"A survey conducted earlier this year by Fabrizio McLaughlin and The Schapiro Group for Equality Virginia, the state's gay rights lobby" ...

Are you really putting a lot of faith in a survey conducted by the group most likely to benefit from the given results?

If som I have another survey for you: I conducted a survey and determined that 85% of the US population wants to give me $100 apiece.

You can all start sending me the money now ...

I am independent and voted for W and his dad. I refused to vote for Clinton not because of his politics but ebcasue he reminded of a combo of a used car salesman and TV preacher. However I cant see myself voting for any of the current Dems for prez. Maybe Bill Richardson. And on the otherside maybe The Republican party in Va needs to get a clue. Maybe the punk from L&O. Guilani has to many Mafia ties, Mccain too old. Romney changes his vies depending on which way the wind is blowing from the outhouse. Clinton wasnt that bad. I voted for Warner and Kaine for gov but voted for Allen for Senator. There are no smart Marines and Webb was the wrose SECNAV ever. We dont need Republican candidates for gov who home school there kids and who are so conservative that Sean Hannity look liberal. This type of candidate plays well in rest of VA but you already have that vote. And sorry allowing gays to marry will not ruin the American family there is no causal relationship. If gay couples want to marry fine but it only makes the bottom feeding scum sucking lawyers richer!

State support for homosexuals, transgender, and other sexually confused people, and the suggestion that a woman like Hillary would ever be elected to the presidency, are examples of why we are hated as a nation.

State support for homosexuals, transgender, and other sexually confused people, and the suggestion that a woman like Hillary would ever be elected to the presidency, are examples of why we are hated as a nation.

State support for homosexuals, transgender, and other sexually confused people, and the suggestion that a woman like Hillary would ever be elected to the presidency, are examples of why we are hated as a nation.

State support for homosexuals, transgender, and other sexually confused people, and the suggestion that a woman like Hillary would ever be elected to the presidency, are examples of why we are hated as a nation.

State support for homosexuals, transgender, and other sexually confused people, and the suggestion that a woman like Hillary would ever be elected to the presidency, are examples of why we are hated as a nation.

Inability to post a single comment is the reason you are hated by me.

No Floyd, we are hated because of close-minded individuals like yourself.

Regardless of anyone's "views," gays are still people deserving of the same basic rights as their straight counterparts. I can't imagine how devastating it would be to have been in a stable, long term relationship only to be denied basic rights when a partner falls ill.

I was very disappointed in my fellow Virginians last fall and I only hope that even if the damage to gay rights in this state can't be undone anytime soon, we can move on to more important electoral issues, such as transportation mentioned above.

I would hope that regardless of political affiliation or religious views, everyone can see that an issue such as transportation affects all of us every day, in a very real way.

I would rather that our country be hated for allowing freedom and promoting civil liberties than revered for oppression and discriminatory acts. Furthermore, who hates us for these reasons? Any countries that are enlightened models of how to treat human beings? I doubt it. Rather, we should follow the lead of more openminded societies, and err on the side of freedom.

Actually the legal means to have a partner (or anybody) else make medical decisions has always existed in every state in the union.

It is called a medical power of attorney. For some reason that isn't being used.

Maybe there is another agenda in play here?

Medical powers of attorney aren't always honored (if people remember to carry them 24/7, which is impractical at best - do straight married couples have to carry their marriage license with them at all times?), especially if family members show up. The broad language of the amendment in Virginia calls those arrangements into question in any case with the command that the Commonwealth "shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage." There's every chance that a hospital will decline to honor a medical power of attorney for co-habiting adults of the same or opposite sex because of that language, which then leaves the couple in limbo. What are they supposed to do then?

Sounds like Floyd Rongonski has a lot of pent-up self-hatred.

But, unlike Floyd, I will not repeat myself.

Floyd is a good example of the dangerous undercurrent of bigotry that pollutes this country. People like him are unable to appreciate the differences between people, thus he goes around believing that people who have a different sexual orientation than he does are somehow "confused."

I agree with others who said that people like Floyd are far more often the reason we are hated as a nation by other enlightened cultures. The only foreign entities who hate us BECAUSE of our tolerance are those who are even more intolerant. The ones who fly planes into buildings.

Floyd, you had better take a good look in the mirror before you call someone else confused. It's people with attitudes like yours that make the rest of us look bad. It only takes one idiot...........

Tip of the day: Don't be a Floyd.

Floyd Rongonski was one of the participants in the famous study in which rabid homophobes were shown gay porn. Floyd's reaction to the gay porn can be summed up in two words: "TEN HUT!"

I wanted to respond to something from today's chat, but didn't get a chance to. Marc asked what's the difference between a business not serving a customer due to political discrimination, and bus drivers telling people to go to the back, or "separate but equal" schooling situations.

The difference is that one scenario is public sector, and the other is private. Governments exist to serve everyone; that's what it's created for, and in order to be effective, government must aspire to be as non-discriminatory as possible.

But private businesses exist only to make money. While it's financially in their best interest not to discriminate, they don't have the same obligations as governments and government services. Also, the customer does have the option of choosing a different store. You don't have the option of choosing a different city bus, or, in the case of separate-but-equal, choosing a different public school system.

A chatter: the problem is that places like restaurants etc were deemed to be public accomodations and required by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to not discriminate on the basis of race, etc.

If no restaurants in a town would serve black people, there is no "different store."

so the analogy to back of the bus is indeed a good one.

So, basically, Floyd, you're saying that they hate us for our freedoms... and that they're right to do so?

Floyd, if you changed "we are" to "the United States is," your statement could have come direct from Al Qaeda.

Let's see what vile Floyd has spewed on other blogs:

http://loserwithsocks.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/lsus-womens-coach-resigns/

"Apparently, many people who are just fine with gays having the right to visit a partner draw the line at letting that partner help an incapacitated loved one get the proper care." I find that divide to be strange. How would you explain it?

I don't see how gays get married have any impact on my life or on the lives of other straight people.

Sorry for the error. The word in the last sentence should be HAS, not HAVE.

SoMD has is correct. There is indeed another agenda not limited to the narrow confines of those who abuse freedom to choose to do what they want simply because it feels good. The pleasure received becomes the justification for the license they take. Not saying it's right or wrong, however, there always unintended consequences to consider.

"F* R* was one of the participants in the famous study in which rabid homophobes were shown gay porn. F*'s reaction to the gay porn can be summed up in two words: "TEN HUT!""

Oh yes. It's a basic truism that the more worked up the homophobe, the more they're hiding in the closet. Ted Haggerty, Roy Cohn...the list goes on and on.

Sorry Dr NYC that you sensibilities were offended. Unfortunatley, your rabid remarks, which may be considered by some as an indication of your proclivities, does not pass the smell test.

Floyds intransigent state of mind probably stems from his inability to even remotely accept the fact that he is truely out of touch with the people that he comes into contact with on a daily basis. He hasn't a clue as to who is gay/lesbian and who is straight and that apparently disturbs him.

Intransigence? Perhaps the same regrets could be made for the countless millions of abortions with human DNA, the general climate of promiscuity, and homosexuality. It is tolerance of the same, which have contributed to the decay of the moral fabric of this country. Yeah, I know dolphins are people too!

Can someone please tell me how the government or hospital should be able to regulate who can visit someone in the hospital? It should be the decision of the patient! Who cares if the next person doesn't "approve"! Everyone is entitled to the same personal liberties. You cannot create a two-tiered system of rights for certain people. We claim to be a shining example of freedom and democracy, but what do we have to show for it? Opposing D.C. voting rights? Passing so-called marraige amendments? Going to Iraq when our own country has so many problems?