[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

No one claimed that these were true - however, these things are neither necessary nor sufficient for a comparison to be made.

That is because to claim that gays have suffered the exact same as Blacks in this country is a weak argument, at best.

Maybe our impasse is one of being far too literal. To use the phrase "separate but equal" is simply to reference the fact that, in practice and in theory, any sort of bifurcation or double standard has been shown to be unlawful and discriminatory. Does that make more sense?

You're the one who's trying to make it literal by posting the picture that you did. And again, I disagree. I don't see where there is any double standard here.

No one is claiming any of these things - we're only claiming that, for years, the court system in the United States has determined that the right to marry is, indeed, a constitutionally-given right - as is the right to vote, the right to liberty and property, and a host of others.

Again, you're not going to convince me that this is a valid argument.

I believe someone smarter than me once said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere - this is the part you're missing when you view my comparison, to my mind.

I don't see the injustice. I just don't.

Nope, they just earn less, get fired more, get targeted for crimes based on their minority status, and lack fundamental rights under the law. So yeah - if you're comfortable with that, there's no discussion to be had.

Not from my perspective. The gays I know seem to earn more and get fired less. Where do you live? Maybe you should move.

This is the same logic that was used to prevent blacks from voting decades ago.

Actually, you've validated the comparison implicitly - banning gay marriage is "restoring" a right to gays that has been unilaterally denied under false pretense. I've never owned a gun, but that doesn't mean I forfeit my Constitutional right to do so.

Blacks were denied the right to vote because in part we were seen as 'less than human, lacking the mental capacity to make important decisions'. I've never gotten the feeling that gays have had to suffer that type of injustice.