" It's nice to hear that others are able to support those in California who want to get married, it doesn't matter who they are. Good job you guys! "

" Tapatio: I agree. North Idaho has some great people.

I have been able to have some warm and productive conversations about the issue with locals one on one. I am going to continue that. I am also adding my 2 cents to the Daily Bee every chance I get. The locals need to hear it and hear it and hear it until they get use to it.

Now is the time to speak up!

NJ is seriously grappling with same sex marriage now too. Something will probably come out soon about that.

Soon maybe little gay kids sitting in classrooms in Sandpoint will not have to go through what we had to go through as kids. That is my goal. So gay kids can have full, prideful lives.

I saw the movie Milk over the week end. Cried all the way through it.

I am here to recruit you to stand up for your human rights!!!!!!! "

" Hey Bill...North idaho is a great place to live...Yes, I am the one from WC...There are some really wonderful and warm people here. As with any place, we have our share of ignorant people expressing their intollerence for anything they have an irrational fear of...we call it homophobia here too. "

" Tapatio: I think I know you. You from WC? Hope living in NI is working out for you. "

" To: "get real"...you refer to "mental delusion" and "professional help". Your postings are representative of a profound level of ignorance regarding equal rights for all tax paying, law abiding citizens. "

" get real: I think you need to get real.
Let's vote on your marriage and see if we can take that away.
All gay people want are their human rights and they are going to get them. Maybe not right now but it is coming and you better prepare yourself. "

" If you are thinking that gay folk need extra "rights" or special priviledges that marriage affords and that the limited benifits of a legal partmership are not good enough for them, it is true they might have some extra benefit if they were "legally married" that they can not obtain now. So what? There are lots of people that would like extra benefits, but that is no reason to change the defination of marriage and make a mockery of marriage so that they can obtain some special monetary benefit. Or get some loophole in child protection laws. Sorry but I love everyone and hope these serious ill people will seek real professional help that offers them treatment instead of useless compassion. "

" Marriage is a rituial union that establishs legal rights and responsiblities between a man and a woman. It is based on moral ideals of a religious nature, and natural laws that dictate it be between a man and a woman as that is the way nature brings forth children. The right of Gay people to form a legal partnership (without forming a marriage) is a way they can also participate in forming legal unions that will give them certain legal rights and responsiblities within the law. The FACT is that they are not a man and a woman so they can never be "married" no matter how much they desire that delusion, any law that gives them a false belief they are "married" is just supporting their mental delusion and responsible citizens should be ashamed the society has degenerated so far that neglects to offer treatment for this serious mental illness. "

" Its not a right.Marriage is defined for thousands of years as one man one women all the people who are married do not want it redefined!!!!for the sake of their children and not having to explain how 2 men or 2 women cannot procreate. everything God creates can procreate.anyone with a distorted identity needs Gods healing not marriage "

" This is so sick. It seems that it would be common sense. You marry who you love. There should be no defining who you can love, and how you can love them. It's amazing to me that our civilization even continues to exist with all of the ignorance and hate that is out there. Everyone uses their God as an excuse for their actions - why don't you just be honest with yourself and say "I don't like it because it's not what I believe" 'cause you are too chicken-$hit to have a personal view - that's my problem with most religeon these days is that it's not something that you value and you believe, it's something that you use to support your propaganda...it's your excuse for why you act the way that you do. I don't want any part of a God that doesn't accept people for what they are....He created us all right? No matter our shape, size, color or sexual orientation....Take it up with him.... "

" This is far from over.

On Wednesday the California Supreme agreed to look at the law suits brought against prop 8. The time line looks that they will make their decision by June 09.

And the thousands and thousands of gay couples married in California will move around this country demanding their rights.

Again, this is far from over.

Unbelievably, Arkansas voted in ban on gays adopting children.

If we settle for less than equal, rights will be chipped away, eroded and eventually taken away.

And in doing this young gay people will grow up being told they are lesser people than straight ones.

Nothing less than total and equal rights. "

" If we live in a democracy, the "majority" of people have spoken, popular vote was counted. why can't we just let that be that.
By the way we live in a Democratic Republic, not a democracy.
whats the saying, so goes California so goes the rest of the country. Californians have spoken. Guess there weren't as many ultra liberals as they thought. This protest/ralley to overturn what 'the people' voted
for should really read the 'laws' before they make an informed opinion. again it was about the wording, not about antigay marriage. We all do have equal rights, civil rights are different and we do pick and choose those. That is why we make ammendments. If they come up with better wording and make it more equal for non gay marriages and not a harrassing law for clergy then they should do it. "

" bigdee...no one has any intention of trashing "your sacred vow with your wife". I am sure you are quite capable of doing that yoursel (as many of your heterosexual 'buddies' have already demonstrated). And, if you are willing to rewrite all of the laws to afford commited same sex couples the same equal rights afforded heterosexual marriage...no problemo...."Seperate but equal" never worked anyway...but you will find that out. "

" bigdee:

A marriage license is issued by the state, not by God. We are not asking to get married in a church.

Apparently you think your relationship is more valuable to you than my relationship is to me.

Separate but equal is not equal. "

" sandabbe: This is a democracy we live in. There has to be equal rights for all. You can't pick and choose who gets those rights. You can not vote away someone's rights.

If you want to live in a theocracy you should live in Iran.

The California Supreme Court will be weighing in on this soon. I am certain of the outcome.

If we are to go to Hell for being gay as God made us do we really need to be persecuted here on Earth, too? "

" As a Californian, It is interesting to see how widespread the gay marriage issue is. Maybe Idaho should put this measure on it's ballot!! Do you really think it would pass? Doubt it. To the gay people, here's my advice: LOOSE THE WORD MARRIAGE, and your problems would be over. Don't think for a minute I will let you TRASH my sacred vow with my wife. Come up with your own word for that kind of disfunctional relationship. All you have to do is call it a Cival Union, and you are there. You want this to be the new design for family's, then call it something else besides Marriage! "

" "sandabbe"...Christians get plenty of tolerance....Just keep your religion out of government....Believe it or not, some of us don't want to join your "club". "

" Why do Christians not get the same type of 'tolerance'? This was not a ban on gay marriage, it was set up to save 'traditional marriage' the wording in the 'gay marriage law' would have banned words like husband and wife. And could be taken to the extreme (heaven knows Californians love to to do that)and arrest clergy for saying those words. Would anyone be protesting about that? other than Christians?? I doubt it.
I had prominent gay celebrities calling my home urging me to vote yes on 8, why? because of the wording of the law that took thing too far!
All Californians have the same civil rights as long as your a legal resident or an illegal alien.
I am a born and raised southern Californian and used to love my state, till we gave everything away. Watch out Idaho there a lot of us(ex-CA's) up there and your state may be next(welfare to all), i'll be up there in a few years too already got my piece of Idaho, hope it stays the way it is so i'll love it there. "

" "Tolerance is giving to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself." - Robert Green Ingersoll "

" "Difference of opinion is helpful in religion." - Thomas Jefferson "

" Tolerance...at the very least. "

" To "oh my"....who wrote "protesting something that doesn't effect our state"....You poor soul, you haven't a clue,do you? "

" I want to say thank you to the kind people who were willing to take the risk to stand in solidarity with their gay friends. My partner and I were in Portland over the weekend and while there attended a rally in opposition to ballot measure 8. In Portland there were many hundreds of attendees and it felt inclusive and safe. Having been the victims of a hate crime here in Sandpoint a couple of years ago, safe is a very important thing.

The animosity that this issue has brought out is disheartening and sad. I really cannot understand what compels people to want to disenfranchise another person of a civil right. Whether you think of marriage as a religious right, or a civil right or whatever else, there are a great number of protections afforded it. I have personally witnessed partners being refused admittance to hospitals to attend to the needs and wishes of their dying lover because there was no legal recognition of their relationship. I have seen families who never really acknowledged their child's life or partner, come in AFTER the death of that child, and take over and force the remaining grieving partner to leave their home and belongings. And all too common is the inability of the remaining partner to legally inherit the remains of the mutually acquired estate. A very senior heterosexual person can legally marry a much younger spouse and then pass away. Anna Nicole Smith comes to mind. That younger spouse is instantly eligible to that seniors social security and without a prenuptial agreement the possibility of substantial inheritance rights. We have no survivorship rights to social security, or to the citizenship recognition of the relationships formed with partners met while traveling to other countries.

I know that some of these issues can be resolved with the help of a good lawyer and smart planning. But that requires a good deal of time and a lot of money. When we started down this path we were told that to get what a simple marriage license provides, we could expect to spend between five and ten thousand dollars, and much more if our estate has many complications.

We (speaking for my partner and myself) don't necessarily want a marriage license. All we want are the same LEGAL protections that would be granted to two teenagers with a bottle of tequila and a quicky trip to a drive through wedding booth in Vegas. The state might call that a civil union or whatever. It would be fine with us. The problem is as we learned from the civil rights struggles of the past, if one is called marriage and one is called civil unions it is truly separate but not equal. I feel the state has no right to grant marriages. The state should only be involved with the issuing of civil unions; period. Then if a couple has a religious preference, then they should be allowed to go to whatever church they subscribe to, and be bestowed with whatever marriage license, union, ceremony or whatever works for them and their religion.

We are NOT trying to destroy marriage. We are trying to celebrate it. We want to partake of this bond of compassion and the long term caring of another soul. I cannot imagine that seeing two people taking care of each other, no matter who they are, through the course of a lifetime can been seen as anything other than a role model. It amazes me that straight people, seeing how hard gay people are trying to have the right to be married, dont find more appreciation in their own marriage. I hope straight people work harder on keeping their own marriages together; dont jump in with a cavalier attitude and then move on when it gets tough. Now THAT would be the real way to protect marriage. I celebrate the relationships around me, my parents fifty plus years, my neighbors with over forty, and four gay couples we know that are also over forty years each.

What I took away from my Christian teachings of my youth was love and compassion.

Cant we all just get along? "

" News flash, I am not a red neck but the logic behind contesting something that doesn't effect our state isn't leads me to beleive that this is just something to give more attention to ones self. Most non gay people dont' flaunt thier relationship unless they are seeking attention, showing control over their significant other or just have bad manners. "

" I would like to know just what the hell are they protesting? "

" If you are wondering where the knuckle-draggers get their hateful ideas, just turn on your radio to 1400 am, like they do. Hate, fear and lies all day, every day. "

" The Catholic Church has it right, hate the sin not the sinner. You can be gay but you don't have to commit homosexual acts. Gays who CHOOSE to live a life of sin are in the Churches Law,comitting a mortal sin. God have mercy on them. "

" I drove past these people on Saturday and had no idea what they were doing.

After all protesters outside the courthouse is nothing new "

" Bill, that has to be one of the classiest comments I've seen on this website. Kudos. "

" I couldn't agree with Bill more. I grew up in Idaho and believe that most of the citizens there are very good and loving folk. I believe that most of the negative comments here and in other places come from a 'fear of the unknown', which makes me take personal responsibility for my part in this often heated debate. I feel that people who know gay individuals find that we really aren't something to be angry at or afraid of.

On the issue that Mr. Hale mentioned - there are many (not all) rights protected by civil union law. The problem is that gay couples are forced to work with lawyers to contract every circumstance while a marriage certificate grants rights that Bill noted in his comments. I've seen how ugly survivorship gets even with attempts made with civil unions. Also, lets not forget that it was only 41 years ago that the Supreme Court finally ruled in Loving v. Virginia that states (not churches) could not restrict marriage based on race. If Church and State are truly separate then a Church should be allowed their position on this issue but the State should not discriminate against segment of the population.

And finally to mmm: if you really "know child molesters who have been at it for 30 years" I hope that you have reported them to the authorities. "

" "Ashamed", please don't be "embarrassed" to call Sandpoint your home town. My partner and I have been together for over 32 years, always commited and taking care of each other through life's challenges. Having lived many places in this world, we have found the warmth and welcoming spirit of the community of Sandpoint a great blessing. There will always be those "backward" intollerant individuals no matter where you go. Our neighbors here in Sandpoint and our friends throughout the county, have always treated us with love and mutual respect. I believe if people give themselves an opportunity to know us, they would likely show us acceptance and love. We are good neighbors,taxpayers, responsible citizens, and we support our community. When it comes to granting us equal rights, some people feel it is contrary to their religious beliefs. They are put in a difficult position to either follow their heart, or their religious principles. When it comes to government and law, we only ask for our civil rights and to be treated equally under the law. We don't ask that a person compromise their religious beliefs and embrace us in their faith. My partner and I are getting on in age. Our fear is that when death seperates us, the one left behind will not be treated fairly in the eyes of the law. We would feel more secure if we knew we had the same civil rights as other "civil married" couples. It may not happen in our life time, but I will always be proud to be living here in Sandpoint, where people show love, respect, and appreciate the diversity of our commujnity. "

" Jane: If you aren't in favor of gay marriage, don't have one. It's not that your beliefs aren't tolerated (I've never heard of any gays trying to outlaw heterosexual marriage), but that your intolerance is, well, intolerable. That's not being hypocritical--it's simply standing up for one's rights. "

" Wow! I was impressed that Sandpoint had a rally. I've seen first hand what hate can do to a person and their family. My many years with PFLAG (Parents and Families of Gays and Lesbians) enriched my life so much. I think there will be a lot of shocked people when Judgement Day comes. Love is Love. Let everyone live in peace. We have bigger issues to worry about than who shares a bed at night. Keep up the work Sandpoint! "

" Sometimes I am so ashamed to call Sandpoint my hometown...Obviously the backward thinking rednecks are still there. Embarrassing. "

" Mr. Hale, you are mistaken. Under federal law, same sex unions are not afforded the same status as "marriage" in any state. This pretains to laws of inheritence, taxation,social security, and health benifits. I would encourage you to talk with a knowledgable source on the matter. You "sound" teachable. "

" The only problem is that here in CA if you don't stand behind Gsy marriage, then ypour views are NOT tolerated by the Gay community-They have been acting very hipocritical and I believe that hurt the Gay Marriage Proposal pass here-- "

" Toto wake up we've landed in California we may never get home. "

" I cannot even believe some of these comments!! I think it is immoral to judge and persecute someone for their beliefs. America was founded on equal rights for ALL. For those uneducated, hypocrites - may you burn in hell for YOUR closed-minded beliefs.
Here's to equal rights for all, black, white, brown, gay or lesbian, rich or poor, ugly or beautiful... may God shine his light on you. "

" It's amazing how the religious zealots can condemn gays from having their rights to love one another legally. All too often lately we hear of priests molesting young boys. Apparently, this is just fine to the religious, they'll just "forgive him". Not only is he participating in a "gay" encounter, he is doing it to a MINOR with no legal commitment to him.

Some of these gay couples have been together for a VERY long time and have not "divorced". This should set an example for all the "sacred" unions which were only casued by one heterosexual knocking up another. And the gay couples that have children (adoption, artificial insemination, etc.) do so out of love and want, NOT circumstance.

If you are concerned about the well-being of a child raised in a gay couple, don't forget... Hitler was raised in a "moral marriage" household, and what a fine human being he turned out to be!!! "

" Other foot, the main problem with your statement is that the Puritans and the Mormons proved to be more interested in being persecutors than in eliminating religous persecution. "

" There seems to be some confusion between a "marriage" and a civil union. Religions can outlaw whatever they want (like 'gay' marriage), and label whatever acts they want as "immoral". This has nothing to do with the law.
We are all guaranteed equality under the constitution. I see this as meaning that if a civil union is legal for some, it should be legal for all. (But yes, let's keep it between humans, monkeys have enough of their own problems). "

" Marriage is not a right, if it were there would be no need for a license. The idea that homosexuals in california are not afforded the same status as heterosexual couples is false. They are all allowed to civily and conractualy arrange to receive all the same benefits and rights as married couples. Since Marriage itself is not a right, but instead a social institution, society has every right to regulate it.

Secondly, why is it SO important that we have the State's blessing on our personal comitment to each other? In california the LEGAL rights are the same. Same sex couples have the SAME access to the rights married couples have they just can't get a MARRIAGE license.

I do NOT support prop 8 but I also am not buying into the idea that the State has to recognize a thing before it is legitimate. "

" As the proud wife of a wonderful woman, I want to thank Caroline for this positive article about people in our community taking time to remind everyone of the importance of equality for all. It astonishes me that people are so afraid of others enjoying the same rights and status in the eyes of the law as they do. Human beings seem all too often to need to identify a "lesser" one in order for them to feel secure & content. In truth, such false superiority only breeds hatred and discontent. Let's stop living in the world of scarcity and begin simply allowing everyone equal rights and equal access. Most of all, let's allow more LOVE around the world -- this is the only way we will counteract all the hate that currently exists. "

" Idaho Cowboy: The bigots like "mmm" bring up pedophilia and bestiality because they can't argue against gay marriage on its terms. It's a classic straw man argument. "

" What happened to the moral value..."Golden Rule"...to treat others as you would like to be treated? What if gay people were asked to vote on the "legality" my marriage? Equal Rights for all! "

" The bible is the base for morality. Some people seem to forget that. That's why 10 commendments were put in place. I don't want my kids to be exposed to immorality. There is a reason why we have a male and a female in this world. The immoral people always looking for an excuse to do bad things. "

" It's too bad that churches don't ban hatred or forbid a sense of superiority over other humans. How humble your Jesus was. You should all live by his example. "

" I fail to see how allowing committed, loving couples to have their relationships officially recognized diminishes the stability of the institution. Unfortunately, we have allowed what is basically a religious construct to become the government's means of recognizing relationships. This is an unfortunate blending of church & state. But, since it is reality, all committed couples should be afforded the rights & protections of the institution, regardless of gender, religion or race. "

" If the shoe was on the other foot and we were talking about the religious unions not being given the same economic and social rights that 'civil unions' were receiving, those same religious people who felt persecuted or discriminated against would colonize the moon. The historical precedent supports this. The Puritans left England to travel 3236 miles across the Atlantic ocean because they wanted their rights. The Mormons left New York to move to the Midwest and the Missouri area, eventually moving on to Utah. This was a distance of over 2,100 miles. This is the extent that the religious peoples have been willing to go for their rights.... "

" 1) If we left protection of the rights of the minority to a popular vote, we would still probably still have slavery.
2) labeling someone as lesser than yourself does not make that person so. It just makes you someone who has to label others to make up for some lack you feel in yourself but may be unwilling to examine. "

" The "sacred and conservative tradition" of marriage ends in failure 50% of the time in this country. If it is so sacred, divorce should not be an option. If we are to be a nation of laws and equality, as our founders fought and died for,then all must have equal rights. "

" Wow, amazing how many angry, judgemental, religious fanatic hypocrites seem to be in our community (as evidenced by the statements "reprobate immoral life style", "perversion", "go to hell"). I thought the article said we were an affirming community, welcoming diversity. I must have missed something. "

" What about my rights of not having to be exposed to this reprobate immoral life style? "

" These people have a huge complex! What's next?,,, brother marrying brother? sister marrying sister.. get real!!! The people have voted and spoken, we don't want perversion, MOVE ON! "

" sooner or later they will also go to hell "

" Since when does love and commitment have anything to do with pedophelia and beastiality? Same sex couples don't want to be "married" in your temple or your church. They probably couldn't care less if your religion even recognizes their union. These people pay taxes just like the rest of us. Keep your "sacred traditions" in your churches. Honor the first amendment to the US Constitution. Keep church and state seperate. "

" This is not a question about equal rights. The law clearly protects anyone discriminated against because of thier sexual status or orientation. We in society shun those ignorant enough to publicly display disdain for those different than them selves(unless it is making fun of white males for being a white male...that is an absolute free for all). This is a question of marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Anything different must not be allowed to be legally recognized. It goes against the rules of nature, our design by our creator.
You say in this article that you know gay couples who have been together for 30 years...well that's great. Let them continue. That does not change the case. I know child molesters who have gone at it for more than 30 years. They love what they have been doing too. How about a man who wants to marry a monkey, who clearly loves him back?
Lets just settle down and not throw away every thing sacred in this nation. Allow us to hold on to some things sacred and conservative of tradition. "