yes.....defined by me as a man and a woman. And does not matter what you say or how you paint it, the only definition I accept is a man and a woman

I, and my wife, care what name you give it...for two anyway...perhaps nobody else does. The rights of which you speak exist for MARRIAGE. The issue is whether the current definition of marriage be changed.

I did not get married for income tax protection. I did not get married for any of the reasons being given. NINE years ago, the very act of homosexuality was illegal. This does mean, as I am sure you and others will take it, that I want any rights taken away from anyone. Let me say that again....what you do in your bedroom or whom you chose to see and live with is absolutely none of my business. I didnt ask for any of this...I actually hate to type this, but I am trying to be honest.

I do not want to take away anyones rights....they do not have those rights now and they are bringing in to our law something that does not exist, thus I am taking NOTHING AWAY.

Look, to you and others I look like a bigot, a hate monger..whatever you choose to call me.....I believe that marriage is between a man and a women. I, nor anyone else is denying rights. A group is asking us to change this definition to give them rights. That is how I frame the question.

Nobody, certainly not me, is taking anything AWAY. I am being asked to agree to GIVE up my definition (which heretofore had existed for all mankind) and GIVE rights that heretofore were not there, but they were NEVER taken away.

I will not give up my beliefs....I will live the law...that is part of living in this country...majority rules or something like that...I accept that as a US citizen, but when they legalize marijuana that does not mean I condone it....but with it they will get rights that do not exist today. Probably a poor comparison but nonetheless makes the point.

Again, I see NOTHING being denied. I see something being asked for.

I know my many gay friends understand what I am saying and by the way a number of them do not agree with a change in that definition and one fellow called to tell my wife and that which I thought was so cool. He said he respected our feelings and how and why we entered our marriage. He lives with a man and we visit often.

As someone who is political and active in many forums and groups relative to this subject, I had to make a decision. Hide from how I feel and not opine at all...or when asked be honest and not be hypocritical about it. I have done the latter in each case where it came up and most, if not all totally understand my feelings. It is not comfortable and I hope you understand that.