EQCA's Geoff Kors debates Andrew Pugno on CNN

[wraithnineseven]

Someone tell Pugno and the NOM pricks that when asking the question WWJD? The answer is not - give that fucking cunt a big pile of cash so he can oppress minorities. Bunch of fucking hypocrites.

[Permaglo]

I don't see how you can be "pro family" and be against gays and lesbians being able to marry. How about we encourage all people, no matter of their sexual orientation, to forms cohesive families?

Pugno is worried about all TWO of his witness's safety? How about the safety of the almost 20 witnesses against Prop 8? They're not worried. Why should the opposition's 2?

[janewishon]

This is the messaging that will repeal Prop 8 -- please EQCA, step up and lead the charge to repeal it in 2010!

[shopwreckin]

Marriage is for suckers. I personally feel that if gays want to be married and MISERABLE just like straights, then they should have that right to ruin an perfectly awesome single life.

The government shouldn't be in the marriage business in the first place. I support the libertarian solution to this manufactured wedge issue.

[compliancedoctor]

THE DAY IS COMING, these right wing, hypocritical butt wipes are going to have to become more christlike and stop justifying their own prejudices with the bible that does not speak about homosexuality. the folks that says it does, they are wrong. they are not scholars of the bible and they speak opinion and prejudice without even trying to understand the bible. biblically, we used to stone to death any woman that committed adultery. do we still do this? No, and the reason we don't?

[crazyaboutcompassion]

This has nothing to do with the Bible. This is about morals. I don't know where most people on this thread get their morals. Mine come from traditions, family, and the Bible. Some think it's morally ok to steal, cheat, lie, kill, rape, sell children, child prostitution. So because I have a moral issue with gay marriage I'm the bad guy. So we are debating whose morals are right? I don't have to agree with lifestyles that cause disease? I have gay friends that are now dead and gone from AIDS.

[popboy04]

hey dumbass, straight couples carry disease too, so go catch aids and die you fucking red neck, jesus freak!!!!!

[crazyaboutcompassion]

just because you have AIDS popboy04 doesn't mean you have to be so defensive. The only people I know that have AIDS are gay or bisexual. The normal couples I know, don't engage in activities that cause disease. If you have Christophobia maybe you should see a specialist and get some treatment along with a brain, since all you know how to do is throw slurs and call names. You are really immature and should ask your parents before posting comments on the internet.

[noinim]

Are you saying that straight people can't or don't catch sexually transmitted diseases? BOLOGNA! I know straight people, both male and female, who have been stricken with HIV, Herpes, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hepatitis, etc, all within the boundaries of a heterosexual relationship. Bottom line is one acquires these kinds of diseases from unprotected sexual contact. Read a book. And show some compassion. PERIOD.

[crazyaboutcompassion]

No, I'm not saying that. Anyone can get a disease. All I'm saying is that it's usually unsanitary and unsafe to practice a same sex lifestyle. Most gay men are promiscuous and are not committed to one sex partner, at least form what I've read. If both people in a straight marriage are only having sex with each other, they won't contract diseases. My wife and I will never get a STD. Safe sex is with one person. Moral people don't need to protect themselves, it's a safe lifestyle. I would agree.

[jayhl77]

@crazyaboutcompassion Single straight people are more promiscuous than married straight people. It is the institution of marriage that promotes monogamy. So, if you want people to lead safe, monogamous lifestyles, then you must support the institution of marriage for all people, gay or straight. I'm glad we're on the same side of this issue.

[noinim]

well said, jahl77! marriage is healthy and natural, regardless of one's sexual orientation.

[jelly17000]

Separate is not equal! Civil unions are tools of prejudice.

[WhatAboutUs]

I can't wait until gay marriage is legalized and this fat, biggot has to find something else to do with his time like go to a gym.

[crazyaboutcompassion]

@ KonataFanGrl this is not the place to display your brilliance in debate & yes since you're so intelligent it's "you're" lol

[tcplygrl6]

i agree with Geoff Kors

[EmeraldView]

Good for you, who gives a crap about what moronic actions you've taken?

[megasept]

@KonataFanGrl

actually it's "you're a moron". lol.

[Rayhawkclan]

I know it's not being put on youtube but I think if those who oppose gay marriage have nothing to hide under oath they should have no problem with a televised recording of their facts saying gay marriage is damaging to America. Why are you afraid? Aren't you right?

[OrangeCountyCarl]

Of course the bigots don't want it televised so the world can see they're members of a hate group.

[BonnieHalfElven]

Nice of both parties to have a civilized debate. I'm getting tired of watching people interrupt each other.

With conservative Ted Olsen leading this charge, I think there is a chance that Proposition 8 could be overturned.

One person's personal moral beliefs should not justify the denial of another person's rights. Prop 8 proponents portray themselves as the potential victims, which is hogwash. But so far it has worked.

[dquintanilla2]

Geoff did a phenomenol job putting credible concepts on how blocking gay marriage has multiple levels of affects on society. Andrew sounds like he is using vague excuses to say that gays are equal, sounds like there are no actual points to be made on his behalf. Let the cameras role in the courtroom and allow us to see what both sides have to say.

[RadRosa89]

We deserve our rights! There's so much that I can say about this issue, but I won't spam YouTube with it. The sad truth that same sex couples don't get the equal rights and different sex couples is just horrible. The way I see it is if same sex couples don't get their rights that neither should anyone else: women, African Americans, etc. Maybe we should go back to times when everything was segregated. If one class of citizen gets no rights then niether would any other class.. This isn't right..

[roybcorp]

Why are there 20 other countries that a gay couple can get married and not this country? The other countries arent falling apart, Canada, Spain, UK, Nepal. Why do gay couples have to go up north or to Mexico City? Im in a bi-national relationship have been for 9 years now and married in Canada, why cant I sponsor him into this country Ill tell you because of the Hating people like Pugno.

[noinim]

bravo!

[CarolSpeaks]

Cal Equality did a miserable job in the campaign. They wasted money on out of state consulatnts and many of us who tried to help the campaign were told to be "invisible". Cal Equality is great at marketing itself as a gay/lesbian rights organization but doesn't cut it when it comes to actually getting results. I am very discouraged to see the same old faces in the organization. I think PFLAG or another organization would do a much better job.

[noinim]

SO TRUE.

[CarolSpeaks]

@CarolSpeaks

[iloveJesus420]

yeah that anti-gay guy got pretty owned. oh christians and their lies.

[crazyaboutcompassion]

iloveJesus420, do you have a clue how ignorant it is to fight for equal rights in marriage and not fight for EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL??? I'm not Mormon or Muslim, but they want to marry multiple partners...why can't they?? Why can't NAMBLA have men and boys who have mutually consensual relationships get married??? ...oh the morons that don't use their brain when they fight for their cause.

[Lokifan13]

Muslims do *not* want to marry mutiple partners. That's a very ignorant thing to say.

[crazyaboutcompassion]

Muhammad had 9 wives moron. Don't post comments if you don't know what you're talking about. The Qur'an speaks of polygamy - their law says they can have 4 wives.

[Lokifan13]

Yes, he did. Mohammed having nine wives != Muslims wanting to marry mutiple partners. Mohammed's wives were mostly war widows; he married them to save them from poverty. Some Muslims are/want to have more than one wife, but not all - polygamy's illegal in Tunisia, a predominantly Muslim country. Islam isn't one monolothic thing where everybody's the same.

[crazyaboutcompassion]

I never said all Muslims want polygamy. Polygamy isn't outlawed in all predominantly Muslim countries. It is accepted in certain Muslim groups...just as Mormon's (a twisted branch of Christianity) accepts polygamy as well. I wouldn't say that all Mormon's want polygamy either. That was my point. In support of EQUALITY, there are people who want other modes of marriage besides just sexual preference.what will happen when they want "EQUAL rights"? Will you say yes to those minorities to be fair?

[Lokifan13]

This isa strawman. I'm English. In the UK gay marriage has been legal for two years, and none of these scare-tactic-scenarios have come to pass - nor have they in the other countries that have legalised gay marriage. I'd also note that since we're having this conversation, clearly various kinds of equality do not automatically follow each other, or interracial marriage would have led to gay marriage already.

[noinim]

IF NO HARM IS DONE THEN WHAT'S THE DAMN PROBLEM?! I don't take issue with those wishing to have multiple partners; this kind of relationship does harm to no one. Incest and pedophilia, on the other hand, ARE HARMFUL to children, making these kinds of relationships immoral. Now, if a gay couple fall in love, then decide to marry and adopt a parent-less child....... WHO THE HELL ARE THEY HARMING? Please enlighten me, dear compassionate one...

[nbwulf]

Excellent work.

Cheers... J.

[leprekon1321]

Geoff dominated... Truth these people spread lies in 30 second commercials yet are afraid to be heard under oath.. good quote from yesterday "speculation in no way justifies discrimination" prop 8 has no argument at all

[crazyaboutcompassion]

State legislatures, drawing on tradition and appealing to the values of their constituents, have defined marriage in a very particular way.

Why isnt it discriminatory to Mormons and Muslims to require that it remain between two people? Isnt incestuous marriage also between consenting adults who have a right to equal protection of the laws?

Weak argument GEOFF.

[sweetbread]

Religions can have their own definitions of whatever they want, we're talking about the state's definition of marriage here. If the state is going to endorse the marriage between two people, it follows it should have to endorse a marriage between any two people.

[crazyaboutcompassion]

you say it should be between any two people. I don't mean to insult anyone, but you need to be educated. There is a reason marriage can't be between ANY TWO PEOPLE. There are people in the U.S. who want to marry children. They shouldn't have that right. A brother and a sister shouldn't have the right to marry. Do you realize how much harm that causes. This is the problem with fighting for "EQUALITY"...there has to be a line that is drawn somewhere when people change what marriage is.

[iloveJesus420]

lol jumping to extreme conclusions. Christians have been doing that a lot in the gay marriage debates. It's an incredibly weak argument. Yes, treating gays like equal people will cause the world to fall apart? listen to yourself.

[crazyaboutcompassion]

extreme? I would say that demanding gay marriage is extreme. Less than 3% of the population is gay. the voting public doesn't want it. You probably get a kick out of writing your comments :) I'm not angry - I'm trying to provide some reason and clear debate. Answer the question, honestly: Should we be voting that it's ok for pedefilia? There is a minority group that wants this. Since you are for the minority (the extreme) you should be joining NAMBLA. Other countries allow children to marry.

[Permaglo]

@crazyaboutcompassion Where are all these people fighting for polygamy, pedophilia and incest? The only ones I hear mention it are the ones against same-sex marriage. It provides them a distraction because they know no rational reason exists to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Incidentally, persons under 18 CAN get married in some states with their parents' permission. Otherwise, children cannot provide consent for marriage, just like they can't purchase cigarettes or drive a car.

[sweetbread]

@crazyaboutcompassion

Alright, it should be between any two consenting people where there's not inherent medical risk to potential children. Equating consenting adults with pedophiles and incest is a complete fallacy.

[Permaglo]

@crazyaboutcompassion Last I heard, Mormons and Muslims can marry one person that they love. First cousins can marry in about half the states in the U.S. Gays and lesbians cannot marry ANYONE they fall in love with, at least 45 of the 50 states.

[crazyaboutcompassion]

Did you read what I wrote? Why can't someone marry three people, as Mormon's believe? If they all consent and all love each other. Why isn't this "EQUAL" rights movement for ALL types of relationships? My point is that the marriage definition is more than just about a man & a woman. Polygamy & Incest are just two more groups that want equal rights.

[coyoteandbear]

Thank you for the clear and firm statements. Work well done!

[Kennybear]

Thank you Geoff for your efforts to protect our rights, and a special thanks for mentioning the plight of bi-national couples.

[JelloShotz00]

Very well spoken Geoff!!!

[deepdrewboo]

Andrew had no rational explanations for CNN - Is this a good representation of his performance in court? I wonder what value he adds to the defense of Prop 8.

[Azlaier]

I love you, Geoff!!

Andrew, or whomever that bigot's name was, was just using the same recycled arguments that we've all heard a million times. God damn those guys are like broken records lol.

Bigotry will never win; love will prevail! No on h8!

[MacMorrighan]

Brilliant debate Geoff! Much better than I have heard previously on CNN when groups are debating the likes of Maggie Gallagher and she always seems to come off as "the Victor"! 'Course, they always seemed to give her the "final word".

[bbbbmer]

what's weird is that andrew pugno is a deeply closeted gay guy...typically using his republican politics as a cover... he's nothing but a self loathing hypocrite arguing speciously....basically he's a goddam liar...

[dilatedjayou]

so what is this guy's deal anyway?? doesn't he seem a 1001 to 1 underdog in this court trial/>??