love, trust, and mutual respect?
3 - Is there only one valid expression of love between two unrelated consensual adults?
4 - Is heterosexual love more valid than homosexual love?
5 - Should heterosexuals not have more legal rights based upon their love than homosexuals?
6 - Should homosexuals and heterosexuals have equal legal rights based upon love?
7 - Should gender preference matter to a persons validity as a member of society?

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No. I say this only because there are many different types of 'love' consentual adults feel for one another. There's romantic love, sibling love, friendship love, parental love, and of course aunt/uncle/grandparents type of love.

Now, if we're talking specifically Romantic love between consentual adults? Then it would still be no. Because love doesn't need to be validated. Validation means that those outside of the personal relationship of the two adults have to approve in the first place. It hints that love has to be justified by others outside of that relationship.

And I personally do not believe that love can be justified or approved of by those not involved in that relationship between two consenting adults. Accept, yes. But that doesn't mean they have to approve or give validation to the couple. Only the couple can do that for themselves.
4. No, for the reasons stated in #3. Love is love. It's blind to outside influences and shouldn't be subjected to those limitations.
5. No. As I stated in #3 and #4, love is love and shouldn't be subjected to approval or validation by those not directly involved in a romantic relationship between consenting adults.
6. Yes
7. No. A person's life shouldn't be validated or approved on by what their gender, religion, race, or sexual orientation is. A person's ' validity as a member of society' should be valued as to how they contribute to society and relate/help their fellow man.

1 - Are homosexuals human?
Yes.


2 - Do humans (in general) have the desire to create long lasting bonds based upon love, trust, and mutual respect?
Yes.

3 - Is there only one valid expression of love between two unrelated consensual adults?
You mean in the sexual/romantic sense?
According to what I belive. Yes.
Do I think others should be forced to follow, what I believe? No.

4 - Is heterosexual love more valid than homosexual love?
Yes. There are self-evident reasons for a drive and instinct toward hetrosexual pair-bonding.
While the emotions and attachment might be just as stong, the condition of homosexuality causes them to be projected in what I consider an abnormal direction -- toward others of one's own gender.


5 - Should heterosexuals not have more legal rights based upon their love than homosexuals?

Is it fair or logical to consider an abnormality a source for "rights?"
On the other hand, if that's the route society decides to take, then so be it, and let the chips fall where they may.

6 - Should homosexuals and heterosexuals have equal legal rights based upon love?

Again, I have serious personal misgivings about the apparent abnormality of this "love." But powerful, logical, valid arguments have been put forth for gay marriage/unions. And I ultimately must support freedom of choice.

7 - Should gender preference matter to a persons validity as a member of society?

People with all sorts of problems and abnormalites have become great members of society. Virtually nobody is free of at least some quirk/struggle in their lives.
So, my answer would have to be "no."
If a gay man is a brilliant President and serves society well, that's enough for me.

1 - Are homosexuals human? The human ones are.

2 - Do humans (in general) have the desire to create long lasting bonds based upon love, trust, and mutual respect? Those that aren't Gary do

3 - Is there only one valid expression of love between two unrelated consensual adults? No. There are many forms of love, I love many people, but I don't wish to marry them or have sex with them (well, not ALL of them)

4 - Is heterosexual love more valid than homosexual love? N/A - the validity love is not for anyone to determine.

5 - Should heterosexuals not have more legal rights based upon their love than homosexuals? No human being should have more legal rights than the next, barring those who have chosen to lead an unlawful life, and thus, have had their rights removed or altered by due process.

6 - Should homosexuals and heterosexuals have equal legal rights based upon love? Homos and Heteros should have equal rights based upon the fact that they are human beings.

7 - Should gender preference matter to a persons validity as a member of society? Validity as a member of society is dependent upon each individual's definition of that validity. To me, it is dependent upon one's ability, willingness and committment to making the world a better place, or at least as good as you found it....

Just my opinion, I could be wrong (Although that is highly unlikely)

My answers:

1) Yes
2) Yes
3) Yes
4) No - Love is blind,deaf and is not limited to gender, race or even age. My love for my BF is JUST as valid as any heterosexual couple's love.
5) No - My legal rights as a citizen should not be based upon gender of the citizen I love.
6) Yes
7) No - My validity in society should not be contingent upon the gender of the citizen I love.

I'm in agreement with Coffee. Welcome, by the way.

One disconnect I have is the perspective that homosexuality is a "source for rights".
I don't look at things with regards to whether they are a "source for rights" or not. My perspective is more as an issue for justified discrimination.
Possibly a different phrasing of the same basic issue.

I think one perspective asks "should this group have this right?"
The other perspective asks "what justification is there for restricting rights"?

But on another level with regards to this question, should abnormalities be a source for rights?
Should the handicapped be treated equally in our society? Should we have laws that protect them from discrimination?
If two people who are mentally retarded wed, won't their prospective children be more likely to be mentally retarded? Or other genetic abnormalities carried on?

1 - Are homosexuals human? Yes

2 - Do humans (in general) have the desire to create long lasting bonds based upon love, trust, and mutual respect? Yes


3 - Is there only one valid expression of love between two unrelated consensual adults?

No. There are three primary forms of love relationships, IMO. Parent/Nurturer (parents, aunts, mentors, teachers etc.), Peer (siblings, friends, cousins etc.) and Child/Nurturee (offspring, nephews, students etc.). Most forms of love are primarily one of the three with occasional elements of the others. The exception is Romantic Love which seems to be a balanced blend of the three.

4 - Is heterosexual love more valid than homosexual love?

No. The word valid does not really apply.

5 - Should heterosexuals not have more legal rights based upon their love than homosexuals?

Yes

6 - Should homosexuals and heterosexuals have equal legal rights based upon love?

yes and no. Couples should have equal legal rights based on their shared desire and commitment to entering a legally binding contract together. The reasons that they have for doing so are between the couple alone.

7 - Should gender preference matter to a persons validity as a member of society?

No. Once again, I have an issue with the word valid. A person in neither valid nor invalid. Their status in society, just to be clear, should not be a function of their gender identity, religion, race, sexual orientation etc.

Good point, foundit. If you frame it in the approach of protecting people from discrimination, it makes more sense.. at least to me.

1 - Are homosexuals human?
I was going to say yes, but then I got to thinking about a couple of ex-boy-friends, and I'm going to have to go with 'Depends...'

2 - Do humans (in general) have the desire to create long lasting bonds based upon love, trust, and mutual respect?
Yes

3 - Is there only one valid expression of love between two unrelated consensual adults?
No.
But according to some guys' I've talked to, their wives have a list of very INVALID expressions of love that they will not do...

4 - Is heterosexual love more valid than homosexual love?
No.

5 - Should heterosexuals not have more legal rights based upon their love than homosexuals?
Based just on love? No.

6 - Should homosexuals and heterosexuals have equal legal rights based upon love?
Yes.

7 - Should gender preference matter to a persons validity as a member of society?
No.