Marriage...Gay and Straight

I want to start out by saying that I am a Christian. But not everyone in this country is, and even those who are may have different beliefs from mine. That's ok.

So New York is next to legalize gay marriage. GOOD. Now when is the rest of the country going to realize that there is a difference between civil marriage and religious marriage, and give a huge percentage of the citizens of this nation the same rights that the religious people have? Committed partners should have the right to be carried on health care plans, and any other rights that married people have,  and it shouldn't matter whether they are married in a church or in a civil ceremony and it shouldn't matter who wore the dress, or whether ANYbody wore the dress. Commitment is what makes a marriage.

I am close to someone who has been in a committed gay relationship for going on 40 years. They have raised children. They are married, in my opinion.

I have a niece who is a proud lesbian. She has a wife. They are committed to each other. That's a marriage. In my opinion.

Yes, I've read my Bible. And I don't see anything that tells me that being gay keeps you out of Heaven, any more than I see anything that tells me that being straight gets you in.

The Bible tells us to Love One Another. I don't believe that God makes mistakes. I believe that we are each made the way we are for a reason, whether we are straight or gay or bi or trans. There's a reason for it.

So, to sum up my humble opinion, it's time for the government to step out of consenting adults' bedrooms and let people love one another, no matter who they are.