[lanabanana73]

I am thrilled for Jim and his partner. My youngest son came out when he was 16. I was devastated! I had to go through an entire grieving process, grieving those dreams I had for my son that would not come to pass. I also made a point of finding as many gay men as possible and hearing their stories, because I wanted to understand. That changed my heart. I came to the realization that gays/lesbians are not awful people, as I had been taught......a danger to the traditional family. They are just like you and me! Gay/lesian couples lead boring lives just like us heterosexual couples!

A change of heart came to my husband one day when he had been through a particularly trying experience and when he had a chance to slip away and call me, as soon as he heard my voice, he broke down and cried....telling me of his day. He said that on his way home he was pondering what it meant to him to have me in his life.....a person with whom he knew he could share EVERYTHING, knowing he was safe. He had an epiphany and realized that all humans deserve to have someone in their lives with whom they feel so safe and that he wanted that kind of relationship for all of his children, including his gay son!

Marriage builds strong family units. I see no reason to deny gay people the opportunity to build family units. That makes for a stronger society and benefits all of us. More casseroles at the neighborhood pot lucks!

Just my two cents.......