I don't believe that marriage should privilege people in couples over people who aren't in couples. I don't believe that marriage should be peoples' keys to things like health care or ability to see partners in the hospital or whether or not they get citizenship in this country.

I think most people are right there with you when they stop and think about it. There's just so much momentum in the other direction, but even Salt Lake City and Idaho recognize that rights traditionally associated only with marriage don't have to be, or shouldn't be.

I always say that marriage should be left to the churches and the government just gives out civil union certificates to partners. That way the government is out of the marriage business and only has the mechanism for tax purposes, etc. Universal healthcare would solve the need for marriage to gain health care, so let's hope Obama/Clinton follows through on their health care plans.

Additional point guys. My partner of 32 years (In October), I, one of my Hoosier Republican Ladies and her husband were having drinks in a restaurant in south Florida last year. Her husband has a BA in chemical engineering from Purdue, wife Masters in library science, my parter PhD in psychology, myself Masters Journalism/business admin. Not the dumbest table in the restaurant.

All at once, her husband takes his nose out of his scotch and announces, for no particular reason, that he is opposed to gay marriage on religious grounds. His wife, my friend, looks at the tablecloth. My partner, looks at the tablecloth. My partner is nearly 24 years older than I, and I responded:

"It is not that I particularly care about the mumbled words of a minister, but the presumption is when you bring your domestic partner (indicating my friend) into a hospital *anywhere* that you can make decisions in their best interest if they are unable to do so for themselves. That is what this is about, along with the interests of children, property and inheritance rights you take for granted that we have had to create an incorporation to duplicate."

My friend kicked her husband under the table, and he put his nose back into his scotch. When I was originally out, I spurned the idea of marriage, as a failed concept. When I found my partner I considered a "holy union," but thought that to be a pale imitation of a failed concept.

Gina, consider how lucky you are that your intelligent parents are arguing on the side of a Gay issue.