Disneyland request brings Japan's same-sex rights into focus
Mickey Mouse waves to visitors at Tokyo Disneyland in April 2011.
May 23rd, 2012
04:06 PM ET

Disneyland request brings Japan's same-sex rights into focus

Editor's Note: The following text is from GlobalPost, which provides views — importantmoving or just odd — from around the world.

By Justin McCurry, GlobalPost

In one respect, the decision by Tokyo Disneyland to allow a gay couple to hold their "wedding" at the theme park is a sign of progress in a country that has, until recently, largely ignored the issue of same-sex unions.

But some campaigners have argued that leaving it to Mickey Mouse to give his blessing to Koyuki Higashi and her partner, Hiroko Masuhara — in a strictly symbolic ceremony — is also a mark of how far Japan has to go before it affords the same rights to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community as it does to heterosexual couples.

Tokyo Disneyland condoned this and all future same-sex ceremonies after receiving an inquiry from Higashi. Cue a confused response from a subsidiary, Oriental Land Company, which licenses the name and characters from Disney in the United States.

Higashi, 27, and her partner could "marry" at the park, they were told, but only if they dressed "like a man and a woman." Park officials were worried that other visitors might be offended by the sight of two women in wedding dresses or morning suits.

The park relented on dress code after a storm of protest on Twitter and other social media — it had all been a misunderstanding by an individual employee, it said — but the couple will not be allowed to exchange vows in the park's chapel due to "Christian teachings."

More from GPS: Same-sex marriage around the world: Where is it legal?

Those restrictions go to the heart of the flimsy protection offered to the rights of LGBT people in Japan, say campaigners. Homosexuality is not illegal, but same-sex marriages are not legally recognized.

"There needs to be more pressure for legal unions between gay people in Japan," said Taiga Ishikawa, one of only a handful of openly gay politicians in the country. "This is only a guess, but I'd say there are more people now who are in long-term relationships and want that to be recognized in the form of a civil partnership."

Ishikawa is campaigning to introduce an ordinance in the area that would offer some form of marital recognition and increase the number of administrative rights and services to same-sex couples. But he admits that it's "some way off."

If Disneyland was being held up as an agent of progress, one of Japan's most popular celebrities popped up to demonstrate that, in some quarters, ignorance reigns.

Commenting on President Barack Obama's recent declaration of support for gay marriages in the U.S., the film director and comedian Takeshi Kitano told a fellow television guest: "Obama supports gay marriage. You would support marriage between humanoid and animals eventually, then," before questioning the ability of gay couples to raise children.

More from GlobalPost: Tears for Japanese clown, wanna-be Olympian

Kitano has since tried to explain his outburst: "I was only talking about people who love their pets so much that they may think of marrying them," AFP reported him as saying. "There is no way I look at gay people in the same way as I do animals, let alone implying sexual relations with animals."

His comments were not the first with homophobic overtones by a high-profile public figure in Japan. In late 2010, Shintaro Ishihara, the outspoken governor of Tokyo, suggested gay people were "deficient" after watching same-sex couples take part in a parade in San Francisco. "We have even got homosexuals casually appearing even on television," he said. "Japan has become far too untamed."

Yuji Kitamaru, a journalist who writes about LGBT issues, said he was "very disappointed" by Kitano's remarks, particularly as he has spoken up for minorities, including transgender people, in the past.

"I felt it was a big betrayal not only to us and the audience, but also to himself," Kitamaru said. "Public figures like Kitano can easily indulge in that kind of bigotry because Japanese people in general haven't considered the difference between public discourse and private gossip."

Yet Kitamaru, who has written on LGBT issues in Japan for two decades, believes social media has quickly become the forum for a more open discussion about sexuality, citing Twitter's role in the Disneyland decision, and a meeting held in Ni-chome, a gay neighborhood of Tokyo, to thank Obama for his support.

More from GlobalPost: Your body parts, made to order

Higashi and her partner, meanwhile, have visited Disneyland to break their good news to Mickey Mouse. They have yet to set a date for the wedding, and there are reports that their inquiries were intended only to test the theme park's commitment to equality.

Ishikawa welcomed Disneyland's decision, which apparently came after officials in Tokyo contacted the company's U.S. headquarters.

"I wrote 10 years ago that I looked forward to the day when gay and lesbian couples could hold hands and go to Tokyo Disneyland, so I'm very happy," he said. "But we're still not at the point where a man or woman can tell people, especially co-workers, that they have a same-sex partner."

Topics: Japan

soundoff (288 Responses)
  1. POD

    I knew it .....they caught Goofy and Pluto in a fast fairy land frenzy

    May 23, 2012 at 4:32 pm | Reply
    • FlyontheWall

      Disney, the recognized leader in Family enertainment gets that we all have families, and that family is the core of their business. Right ON DISNEY for remaining familiy orientated!!

      May 24, 2012 at 6:23 pm | Reply
      • MA

        It seems a bit hollow though, that they're not fighting harder for all families in the USA. All human rights should be fought for in all places, but can you imagine how much Disney could do in the US?

        May 24, 2012 at 7:50 pm |
      • vinsa

        Actually a reply to MA: Disney has long been a supporter in various ways of LGBT rights. Yes, they could do more, but then again they do allow many gay rights celebrations in the parks (gay day at WDW, for instance). The cast members who work at the parks are also extremely accommodating towards families of ALL types – and several cast members themselves are openly gay. It's a very safe environment for people of all orientations.

        May 26, 2012 at 4:59 pm |
      • Salty

        I bet that Walt's turning over in his grave...

        May 28, 2012 at 7:09 am |
  2. tom-ay

    this article makes it sound like the US is far more advanced... Um.... they still cannot get married in the U.S. except in certain areas... and it is still legal to fire someone for appearing LGBT in 30+ states! Thank you Disney here and overseas for continueing to embrace diversity.

    May 23, 2012 at 4:42 pm | Reply
    • aertzc

      They can't get married in most countries. The US is actually one of the most advanced countries in the world when it comes to LGBT rights. And with regards to your comment about firing people for "appearing LGBT"...well it's just not true.

      May 23, 2012 at 6:39 pm | Reply
      • tnmtl

        "most advanced"?? That's a joke. You don't know what your are talking about.

        May 24, 2012 at 8:25 am |
      • bigot

        tnmtl: way to cherry pick that sentence, you left out "when it comes to LGBT rights". R3tard

        May 24, 2012 at 10:05 am |
      • Todd in DC

        Um, Aertz, not only is it true, but you only have to look as far as Romney to see an example of it Richard Grenell was fired (forced to resign) for being gay, despite being qualified for the job.

        There is a new invention called Google. Type in "fired for being gay" and check out the results. And stop talking out of your @$$

        May 24, 2012 at 12:37 pm |
      • Testicleese

        Most advanced or most degenerate. Depends upon your point of view.

        May 24, 2012 at 1:31 pm |
      • Relictus

        I personally know someone who was fired because they were Trans. This was in California. She has since found a better job.

        May 24, 2012 at 2:51 pm |
      • Chris

        Most advanced would be Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, etc. USA would be FAR down that list. dont jump your guns

        May 25, 2012 at 6:43 am |
      • Lee

        I guess your idea of most advanced in LGBT rigthts and my idea are a bit different but please enlighten us as to how the US is so advanced in this area.

        May 25, 2012 at 9:25 am |
      • Paulio samin

        One day, I hope to have the right to marry my female dog. It is nobody's business. It is my private life to marry my dog Mika that I love more than anything else.

        May 26, 2012 at 10:24 pm |
      • nothanks

        go look at LGBT rights in argentina and then call the USA LGBT rights progressive

        May 27, 2012 at 12:25 pm |
    • EndTheHate

      aertzc

      Please educate yourself on issues before making false statements as "fact".
      It is legal in many states to fire someone for just being perceived as gay.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:06 am | Reply
      • Presto88

        Good.

        May 24, 2012 at 8:50 pm |
      • esmiranda

        There are many "At Will" states where the employer doesn't need a reason to fire anyone, they can just let you go. A person can claim discrimination such as being gay, transgender, being older, pregnant woman, etc. But the burden of proof is always on the employee, and you know there are always ways around anti discrimination laws for unscrupulous employers.

        May 26, 2012 at 3:42 pm |
    • cheese

      Are you daft? Disney is a company, not a civil rights group. Why should they embrace "diversity" and treat certain people differently as compared to others?

      Your idiotic definition of "diversity" is – don't deny it – special treatment.

      May 24, 2012 at 8:21 am | Reply
      • tnmtl

        Your question is oxymoronic and stupid. Your definition of "special treatment" vanishes into thin air when laws are written to protect Christians from harassment, discrimination, and hate crimes, and their "right" to bully other people with their dogma.

        May 24, 2012 at 8:32 am |
      • The Real Question

        The real question is are You daft, cheese? Don't you realize the tremendous Gay support Disneyland has through its Gay tourism and daily visits by Gay couples there? That translates into millions of dollars annually through Gay support as reports have found. That is one reason why they need to embrace the Gay community! Being exclusionary is a bigoted thing. Being all-inclusive is embracing diversity and is Great for business or are you so dense and daft you don't yet understand and realize that!

        May 24, 2012 at 11:03 am |
      • Rbnlegend101

        Disney is a company, and should support diversity, because they want customers who are diverse. Like all businesses, they want as many customers as they can possibly get. A business limits it's opportunities if it says "we do not want this person as a customer". A business has more incentive to support diversity than anyone else.

        And, when you say "treat them differently" you seem a bit confused. How is allowing one group to do what you allow other groups to do, treating them "differently"?

        May 24, 2012 at 1:41 pm |
      • JC

        "Why should they embrace "diversity" and treat certain people differently as compared to others?" Because if people begin to hate Disney, they will go out of business.

        May 24, 2012 at 2:17 pm |
    • MA

      Yup. And the US can still deport one half of a legally married couple because of DOMA.

      May 24, 2012 at 7:51 pm | Reply
      • Presto88

        Good..if one of the married party is here illegally send em back home!!

        May 24, 2012 at 8:51 pm |
    • Fearless Freep

      *** Paulio samin

      One day, I hope to have the right to marry my female dog. It is nobody's business.
      -----------------------------------–

      I think your dog may have something to say about it .....................moron.

      May 27, 2012 at 2:56 pm | Reply
  3. msadr

    Gay marriage is ridiculous. Seems appropriate to have it presided over by Mickey Mouse.

    May 23, 2012 at 4:44 pm | Reply
    • Idiot

      Yeah, two people who love each other getting married is such a ridiculous idea, amirite?

      May 23, 2012 at 5:28 pm | Reply
      • CraigW

        Yes, why shouldn't a brother and sister, for instance, who love each other get married as long as they love each other and are consenting adults?

        May 23, 2012 at 5:42 pm |
      • Nah

        Whoa, Craig. You can't use logic against someone who's dogmatic about his beliefs.

        He can't see that his belief in a "right to marry who you love" means, quite literally, that anyone who loves another person may marry that person, whether that person is their sibling, child, etc.

        May 23, 2012 at 11:58 pm |
      • jillsthomas

        Yes, Craig, I could not possibly care less if you marry your sister. Or your dog. Or the tree in the yard. I. Don't. Care. Have a great time.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:06 am |
      • sam stone

        Craig: As long as they are adults, and with the ability to consent, I I got no problem with it (from a governmental standpoint). Do you feel that there is a big market out there for siblings wanting to marry? Do you want to confess something about you and your sister?

        May 24, 2012 at 5:17 am |
      • Grumpster

        Way to go CraigW....drawing concluzion Z from evidence A without anything inbetween. Relating two unrelated things in order to attempt to prove a point. There are genetic consequences to brother/sister marriage and children...not so with GLBT....and in fact unless they're artificially inseminated or adopt, they'll be childless. Brain dead is not the way to go through life, dude.

        May 24, 2012 at 8:19 am |
      • Todd in DC

        Ok Craig, you want to get schooled? Fine. Marriage equity does not mean incest should be legal. There are specific llaws dictating that incest is illegal. All it means is that 2 men or 2 women who love each other should have the same civil rights as a man and a woman.

        And in case you were wondering, incest marriage was never legalized, nor ever attempted to be legalized in states our countries with marriage equity.

        Your logic fails miserably. Deal.

        May 24, 2012 at 12:40 pm |
      • Rbnlegend101

        Incest is prohibited because it has the potential to do harm. The odds of producing offspring with debilitating health problems is much higher in such a pairing. Additionally, such pairings often involve a severe power imbalance, with one of the two not having the ability to give informed consent. If an adult brother and sister couple, both of sound mind, pass a genetic screening, (or if one of them is incapable of making a baby) I don't see why we should prohibit such a pairing.

        Your jump from gay marriage to the price of bagels in the midwest isn't a valid reason to oppose gay marriage. The slippery slope arguement is never a valid logical arguement.

        May 24, 2012 at 1:47 pm |
      • Norm

        I guess it all boils down to thinking you have a right to tell other people how to live but just let them try to do the same to you.
        Majority rule is a dictatorship not a democracy.

        May 24, 2012 at 2:52 pm |
      • JC

        "why shouldn't a brother and sister, for instance, who love each other get married as long as they love each other and are consenting adults?" Because they increase the chance of doubling a defective gene; we do it with livestock and just kill the defectives, but we don't allow it with humans. Bzzzzz! Try again.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:06 pm |
      • Presto88

        Your post it name sure suites you.

        May 24, 2012 at 8:53 pm |
      • sam stone

        Craig: I got no problem with brother and sister marrying, as long as they are of legal age, and consent. Do you seriously think that there will be any kind of significant rush for siblings to marry? If so, what is your relationship with your sister like? Want to marry her?

        May 25, 2012 at 11:39 am |
    • Alex Haules

      CraigW what is the point of your stupid comment? what is the connection with the GAY relationships and marriage? Love is legal but only in one case? people can be so stupid.Just like you Craig and that msadr .

      May 23, 2012 at 6:01 pm | Reply
      • gatanne

        No Alex, what is the point of your stupid life? So sick of all the gay discussion and everyone pretending that they're "ok " with the gay lifestyle when it makes most people gag.

        May 23, 2012 at 6:25 pm |
      • Roger

        You're right, that gay lifestyle makes me gag. Oh God, how I wish I could deep throat like a p@rn star. ;-)

        May 24, 2012 at 12:06 am |
      • sam stone

        gatanne: so sick of people speaking for others. as time goes on, fewer and fewer people are haing a problem with it. if it makes you gag, good.

        May 24, 2012 at 5:21 am |
      • sam stone

        haing = having

        May 24, 2012 at 5:22 am |
      • Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

        I think we all know what is really making gatanne gag….. /zip

        May 24, 2012 at 1:48 pm |
      • Norm

        What's making him gag is his mental illness causing him to think he has the right to tell other people how to live.
        I bet he can't stand the fact that we have a black.president either.

        May 24, 2012 at 2:54 pm |
      • JC

        "everyone pretending that they're "ok " with the gay lifestyle when it makes most people gag." gatanne needs to learn the banana trick? open wider, gatanne.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:08 pm |
    • lroy

      Disney Corporation has long supported gay rights with the so-called Gay Pride Day. This is why I boycott Disney products, do not watch Disney Channel.

      May 23, 2012 at 7:28 pm | Reply
      • DJ Reality

        Sooo, Liz Cheney is on Fox News and she's gay. So are you still going to watch Fox News?

        May 23, 2012 at 8:48 pm |
      • sayer

        If you watch ESPN, you are watching a Disney product.

        May 23, 2012 at 10:19 pm |
      • FromDaDis

        FYI – Disney doesn't host a "Gay Day". It's a non-Disney event, organized by outside groups, who happen to visit the Disney parks on a specific set of days each year. People attending buy tickets and show up just like all the people who aren't there for "Gay Day". Disney is open to everyone, every day...regardless of who they are or what they are there to celebrate. In that way, they passively promote diversity...but they aren't responsible for any part of the event. Your boycott is misdirected.

        May 24, 2012 at 8:54 am |
      • Charlie

        I'm pretty sure one way or another you are using/watching a Disney product.

        Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group

        Walt Disney Motion Pictures
        El Capitan Theatre
        Touchstone Pictures
        Hollywood Pictures
        Disney-ABC Television Group
        Hyperion Books
        ESPN, Inc
        Marvel Entertainment (Marvel Comics)
        Hulu
        Go.com
        The Muppets Studio
        A&E Networks

        And that's a partial list.....

        May 24, 2012 at 10:37 am |
      • Norm

        Gee I bet Disney has had to downsize since you started boycotting them..............

        May 24, 2012 at 3:04 pm |
      • JC

        "This is why I boycott Disney products, do not watch Disney Channel." I bet Disney really misses you.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:09 pm |
      • Fearless Freep

        If you boycot every product (company) that supports gay rights,
        you would probably end up starving to death in a cave.
        Please do.

        May 27, 2012 at 3:02 pm |
    • Guest

      It's because straight people have already made a mockery of Marrage as it with like 22hr marrages and multiple divorces. How could Gay/Lesbian Marrage desecrate marrage any further than what has already been done?

      To be honest I don't even know why they would want to get married so bad as there is pratically no point in getting married anymore. Other than to be sure that you loose half of everything after the break up.

      May 23, 2012 at 8:14 pm | Reply
      • We Meant It

        There is a lot of reason to get married, if you do it right and keep your vow. Celebrating a love that is unitive, faithful , complementary and procreative – open to the possibility of life from that couple. The fact that marriage has come to mean less in this country is a reason to strengthen it, not abandon it or undercut its uniqueness. And not all of us have. Most of my family members and friends who married when we did are still married. It has been 32 years of challenges faced together, love and growth for my husband and I. We honored our vows – we meant it.

        May 23, 2012 at 9:42 pm |
      • We Meant It

        I am re-posting because my comment, whcih was inoffensive, seems to keep being deleted.

        There is a lot of reason to get married, if you do it right and keep your vow. Celebrating a love that is unitive, faithful , complementary and procreative – open to the possibility of life from that couple. The fact that marriage has come to mean less in this country is a reason to strengthen it, not abandon it or undercut its uniqueness. And not all of us have. Most of my family members and friends who married when we did are still married. It has been 32 years of challenges faced together, love and growth for my husband and I. We honored our vows – we meant it.

        May 23, 2012 at 9:46 pm |
      • sam stone

        we meant it: congratulations on 32 years. that is an achievement. for some, it is a sentence. you are right, there are lots of reasons to get married, and most of the benefits you mentioned would also apply to gay couples. why do you feel that allowing gays to marry impacts your marriage, or anyone else's marriage?

        May 24, 2012 at 6:26 am |
      • Todd in DC

        Yeah, Guest. What's the point of marriage? All you get is a piece of paper for it, and inheritance rights, and hospital visitation rights, and tax benefits, and social security benefits, and better chances at adoption, and insurance benefits, and medical insurance benefits.

        Yeah, what's the point of all that.

        Loser.

        May 24, 2012 at 12:45 pm |
      • Norm

        If there was a true separation of government and religion....there would be no reason for this constant fight for marriage rights and benefits.
        The majority loves to pick and chose when it comes to what they will or won't enforce within our government.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:07 pm |
      • JC

        "How could Gay/Lesbian Marrage desecrate marrage any further" How the frik do you imagine that someone else's marriage 'desecrates' your marriage? Maybe if your mom and your mom-in-law got married, but still, what's that to you?

        May 24, 2012 at 3:12 pm |
      • esmiranda

        Good point.

        May 26, 2012 at 3:50 pm |
      • Sockness Monster

        1) Benefits.
        2) To make a commitment in a relationship with my partner
        that can be shared by my family and friends.
        Its called "love".

        May 27, 2012 at 3:04 pm |
    • jacobsart

      Being married by Mickey Mouse is ridiculous? As opposed to what? A priest? Harry Potter?

      May 24, 2012 at 12:15 am | Reply
      • matt

        if I were ever to get married and I could get Mickey Mouse to do it I would LOVE IT!!! biggest disney fan every!!

        May 26, 2012 at 3:55 am |
      • Foghorn Leghorn

        They have a drive-thru in Las Vegas, (for you straight people)
        and you can be "hitched" by Elvis in minutes.
        And you think Micky Mouse is ridiculous ?

        May 27, 2012 at 3:06 pm |
    • sam stone

      It is your right to find it ridiculous. It is not your right to legislate that view

      May 25, 2012 at 8:59 am | Reply
  4. augustghost

    Gay Mice....good grief

    May 23, 2012 at 5:27 pm | Reply
    • EndTheHate

      Yes and over 1500 other species as well.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:09 am | Reply
  5. MikeRight

    I have no problem with gay marriage or people being gay. Doesn't bother me one bit. What does bother me is that this whole "gay rights" movement seems to have turned into something different than a movement about individual rights. First, civil unions were enough, then the marriage battle (which provides no additional benefits from civil unions other than the label of "married" – aka not an equal rights issue – only a church issue really), now we have gay superheros and weddings at Disney Land with Mickey Mouse? Seriously? I think Disney has every right to be concerned about its image in this situation. It's one thing to be gay and getting married; it's another to want to do it in such an extremely public fashion just to make a statement about what should be a private matter. Why is it that gay people go out of their way to show everyone they are gay? If the argument about gay marriage is that it is a personal issue and nobody else's business, then why do they try so hard to make their "personal preference" other people's business?

    The gay community needs to accept that they are a fairly small percentage of the human population and most people, whether they will admit it or not out of fear of being labeled a bigot or discriminatory, think it is weird.

    May 23, 2012 at 5:37 pm | Reply
    • Mister Jones

      Very well put.

      May 23, 2012 at 5:44 pm | Reply
    • Alex Haules

      They want to get married.Guys like you make this statements and make the publicity that you so call that it's too much.Shut the hell up and leave people to love eachother how ever they want and who they want.Morons like you started to persecute the jews, the gypsys, the indiand."They have too much land, they have too much money, they are too black, they are too yellow".You should shut up and kick yourself in the ass, I bet you can do it,Any idiot can.

      May 23, 2012 at 6:04 pm | Reply
      • Norm

        Alex you missed his point...I suspect through sheer lack of IQ.
        I'm not even going to explain it to you because you wouldn't understand anyway.
        This is main problem when it comes to most issues.
        Lack of intelligence and abundance of mouth.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:10 pm |
    • jim tom

      Interesting comment. To which I respond: Nah. Gay people are going to continue to get out and be in our faces with it. As well they should. It is all just a matter of time anyway. Do you know how many people below the age of 30 are opposed to gay marriage? I'll gilve you a hint. It's probably pretty close the number of people above 60 who are in favor. Times are changing, the younger generation is more accepting, and nothing is going to stop this from becoming completely commonplace.

      May 23, 2012 at 6:05 pm | Reply
      • hang3xc

        It's because of the way they are brought up when outside the home. Don't keep score in sports, make sure everyone who wants can be on the team, doesn't matter if they can play. Big fat chicks get to be cheerleaders. Be tolerant of EVERYTHING & EVERYONE/ Make sure every "cluster" in school is like a "nationality rainbow" with 1 kid from each race.Our schools are turning kids into little ******
        (Adults are even forced into "sensitivity training by courts or even their jobs sometimes)

        May 24, 2012 at 12:02 am |
    • jim tom

      Perhaps I should expand a bit on your actual comment. What you are suggesting is that it's gay people's fault that others find them weird. Wrong. That's not their problem. It is for these people who find them uncomfortable to deal with on their own. This is America. Our motto is not, "Be yourself, unless it makes someone uncomfortable. Then, keep your head down and pretend to be like them."

      May 23, 2012 at 6:09 pm | Reply
      • Norm

        You missed his point entirely and it's surprising because he made it so simple for you.
        Let gays do what they want....but don't disrespect our right not to have it thrown in our faces every chance they get.
        Basically....we could care less what they do....but it really gets annoying when they seem to think we should and go out of their way to either seek approval or argue the point when we don't care.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:14 pm |
    • QS

      Your first mistake is thinking that civil unions were ever enough.

      Your second, is thinking that other people thinking being gay is "weird" is enough of an excuse to discriminate against them.

      May 23, 2012 at 6:42 pm | Reply
      • Norm

        ...but forcing a private citizen to change their view is just as wrong.
        Go do your gayness and leave everyone else alone.
        Why is that so difficult?
        It's like constantly farting in the elevator and expecting everyone else to think it's funny.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:16 pm |
    • alexanderminz

      So your saying that them being a minority, should just deal with it? Should just deal with not having an equal oppertunity? I think there is a lot of people that will have an issue with that

      May 24, 2012 at 9:16 am | Reply
      • Norm

        If you had to lift 200 pounds to do a job and you weren't strong enough....you don't get the job.
        Someone that can lift 200 pounds will get the job.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:17 pm |
      • Jadugara

        What "job" are you talking about "Norm"? This is the dumbest comparison I ever seen used... They are just looking to have the same rights everyone is supposed to have as a citizen of the USA, and when last I checked, being married isn't considered a "job"...

        May 25, 2012 at 4:00 am |
    • kevin

      A private matter? So do you have the same opinion when it comes to straight couples, that they should marry in private and not want to make it elaborate? Unless your views are the same for straight and gay, you are not "okay with it".

      May 24, 2012 at 12:12 pm | Reply
      • Norm

        Straight couples do get married in private...or do you get invited to everyone's weddings?

        May 24, 2012 at 3:18 pm |
    • HaplessCharmer

      All I've got to say is 'Kardashian' and I think I've made my point. Heteros don't make big public media grabbing deals about their marriages if they can? Get real. If people are given their basic liberties of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (that at least are written into American history) then no one would have to make a deal of it. I don't know when every couple around me gets married, because they are allowed to do it in private if they'd like. Let gay people get married in private and then you people that think it's 'weird' don't have to deal with hearing about it any more. Problem solved

      May 24, 2012 at 1:01 pm | Reply
    • DennisCarter

      Very well said!!!

      May 24, 2012 at 1:56 pm | Reply
    • JC

      "Why is it that gay people go out of their way to show everyone they are gay?" Most of them don't, you incredibly naive person. What in the world do you even think we are talking about? I'm not g ay, but I have friends who are, and you wouldn't know they were. Somewhere between 10 and 15% of men are g ay, whether you notice them or not. Heck yeah, I think it's weird. I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't so common. But pretending it doesn't happen and getting all butthurt about it makes us all wonder if you spend a lot of time in the closet? Get 'em out in the open and let them fly the Jolly Roger so we don't have to wonder who they are . . .

      May 24, 2012 at 3:43 pm | Reply
    • Highland

      Good post. I agree completely.

      May 25, 2012 at 7:48 am | Reply
    • DJL

      "Separate but equal is not equal." So said the Supreme Court of the United States. Therefore, you cannot allow a 'minority' class to get "married" but then call it something else.

      May 25, 2012 at 9:45 am | Reply
    • matt

      try typing all that again and replace the word 'gay' with 'mormon' – there is about 6 Million mormons in the US and around 30 million gay people ..... so since there are way fewer mormons ..... you get what I am saying right? you know what you said is retarded right?

      May 26, 2012 at 3:58 am | Reply
    • esmiranda

      Ignoring the gay population or shunning them doesn't make the gay go away. The gay superhero was a surprise, but why not? If you don't like it, don't buy it. I am a straight married female aged 50ish, and I'm pretty much live and let live at this point in my life. Hate never seems to accomplish much.

      May 26, 2012 at 3:59 pm | Reply
    • Foghorn Leghorn

      *** I have no problem with gay marriage or people being gay.

      And then you spend the rest of your post ranting against them.
      Fail.

      May 27, 2012 at 3:08 pm | Reply
    • Jack

      Civil unions are not enough because they are essentially separate but equal, but Brown v. Board showed that separate is not equal so civil unions are not good enough.

      May 27, 2012 at 3:28 pm | Reply
    • Sweetened Tea

      I completely agree. If only we could get straight people to stop doing things in public too, the world would be a nice, private place.

      You really should start with attacking straight marriages in Disneyland. There are so many more of those, so getting them out of the way would make a huge difference.

      May 27, 2012 at 6:30 pm | Reply
  6. funny

    why marry, why, why marry. even the men and women are not getting married this days. marrriage is religious and and men marrying another men broke the bigest law in religious. what is wrong with gay people, they really rubbing their private issue in our noses. i'm affraid united state will split in to two parties of extreme right and extreme lift and it is not going to be good. and exteme right will be very popular

    May 23, 2012 at 5:51 pm | Reply
    • Alex Haules

      The only why good for you is "Why" a schmuck like you has acces to the internet to say such stupid things.

      May 23, 2012 at 6:05 pm | Reply
      • Norm

        Gee Alex....been reading your comments all the way down through here and it's pretty obvious that since Fox shut down comments...all the Foxtards like you have invaded CNN.
        Take a hike.
        Go bother Glenn Beck or Rush Limpdick...

        May 24, 2012 at 3:25 pm |
    • bigot

      "marrriage is religious and and men marrying another men broke the bigest law in religious."

      Actually marriage has been around alot longer than your silly religion. And in the US, marriage is defined as a contract between two consenting adults. Congrats, you fail.

      May 24, 2012 at 10:07 am | Reply
      • Norm

        It's pretty clear that you've never opened a Bible in your life.
        Jesus is shaking his head at you as we speak.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:26 pm |
      • DJL

        Norm: it's clear you never learned anything about your government or its laws (separation of church and state, equal protection, etc.). George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln are all turning over in their graves.

        May 25, 2012 at 9:47 am |
    • JC

      "what is wrong with gay people, they really rubbing their private issue in our noses. " Bigger question is "Why do you supposedly straight guys keep insisting that gay people are 'shoving it down your throats' or 'rubbing it on our noses?' " What are you really trying to say? Is it a Freudian slip? Do gay men really shove it down your throats and rub it on your nose, or is it a figure of speech? For God's sake, stop saying that unless you mean it. Eccch.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:20 pm | Reply
    • Foghorn Leghorn

      I would be happy to keep it private, but you people
      keep trying to pass laws against me, and turn me into a second class citizen.
      You started the fight, we will finish it.

      May 27, 2012 at 3:12 pm | Reply
  7. ajk68

    More campaigning by CNN for "gay marriage."

    May 23, 2012 at 6:29 pm | Reply
    • thegayblade

      Actually, they are trying to goad people like you into clicking and posting on the story. You see, this is called traffic and traffic earns CNN money. You just paid them to run this story and you will ensure they run more stories like this in the future. Congratulations; you are the cause of this story. =)

      May 24, 2012 at 7:25 am | Reply
      • Norm

        HAHAHAHAHAHA...........so true.

        The bigots are here making CNN richer.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:28 pm |
    • Foghorn Leghorn

      Go to fox.
      You can campaign for concentration camps there.

      May 27, 2012 at 3:13 pm | Reply
    • As Far As Siam

      campaigning for straight marriage would be redundant.

      May 27, 2012 at 3:15 pm | Reply
  8. QS

    Married couples have 1,138 FEDERAL rights, protections and responsibilities that are not recognized for civil unions, such as:

    Social Security benefits upon death, disability or retirement of spouse, as well as benefits for minor children.

    Family and Medical Leave protections to care for a new child or a sick or injured family member.

    Workers' Compensation protections for the family of a worker injured on the job.

    Access to COBRA insurance benefits so the family doesn't lose health insurance when one spouse is laid off.

    ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) protections such as the ability to leave a pension, other than Social Security, to your spouse.

    Exemptions from penalties on IRA and pension rollovers.

    Exemptions from estate taxes when a spouse dies.

    Exemptions from federal income taxes on spouse's health insurance.

    The right to visit a sick or injured loved one, have a say in life and death matters during hospitalization.

    May 23, 2012 at 6:43 pm | Reply
    • MMMB

      Quite simple a married couple can have children that are biological a gay couple can't have a child that is biological unless they go to great lengths. The reason the eastern world distaste it is because it doesn't help human evolution in harms it. Because now instead of two or three with potential you have one child if lucky and that child doesn't fit replacement numbers nor does it usually have good genetics. Human evolution only happens one way with success, man and woman for any other way you would basically have to play God to keep the evolutionary track going and keep the replacement numbers up.

      May 23, 2012 at 9:02 pm | Reply
      • Greg

        humans are done evolving, at leas through natural selection.

        May 23, 2012 at 11:12 pm |
      • Ty

        Agreed. Which is why hete rose xual couples who are unable to re produce should have their marriages absolved and the rights those marriages stripped, simply because they do not further evolution.

        Erm...yeah.

        May 23, 2012 at 11:34 pm |
      • EmcK

        So, by your standards, being that marriage is only for procreation, a hetero couple where one partner is infertile should not be allowed to marry right?

        May 24, 2012 at 6:13 am |
      • kevin

        If marriage is for procreation, then all marrying couples should be required to become pregnant before they get married. Otherwise, how can we know they will procreate? Why would they be allowed to marry if they haven't proven they can and will procreate?

        May 24, 2012 at 12:17 pm |
      • Norm

        I guess the gay couple will be responsible for raising all the unwanted children of hetero marriages in a loving, caring home.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:29 pm |
      • matt

        that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard and besides it is the worst typed paragraph I have ever seen – I assume your a around 12 and English is your 3rd language?

        May 26, 2012 at 4:01 am |
      • Jonquil

        Right, then. So fertility screenings are in order before marriage and the vows should be changed to read "til death do us part" to "from menopause do us part". Once your kids are raised and you or your wife are no longer fertile, the marriage is legally dissolved, since procreation is no longer an option and you're no longer raising offspring. I'm sure many God-fearing men would agree.

        May 26, 2012 at 9:41 am |
      • esmiranda

        Considering the world has a human population that grows exponentially and dwindling natural resources, are we really worried about anyone NOT reproducing?

        May 26, 2012 at 4:05 pm |
      • As Far As Siam

        All gay children come from straight parents.
        You fail.

        May 27, 2012 at 3:16 pm |
  9. donny

    so many in my state was for obama untill he had that speach bout gays..it hurt many people to hear this . but i guess you cant make ever one happy...im for obama. but not for the gay thing...i just hate that the kids are going to see this trash going on. sick world we live in. lord for give them . they no not what they are doing...

    May 23, 2012 at 6:57 pm | Reply
    • Rbnlegend101

      They also know not what they are spelling.

      May 24, 2012 at 1:56 pm | Reply
    • Norm

      donny is in contact and representing "so many" in his state.
      LOL............

      May 24, 2012 at 3:31 pm | Reply
  10. donny

    •Lev. 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."1

    May 23, 2012 at 7:00 pm | Reply
    • Greg

      Deurotonomy 22:20-1 "If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death".

      May 23, 2012 at 11:15 pm | Reply
    • EndTheHate

      Ezekiel 23:20
      20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses

      May 24, 2012 at 4:11 am | Reply
    • ChrisNE

      What a silly quotation... I guess lesbians are OK in God's eye then? =D

      May 24, 2012 at 5:17 am | Reply
      • sam stone

        only if they are hot and/or young. god seems to have a thing for 13 year old virgins.

        May 24, 2012 at 5:31 am |
    • sam stone

      donny: your bible has nothing to do with secular law

      May 24, 2012 at 5:29 am | Reply
    • Charlie

      Save it for the cross burning Adolf!

      May 24, 2012 at 10:40 am | Reply
    • Rbnlegend101

      Your God hates shrimp and lobsters too. Mine doesn't. You pray your way, and I'll pray mine. This issue isn't about church, it's about legal recognition of the marriage contract.

      May 24, 2012 at 1:59 pm | Reply
    • JC

      Yeah, but people do it anyway. The Bible also says they shouldn't steal or say the President is from Kenya, but you know what? They do it anyway. The Bible is against murder, but you know what? They do it anyway. The Bible says you will be sent to hell for eating shrimp, but you know what? I eat 'em anyway and to heck with that Bible. You ought to try it; shrimp I mean, not theft being g ay.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:37 pm | Reply
    • matt

      and – the US is NOT a theocracy – it has separation between church and state which make what the bible say 100% UNIMPORTANT, null and void!!!

      May 26, 2012 at 4:02 am | Reply
    • Josh

      Matthew 6:5-7

      5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."

      May 27, 2012 at 12:07 pm | Reply
  11. Martin

    I'm all for civil unions for gay couples but seriously folks, how far does this have to go before there is blowback?

    Gay weddings at disneyland? forcing teachers to teach a gay agenda in school? gay divorces, gay adoptions, the list goes on.

    Just like everthing else, if you're gay, fine, but sometimes you have to give up stuff to get what you want.

    May 23, 2012 at 7:45 pm | Reply
    • Todd in DC

      Because separate-but-equal worked so well for blacks. RIght?

      May 24, 2012 at 12:53 pm | Reply
    • Church of Suicidal

      Aside from "Treat us like everyone else," what are the other items on this "gay agenda" everyone keeps talking about. I've never had a copy of my own to read.

      May 24, 2012 at 5:17 pm | Reply
    • matt

      really Martin – try replacing 'gay' with 'black' and see if you think that is reasonable paragraph? no? I didn't think so either cause that makes you sound like a racist – with the word gay in there instead you jus sound like a bigoted asshat!

      May 26, 2012 at 4:04 am | Reply
  12. Goodforthegoose

    I see CNN is censoring responses again.

    May 23, 2012 at 7:58 pm | Reply
    • WHOSHARTED

      Oh, not at all. Say something in favor of gays. They'll most definitely post it...

      May 23, 2012 at 8:03 pm | Reply
      • MMMB

        Speak against Obama or gay marriage or make demand for bigamy and polygamy with reason and then CNN censors you say something nice and your comments are shown. Communism at its best

        May 23, 2012 at 9:08 pm |
      • sam stone

        MMMB: Communism? Are you daft?

        May 24, 2012 at 5:34 am |
      • Thin The Herd

        You idiots actually think somebody sits there in front of a screen and reads all of the posts ?
        Its a computer program that picks up certain key words,
        moron is not one of them.
        But you are.

        May 27, 2012 at 3:26 pm |
    • mr. butters

      Read the terms of service. They can delete anything they want...

      May 23, 2012 at 9:20 pm | Reply
    • JC

      It is a keyword blocker. Certain words will cause the whole post to fail. Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C, then post. If it vanishes, click reply again, Ctrl+V and edit the words. Look up CLBUTTIC if you need more info. You have a right to your opinion, no matter how dumb it is.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:54 pm | Reply
  13. WHOSHARTED

    Disney celebrates sodomy. That's it, Disney. Get 'em while they're young.

    That sound you hear is the late great Walt Disney rolling over in his grave...

    May 23, 2012 at 8:01 pm | Reply
    • sam stone

      Yeah, Walt Disney is the one to point to. Racist and anti-semite.....that is who we should emulate

      May 24, 2012 at 5:33 am | Reply
    • JC

      Disney is out to make money. They don't want to take sides.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:55 pm | Reply
    • Jadugara

      The Catholic Church celebrates the sodomy of choir boys... That's it Pope, get 'em while they're young...
      That sound you hear is Moses rolling around in his grave...

      See how that works? D O U C H E...

      May 25, 2012 at 4:10 am | Reply
    • chipndale

      Why do you breed?

      May 25, 2012 at 8:43 am | Reply
    • Thin The Herd

      Walt Disney was a 33rd degree mason.
      I dont think being gay would bother him.

      May 27, 2012 at 3:30 pm | Reply
  14. MMMB

    Liberals talk about evolution yet do not want true evolution only evolution that fits their narrative and gay marriage is a sterile form of marriage. Marriage isn't just about finances its about multiplying for the next generation and if the next generation isn't high enough you have 65 year olds working to death because Social Security no longer can pay for them.

    May 23, 2012 at 9:15 pm | Reply
    • gadflie

      MMMB, are you really that desperate? Exactly what do you think that this has to do with evolution? Do you actually think that if these people aren't allowed to marry that they will suddenly turn into breeders? If not, well, this is just neutral, neither good nor bad from an evolutionary standpoint.

      May 23, 2012 at 10:10 pm | Reply
    • sam stone

      Seriously, MMMB, do you feel that if gays are allowed to marry we are going to see a huge decrease in the number of births?

      May 24, 2012 at 5:35 am | Reply
    • Wow

      So then if a man and a woman cannot have a baby they should be forced to get divorced.

      May 24, 2012 at 2:31 pm | Reply
    • JC

      Another closet case who assumes if it's legal, everyone will do it because it's so attractive. Yuck, no. It's only going to be a small minority, trust me.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:57 pm | Reply
    • chipndale

      Now that's thinking ahead...

      May 25, 2012 at 8:42 am | Reply
    • matt

      actually marriage has nothing to do with procreation – that is S E X ! you don't need to be married to procreate – and by the sound of it, who ever procreated to produce you were related–closely!

      May 26, 2012 at 4:06 am | Reply
    • Jonquil

      "...'til menopause do us part..."

      May 26, 2012 at 9:45 am | Reply
  15. Jay Williams

    GNN blacklists those who have questioned gay rights – you will never be able to post again if you are anti-gay.

    May 23, 2012 at 9:18 pm | Reply
    • JC

      No, it's keywords being blocked, not your opinion. Use different words.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:58 pm | Reply
    • Church of Suicidal

      Ah, if only that were the case. I'd have to wade through so much less hate-filled cr@p.

      May 24, 2012 at 5:12 pm | Reply
  16. Dale

    Disneyland and Disney World, they have been gayafied for several years now, you can tell by their animated Disney channel and Disney movies.

    May 23, 2012 at 9:25 pm | Reply
    • ug

      And cnn loves the little perverts.

      May 23, 2012 at 9:47 pm | Reply
  17. Tracy

    You know it's one thing to sit and cram this subject down an adult's throat but
    do You have to use kids to do it too? Do they not think this could be harmful to
    them? Disneyland I thought was supposed to be a family place not a place of
    perverted fantasies. Mr. Disney has to be rolling in grave right about now as
    I don't think He ever imagined something like this would ever have happened
    in one of the parks He helped create to give a family a place to feel safe and
    secure at while building that familial bondage.

    Yes go on call Me a hater all You want but I will never ever agree that this is
    a so called normal union because it is not. It's about as normal as somebody
    having a problem with their so called gender and changing it just because they
    want to whine how they don't feel like a boy/girl. Too bad that's how You
    were born. Deal with it. Just because science has found a way to change
    it doesn't mean it's ok in the natural world setting. There is a reason why You
    were born the way You were and why We are born straight. It's so that we
    can keep our species alive and thriving. How can You do that if You have
    all these people doing this other than using that one magical word of 'science'
    to make it possible. It's just sick.

    May 23, 2012 at 10:23 pm | Reply
    • gadflie

      Tracy, if ol' Walt could make a buck from it, he would have been happy to officiate himself. And, from a "keeping our species alive and thriving standpoint" we would appreciate you never breeding.

      May 24, 2012 at 12:08 am | Reply
      • esmiranda

        I think the human race may just procreate and thrive itself into extinction due to dwindling natural resources – how ironic!

        May 26, 2012 at 4:13 pm |
    • sam stone

      "Disneyland I thought was supposed to be a family place not a place of perverted fantasies"

      Like animals talking?

      May 24, 2012 at 5:39 am | Reply
      • Sweetened Tea

        Bunch of furries, y'know?

        May 27, 2012 at 6:37 pm |
    • kevin

      But not everybody is born straight. They're just not. It's like saying everybody's eyes are naturally blue. They're not. I believe you honestly don't understand it, but perhaps it's time you try to acknowledge that it's okay that there are things you don't understand. And that just because you don't want to do something isn't a reason for disallowing others to do it. Gay people aren't any threat to you or children, at least no more a threat than straight people. Live and let live.

      May 24, 2012 at 12:26 pm | Reply
      • TRUTH BE TOLD

        Once technology is destroyed by so cataclysmic event ....I'd like to see how far LGBT will get with "lets make a baby" or "I was born this way" or "I think I want to be a boy/girl today" .......good luck with that.

        May 24, 2012 at 4:20 pm |
      • Jadugara

        Ha ha hahaaaaaaahhhh!!!! WOW TruthbeTold,...you are hilariously S T U P I D....

        May 25, 2012 at 4:14 am |
    • JC

      If you are straight, stop saying it's been crammed down your throat. You sound kinda . . .used . . . ugh.

      May 24, 2012 at 4:59 pm | Reply
    • matt

      harmful ? How exactly?? do you think that seeing gay people makes someone gay??? you really are an asshat!!

      May 26, 2012 at 4:07 am | Reply
    • esmiranda

      There are people who live and believe differently than you, Tracy. Deal with it!

      May 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm | Reply
    • Thin The Herd

      *** You know it's one thing to sit and cram this subject down an adult's throat but
      do You have to use kids to do it too? Do they not think this could be harmful to........

      1) Who is cramming this down your throat ?
      Its a story that "you" elected to open and read.

      2) Why is this even a story ?
      Because there is nothing wrong with being gay
      but there are those who refuse to believe it because of religion or lack of education.

      3) Children should be raised to understand the world around them, in a fair,safe and balanced view.
      Because you "hate" you think you have the right to raise your children to hate.
      Hate is NOT a family value.

      Tracy, i dont know or care how old you are, but you need an education.....badly.

      May 27, 2012 at 4:18 pm | Reply
  18. carl

    Deviant behavior is exactly that.... deviant. Gays are deviant.

    May 23, 2012 at 11:30 pm | Reply
    • ChrisNE

      Deviant behavior is a man beating his wife. Deviant behavior is the perverted ice cream truck pedophile preying on little children. What is NOT deviant behavior is two men married to each other raising a family! It doesn't matter what gender the two parents are, so long as the children have two parents to turn too when they have problems. That is NOT deviant, that is just human behavior!

      May 24, 2012 at 5:04 am | Reply
      • TRUTH BE TOLD

        Deviance, in a sociological context, describes actions or behaviors that violate social norms, including formally-enacted rules (e.g., crime),[1] as well as informal violations of social norms (e.g., rejecting folkways and mores). It is the purview of sociologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and criminologists to study how these norms are created, how they change over time and how they are enforced......try to read more please!!!!!

        May 24, 2012 at 4:22 pm |
    • sam stone

      as are left handed people, carl. what is your point?

      May 24, 2012 at 5:40 am | Reply
    • Rbnlegend101

      A "normal" man is 5 foot 9 inches tall, has brown hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. He has a 100 IQ, a C average in school, and is middle class. Everyone else is a deviant.

      May 24, 2012 at 2:03 pm | Reply
      • DJL

        Great retort, RBN!

        May 25, 2012 at 9:54 am |
      • Patrick

        Where I live, your normal man would be deviant.

        May 25, 2012 at 7:13 pm |
    • Norm

      That may be so........but deviant doesn't mean bad or wrong....just different or a "deviation" from the majority.
      Unless you're planning to rewrite the English language.

      May 24, 2012 at 3:34 pm | Reply
    • JC

      Gays are a natural part of humanity. My septum is deviated. Get a life.

      May 24, 2012 at 5:00 pm | Reply
    • Thin The Herd

      Sorry, i have to cut the lawn and get the grill ready.
      Dont have time to be deviant.
      My "gay" partner will be home soon, and his folks, and my sister and her
      husband are coming over with the kids for a cookout.

      Have a great memorial day people,
      remember the heroes !!!!

      May 27, 2012 at 4:23 pm | Reply
  19. brouhaha

    Gays make most people gag and vomit. It's a good thing they do it in the privacy of their bedrooms!

    May 23, 2012 at 11:40 pm | Reply
    • sam stone

      thinking a lot about gays, are ya?

      May 24, 2012 at 5:40 am | Reply
    • kevin

      Watching most straight couples couple would make most people gag and vomit, which is why it's good they do it in their bedrooms. I'm a married straight guy. I don't mind who gets physical with whom, as long as everybody involved is a consenting adult. It doesn't matter to me, and it shouldn't matter to you either.

      May 24, 2012 at 12:29 pm | Reply
      • cmnsense

        These r the kinds of replies that demonstrate the dangerous slippery slope the whole gay marriage issue is presenting. People do not understand that it opens up the door legally to all kinds of possible scenarios between any kind of consenting adults and yes even sibling (brother/brother, brother/sister, ..etc). Or r u gonna claim the moral right to tell them gay marriage is normal but sibling marriage is not? i see a new coin word in the horizon..siblingophobe..or animalophobe..

        May 24, 2012 at 2:04 pm |
      • Norm

        cmnsense...why does it concern you who a complete stranger pairs with?
        If these are your convictions then make sure you abide by them.
        Don't try to force them on someone else or you might end up being removed from the equation.
        Mind your own business or people might start to mind yours.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:38 pm |
      • Hadenuffyet

        Norm...except if it's your kids right..

        May 24, 2012 at 8:49 pm |
    • Church of Suicidal

      So how many hours a day would you say you spend thinking about what gay men do to each other in bed?

      May 24, 2012 at 5:08 pm | Reply
    • DeTamble

      Stop drooling on your keyboard.

      May 27, 2012 at 4:25 pm | Reply
  20. Rick

    "Ye who do bad things to gentle gays shall reap the harm that thee hast sown." HoeMowErectus 3:17

    May 24, 2012 at 2:34 am | Reply
  21. EmmanualVeritas

    All the spin, news propaganda and child recruitment won't change your fate. AIDS.

    May 24, 2012 at 8:54 am | Reply
    • Wow

      You are aware that straight people get AIDS too right?

      May 24, 2012 at 2:39 pm | Reply
    • Norm

      AIDS comes from having intimate relations with numerous unfamilair partners.
      Marriage should prevent that.
      Try using your head for more than a hat rack.

      May 24, 2012 at 3:40 pm | Reply
      • TRUTH BE TOLD

        The first recognised cases of AIDS occurred in the USA in the early 1980s (more about this period can be found on our History of AIDS page). A number of gay men in New York and California suddenly began to develop rare opportunistic infections and cancers that seemed stubbornly resistant to any treatment. At this time, AIDS did not yet have a name, but it quickly became obvious that all the men were suffering from a common syndrome.

        The discovery of HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, was made soon after. While some were initially resistant to acknowledge the connection (and indeed some remain so today), there is now clear evidence to prove that HIV causes AIDS. So, in order to find the source of AIDS, it is necessary to look for the origin of HIV, and find out how, when and where HIV first began to cause disease in humans. .........TRY TO READ MORE PLEASE!!!!!!!

        May 24, 2012 at 4:27 pm |
  22. bfd007

    What makes the GLTG people think they are special? They have the same rights as everyone else, it is not the rest of the world that is sick and twisted it is people that are GLTG that are sick and ill and if people had not been programmed into accepting this kind of sick behavior. Why is the media trying to make this country a passive bunch of spineless gutless bunch of wimps that question nothing, conform, no free thinking, no disliking anything or there is something wrong with them. GLTG people are ill and need help and need to be separated from our children they are plague and need to be wiped out before they help destroy this ounce great nation that is dying !

    May 24, 2012 at 9:22 am | Reply
    • NOT MY CHAIR

      you sir are the worst type of person, just filled with hate. i feel sorry for you and any offspring you may ever have.

      May 24, 2012 at 10:03 am | Reply
    • kevin

      If it weren't for Alan Turing, you'd be speaking German now. But people like you drove him to suicide. Read a book and learn something.

      May 24, 2012 at 12:31 pm | Reply
    • Norm

      Since Fox stopped allowing comments....these Foxtards have totally invaded every civil web site they can find.
      They all used to be confined to the Fox zoo....now they're all on the loose and terrorizing the internet.

      May 24, 2012 at 3:42 pm | Reply
  23. NOT MY CHAIR

    as the rest of the wold progresses forward America is trying to retreat

    May 24, 2012 at 10:01 am | Reply
  24. Hamlet

    I'm a GOP Conservative, Give the LGBT all the rights anyone else enjoys, all of them. Then can we stop hearing about who puts what where when and how? I could care less, don't agree with in morally but I also don't agree with dishonesty, disobedience, and defiance, these are seen in all people all the time.

    Just give the rights and then maybe we as a society can move on to important things and not people's partner choices

    May 24, 2012 at 10:36 am | Reply
    • kevin

      Can't disagree with that. You don't have to like everybody, but you can't just trample their rights because you dislike them.

      May 24, 2012 at 12:32 pm | Reply
    • Norm

      You sir are the old breed Conservative.
      The new generation could take some much needed lessons from you.

      May 24, 2012 at 3:44 pm | Reply
    • Church of Suicidal

      That just makes too much sense for today's Republican party. Bet you get branded a RINO a lot.

      May 24, 2012 at 5:03 pm | Reply
  25. Kev

    Hamlet has made probably the best comment here that there are more important things to focus on in life, and although I disagree with gay unions due to my religious beliefs, really there are more important things in life to solve.

    May 24, 2012 at 10:42 am | Reply
  26. KG

    Let's take a step back and look at the real issue here. One, gay people exist. You can't expect them to just roll under the rug becuase you don't like their lifestyle. Two. There is no perversion that Disney is exposing "our children" to. Three- you cannot use religion to justify your hate and intolerance. You are picking ONE Bible passage to justify your hatred. Do you put someone to death for working on the Sabbath? Oh, no, thought not. In case you forgot we live in America-where we can practice freedom of religion. Gay marraige should be a right because marriage exists in every religion and non-religion. Are you saying atheists and infertile couples shouldn't be able to marry? You don't want your children "exposed" to gay perversity? Stay in the house, never leave, never listen to the radio or watch TV. I am a proud parent of two children. I would never teach them to hate someone just because I didn't agree with their lifestyle. And I seem to remember as a child in Sunday School that "Jesus loves all the children, all the children of the world". I don't remember anything about "unless they're gay". Just saying

    May 24, 2012 at 11:12 am | Reply
    • Hamlet

      Agreed. As a Christian I know that God gave man free will, he gave the Bible as a reference to how to live in his image. But he gave free will to man to choose the path.

      For a Christian to deny free will to other men is raising themselves up above God IMO

      May 24, 2012 at 11:17 am | Reply
      • BY

        By this logic, then we shouldn't pass any laws, because it would be "denying free will". I'm afraid your theology needs work.

        May 24, 2012 at 11:28 am |
      • kevin

        @ BY – Poor argument. Laws are passed to protect some people from harming other peole or from infringing on their rights. Being gay, and gay marriage doesn't hurt anybody else. They're not asking that straight marriage be outlawed.

        May 24, 2012 at 12:35 pm |
      • Hamlet

        @by, You are mixing God's laws and man's laws. God gave man free will to follow his laws, but also says, give to God what is God's and give to Cesar what is Cesar's. I personally read this as the separation of God's laws and man's laws are clear.

        May 24, 2012 at 1:23 pm |
    • Apples to Oranges Comparison

      No, no, BY, what you are talking about is passing MAN'S laws and man does not grant free will as God does. Therefore, you are making an egregious apples to oranges comparison. So, I'm afraid it is YOUR analogy that needs work!

      May 24, 2012 at 11:49 am | Reply
      • BY

        You are starting with the Pelagian presumption of free will, which is not really Biblical. Man's "will" is in bondage. I agree with Luther in that no one truly has free-will except God.

        May 24, 2012 at 2:57 pm |
  27. BY

    so much for a family environment.....

    May 24, 2012 at 11:26 am | Reply
    • Certainly an All Family Environment

      But it IS a family environment, BY! There are Gay families there every day no doubt! And haven't you heard the song "We Are Family!" That is what diversity is all about. ALL families can go there! Wake up and smell the coffee of the twenty-first century already!

      May 24, 2012 at 11:38 am | Reply
      • Mattski

        Of all the cnn comments systems (and they have several for some dumb and technically backward reason), this is the most flakey one.

        May 24, 2012 at 11:58 am |
      • BY

        "We are family"? Really? I rest my case.

        May 24, 2012 at 3:00 pm |
  28. easyguy

    I wouldn't go so far as calling gay marriage progress. Some things should not be undone. I'm all for gay rights, buy gay marrige is blasphemy

    May 24, 2012 at 12:07 pm | Reply
    • Norm

      Gays should just start their own religion and get it over with.
      But then the government needs to give it the same privileges they do the religious ceremony between a man and a woman or none to either group.
      Anyone can start a religion....just ask Mitt Romney....

      May 24, 2012 at 3:47 pm | Reply
    • JWT

      Fortunately christian churches support and perform gay marriages.

      May 26, 2012 at 11:53 am | Reply
  29. Norm

    This coming from a mouse with only four fingers...........

    May 24, 2012 at 2:47 pm | Reply
  30. rob

    I guess bigotry isn't the sole province of the US.

    May 24, 2012 at 2:56 pm | Reply
  31. DOD

    Perverts

    May 24, 2012 at 3:24 pm | Reply
    • Norm

      I bet you can't wait until Fox allows commenting again.
      Poor thing.................must be awful..

      May 24, 2012 at 3:48 pm | Reply
      • beezers

        The only comments I ever saw on Fox were from liberals. Obviously you're the one reading Fox.

        May 27, 2012 at 5:03 pm |
  32. TRUTH BE TOLD

    Dear LGBT Community,
    The key word of the day is "preference"!! Not disease, birth right, race, religion, uncontrollable urge or any other label someone tries to attach to the LGBT Community. Be Bold, honest, and without deception. The only diversity LGBT has is the "Preference" the individualin the LGBT chooses lets not get it twisted. May if you show respect to yourselves and other people's choices your "preference will be respected". No one is taking the right of the LGBT to be LGBT. PLease stop the madness of the bulls%*t while perpetrating a fraud.

    May 24, 2012 at 4:04 pm | Reply
    • chipndale

      Yawn.......

      May 25, 2012 at 8:34 am | Reply
  33. ManMachine

    Mickey = Jesus

    May 24, 2012 at 4:53 pm | Reply
    • matt

      well at least I can go to disney land to SEE Mickey – when did anyone ever see jesus!

      May 26, 2012 at 4:16 am | Reply
  34. Hadenuffyet

    Beam me up Scotty , there's no intelligent life here..

    May 24, 2012 at 7:42 pm | Reply
  35. Dobro

    Sounds just like the U.S.

    May 24, 2012 at 9:45 pm | Reply
  36. Shawn

    So, had it been two men marrying would the park have requested that one wear a dress?

    May 24, 2012 at 10:12 pm | Reply
    • Mario

      You're a moron.

      May 25, 2012 at 12:45 am | Reply
  37. John

    Even Sodom thought itself an advanced nation. However, Someone had a different view.

    May 25, 2012 at 12:05 am | Reply
    • Mario

      The rest of the world does not owe it to you to bow down to your hateful ignorant religion.

      May 25, 2012 at 12:46 am | Reply
    • chipndale

      God smote Sodom because of their lack of being neighborly. Go get some biblical education. This is common knowledge.

      May 25, 2012 at 8:36 am | Reply
    • sam stone

      Ezekiel 16:49

      New International Version (NIV)

      49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

      May 25, 2012 at 9:06 am | Reply
  38. Mario

    I wish Disney would make an animated film for GLBT kids. It would be great to see a love story with two Gay princes falling in love. The villain could be a republican that hates seeing two GLBT people in love.

    May 25, 2012 at 12:44 am | Reply
  39. Joe

    Imagine Mickey with an Asian face. LOL

    May 25, 2012 at 4:03 am | Reply
  40. Everett Wallace

    why do you even allow abnormal people to come to the children and GRown folks play ground?

    May 25, 2012 at 7:16 am | Reply
    • chipndale

      To teach them grammatical correctness.

      May 25, 2012 at 8:37 am | Reply
  41. jdj

    If only we cared as much about the rights and feelings of the 98.3% of the world that is not caught up in this lifestyle...

    May 25, 2012 at 9:09 am | Reply
    • esmiranda

      How are the rights and feelings of the 98% jeopardized if gays are able to marry? The 98% will still be able to marry. Nothing changes for the 98%. The "feelings" argument is just ridiculous. I think you confuse "feelings" with "opinions." Why do you care so much what kind of legal arrangement total strangers are able to enter into? Is your own life that unstable and tenuous?

      May 26, 2012 at 4:30 pm | Reply
  42. Countryboy

    And this matters in the big scheme of things how? Why are we even talking out this particular issue when it is obviously not the largest/most pressing issue at this time. I really doubt that it will ever be the largest issue.

    May 25, 2012 at 9:39 am | Reply
    • matt

      why shouldn't we!! Where is it written that only the most pressing issue should be discussed!! If something is an issue or a problem it should be discussed.. you aren't the smartest kid in your 5th grade class, are you ?

      May 26, 2012 at 4:19 am | Reply
    • JWT

      Civil rights are always an important issue.

      May 26, 2012 at 11:49 am | Reply
  43. Oscar Pitchfork

    Why did Mickey Mouse divorce Minnie Mouse? Because she was F-ING GOOFY, MAN!!!

    May 25, 2012 at 10:34 am | Reply
  44. Johnny

    I think we are seeing the result of home schooling here in the US, these dipsh!ts are coming out of the word work, you mine as well be speaking in tongues cause I cannot understand retard or your logic.

    May 25, 2012 at 10:48 am | Reply
  45. Da'rrell

    Every fu*king day there is a story on CNN.com about this gay person came out or this gay person is marring that. E Fing nuff! What the hell do you people do scourer the gay pages of every magazine looking for some gay news to throw in our faces every freaking day. CNN has become the voice of the LGBT community and as far as I'm concerned they can have it. It not like CNN reports real news anymore anyway. Signing off for good now!

    May 25, 2012 at 11:35 am | Reply
    • esmiranda

      Maybe you shouldn't read the "gay news" stories honey, look how it upsets you. Thankfully you realize this now, good luck in your future endeavors, and also good luck avoiding those gays. They're everywhere, you know.

      May 26, 2012 at 4:37 pm | Reply
  46. William Pelegrini

    two women are not a family.
    two men are not a family.
    these men and women's behavior are a disorder.
    they took OUT of the DSM-IV based on political pressure and heavy dirty money.
    Stay away from our children
    your behavior is not natural, is bizarre and should be back to DSM-IV...(not to mention spirituality, religion)

    May 25, 2012 at 1:31 pm | Reply
    • matt

      trust me – we don't want your children – we like hot muscular strong men, and your kids are probably fat, stupid and ignorant like their daddy!!!

      May 26, 2012 at 4:20 am | Reply
    • esmiranda

      I understand your use of religion as a weapon; I find it interesting that you infer a grasp of spirituality.

      May 26, 2012 at 4:40 pm | Reply
  47. William

    At Disney? Really?

    May 25, 2012 at 2:06 pm | Reply
  48. Pilgrim

    The whole world has gone Mad

    May 25, 2012 at 3:31 pm | Reply
  49. Pilgrim

    If God does not judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gommorah. The god of this world (satan ) has blinded the eyes of those who accept all the sin this world has to offer, and practice every evil idea that comes along.
    Wake up people

    May 25, 2012 at 3:40 pm | Reply
    • matt

      ONE proof that god exists and we can talk – ONE scientific proof and "it says so in my bible", or "my pastor says so" or even worse "I KNOW IT" – neither are proofs of ANYTHING. God only exists in your strange head – religion is a disease and human kind will not evolve until there is no more religion in the world!!

      May 26, 2012 at 4:21 am | Reply
    • JWT

      There is no evil in this and your view of religion and life is yours and yours alone and never has and never will apply to other people.

      May 26, 2012 at 11:48 am | Reply
    • esmiranda

      It's funny you believe you have the right to tell God to apologize – to anyone, ever. Kinda full of yourself there, aren't you?

      May 26, 2012 at 4:42 pm | Reply
    • esmiranda

      It's counter intuitive that religious people find such evil joy in the thought of God punishing people for any reason, much like they consider God to be their own private henchman. Sick.

      May 26, 2012 at 4:46 pm | Reply
  50. TPN51

    OH BOY, Watch out now. From the folks that invented Adam and Steve, now Mickey and Nicky (The all loving, all caring, all forgiving, love the sinner hate the sin, full of crap Christians). They will beat this one to death. Good for you Disney, your in the 21st century. Hope to see you expand it to Florida and California. Maybe The Christians need to be put behind bob-wired fences like that preacher in NC quoted so eloquently in his of all day, Mothers day sermon.

    May 25, 2012 at 3:52 pm | Reply
  51. Adam

    I imagine Disney executives had a good conversation about whether this could hurt their brand. I'm glad they chose to respect and tolerate all couples that want to make a commitment to each other in their park. Since the younger generation appears to show greater tolerance for equal right than the older, this should be good for business.

    May 25, 2012 at 4:16 pm | Reply
  52. Adolf Oliver Busch

    I always thought Disney characters had certain non-gender specific characteristics, while Warner Bro's on the other hand were very stereotypical. Just an observation, talk amongst yourselves...............

    May 25, 2012 at 5:52 pm | Reply
  53. Ivan Bial

    I can't wait for the day, when a gay marriage is not a headline .

    May 25, 2012 at 6:55 pm | Reply
  54. DV

    Who's the bigot that decided the word marry and wedding must be placed in quotation marks if gays are involved?

    May 25, 2012 at 7:53 pm | Reply
  55. jimcolyer

    Obama and Biden should divorce their wives and marry each other.

    May 25, 2012 at 10:33 pm | Reply
  56. poorsoul

    Tsunami is coming again this time to Tokyo..

    May 25, 2012 at 11:10 pm | Reply
    • Patrick

      Why?
      How?

      May 25, 2012 at 11:28 pm | Reply
      • poorsoul

        Hey Patrick, are you a member of LGBT?

        May 26, 2012 at 12:15 am |
      • Patrick

        Hey as swhole, are you a moron?

        May 26, 2012 at 2:42 pm |
      • poorsoul

        Hey Patrick, can't answer the straight question huh? And it took you the whole day pondering my question?? You're a genius but can't figure out what is your gender...L? G? B? T?....

        May 26, 2012 at 9:35 pm |
  57. Jonquil

    The Catholic Church doesn't allow their clergy to marry eachother, have relations and procreate, so I don't understand those who think there's some basis in the argument that eventually, humans will no longer reproduce if gay people marry. Are we in danger of humans not reproducing or wanting to reproduce - is there any evidence of that, anywhere?

    May 26, 2012 at 10:27 am | Reply
  58. WHATEVER

    I've got no problem with gay marrage. I've just got a question. When 2 gay dudes get divorced who gets all the assets?

    May 26, 2012 at 11:23 am | Reply
  59. koza dereza

    Talk about child abuse Disney...and they certainly don't want it shoved down their throats at a theme park.

    No child wants to be raised by two Chaz Bonos. Just ask them. Every child deserves to have both a mother and father role model...which gay marriage precludes. Gay marriage is not just about two adults...and children's rights trump any imagined LGBT rights.

    Walt Disney is spinning in his grave no doubt.

    May 26, 2012 at 1:21 pm | Reply
  60. Johnjon

    "It's a small world after all!"

    May 26, 2012 at 2:45 pm | Reply
  61. NotSurprised

    Disney has a large proportion of gay staff, arists and designers. I would be surprised if disney wasn't forefront in having a progressive policy on gay marriage.

    May 26, 2012 at 5:11 pm | Reply
  62. Aida

    I think it's great that this took place.
    The way it's going now, it seems that in the future, gay marriage will be completely "normal"- and tomorrow's society should be taught to tolerate that.

    May 26, 2012 at 9:16 pm | Reply
  63. bill

    Someone please articulate why marriage is recognized by govt at all? "if two people love each other, blah blah" , great but why does the state have to endorse it and the taxpayer bear the burden of divorce courts and related nonsense? LGBT advocates say "the govt can not tell me who to love " , agree, but why is the govt opinion so important to you? if no legal state of marriage property rights, beneficiary designations, next of kin rights, child support and custody, and inheritance would happen as they do now for unmarried "partners". Religious people can enter into marriage contracts that can be arbitrated by religious tribunals whose decrees are enforceable as arbitration awards now, like with orthodox Jews, for example. Catholics have a "marriage tribunal" in every diocese now, for example. Then this will truly be a free country, where no one needs the backing of govt. to feel included or have their beliefs affirmed by a county clerk. Sorted.

    May 27, 2012 at 7:55 am | Reply
  64. .

    This is really a big deal for CNN.

    How's about reporting the REAL news, like the 85 million people who have given up all hope of finding employment in the Obama economy?

    Don't pay any attention to THAT, folks!

    It's just an inconvenient truth.

    May 27, 2012 at 8:17 am | Reply
  65. Fed Up

    gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay 85 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP LOOKING FOR WORK gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay MORE PEOPLE HAVE SLIPPED INTO POVERTY THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay PAY NO ATTENTION TO BARACK OBAMA'S FAILED PRESIDENCY gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay EVERY TAX PAYER OWES $115 THOUSAND DOLLARS gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay

    Go consummate your boyfriend all you want, Tinkerbell. I can't wait for the November election.

    May 27, 2012 at 1:02 pm | Reply
  66. nick

    OK. If it's about families of all types. How about families with one husband and multiple wives? Can they get married at disney too? Why are we still discriminating against plural marriages? If it is just about rights to marry whoever you love, why don't allow all kind of marriages. Let's just open the floodgates.

    May 27, 2012 at 2:20 pm | Reply
  67. donny

    weard weard weard weard weard weardos

    May 27, 2012 at 9:28 pm | Reply
  68. donny

    yes they need to talk bout jobs tired of hearing bout the gay thing,,,,,.need to get the country moving again

    May 27, 2012 at 9:30 pm | Reply
  69. social presence

    I enjoy, lead to I discovered exactly what I used to be having a look for. You've ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye

    September 9, 2012 at 4:30 pm | Reply
  70. Where to Eat At Disney

    I have learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much attempt you place to create any such excellent informative site.

    September 18, 2012 at 8:20 pm | Reply

Post a comment


 

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.