Congratulations, New Jerseyians!

OMG, Nancy, that's the date of our anniversary too! :rockon:How cool! We didn't even plan it that way, it just so happened that everything fell into place on my favorite holiday. :D And we already voted, we always mail ours in early after a thorough reading of the propositions.

15 years, Sho, that's so awesome! That'll be us someday too. :D Thanks guys!

Sheree, this is exactly what I've been wanting to see - a clear listing of the civil/legal issues involved outside the emotional response a lot of society goes for over this issue - thanks hon!

You know I don't expect anyone to agree or support my daughter other than those that know and love her (though why another adult would think they have the right to agree or not agree with another adult's personal life is still beyond me LOL). Anyway.....again Akiva you have my deepest respect for your participation in this thread...Sheree thank you for clearly stating the legal issues involved....Nancy you've been in a loving relationship for 8 years, you have every right to be proud of that in this day of disposable relationships (hetrosexual divorce rates being what over 50% these days folks, so we really have no reason to believe we know it all about how to live in a committed relationship anymore than anyone else does).

Maybe some of you will think I'm not a good mother because I easily accept that my daughter is gay. Here's a few reasons....firstly because I'm her mother - I may be a lot of things to her but I'm still only a woman and a mom, not someone who decides her sexuality for her - I don't feel I have that right. This brings up the next thing, this is NOT all about sex anyways. Why that part is focused on for gay couples when it's not even something people automatically judge in a straight couple? So what if their body parts are this way or that way...they still pay their gas bill just like we straight folk do, they squabble like other couples, they take out the garbage, go to work, live, love, laugh and struggle along....just the rest of us. For heaven's sakes, why do people judge a gay couple's relationship based on what they do in their private lives....sorry but folks to me that's just plain rude and intrusive. Would you like someone to judge you do that way as being the biggest factor in the validity of your personal relationship? I know I sure wouldn't.

I watched my child struggle for a lot of years and I was unaware of why she was in so much pain. Then I watched this beautiful young woman I birthed find the inner strength to come out. To stop trying to fit a mold that she was never born to fit. To blossom and find love and companionship with a young woman I think of as daughter of my heart. I watched my daughter smile and learn what it is to be in love. I watched her finally able to focus on her life goals because she was being true to herself at last. Should I have reacted with horror that the person she fell in love with has a female body and not a male one? How awful would I have been as a mother and a woman to want my daughter to go back to being conflicted and sad just to satisfy what society says is "normal". I raised her to believe that men and women were equal....now I should say...."oh except as a life partner...then men are better"...sorry folks...I'm just not that two faced. I don't look at their relationship as being a gay one, it's just two young people building a relationship just like all of us, straight or gay, go through in our 20's...no better...no worse. Love is so very much more than our sexuality. Love and committment never works if that's all it is based on so why judge it so much on just that when it comes to same sex couples.

Sorry this post is so long but I hope if any of you have a child that comes to you...scared you will reject them....scared society will judge and hate them...please just remember this last part if nothing else. As a parent I am so very proud of my daughter...not because she is gay...not despite the fact that she is gay...because simply...she is Kate....not my "gay" daughter...just my Kate as she's been since the first time I held her at birth and that's more than enough for me. I pray that as a parent, it would be enough for any of you.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Maybe some of you will think I'm not a good mother because I easily accept that my daughter is gay.

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Joanna, I don't think you're a good mother - I think you're a WONDERFUL mother for recognizing your daughter as a whole person and fully accepting her. Your story made me really happy, having seen mothers who outright reject their children for such a trifling thing as whose parts they prefer to have their parts around.

my mother loves me and everything I do, and fully supports me living with my boyfriend, giving up university for awhile, and a lot of things "traditional" moms get upset about... my mom is an awesome lady just like you! In our society, your daughter must feel luckier to have you than I do to have my mom :)

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Originally Posted by ECLARK

Mousch, your boy friend may have had a good plan? :eek:


Jamie, so sorry if I offended you or your people? :P

These are just my twisted opinions, not meant to piss anyone off. :)

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I like your twisted points of view!!:carrot:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

I like your twisted points of view!!:carrot:

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Well, my bofriend sure doesn't anymore. So I'll keep holding out :)

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Originally Posted by mousch

Well, my bofriend sure doesn't anymore. So I'll keep holding out :)

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it was joke from along time ago. LOL! Between me and Ed. I wounder if he gets it.

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Originally Posted by stangs13

it was joke from along time ago. LOL! Between me and Ed. I wounder if he gets it.

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Justin,

Stop trying to stoke the flames in what is an already contentious topic.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Justin,

Stop trying to stoke the flames in what is an already contentious topic.

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Ok, I wasnt it was between me and Ed not anyone else.

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Originally Posted by stangs13

Ok, I wasnt it was between me and Ed not anyone else.

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It was 24 posts prior to when you referenced it.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

It was 24 posts prior to when you referenced it.

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Sorry. I missed that part of it.