Briefing Book! Gay Couples Ask: Please Don't Divorce Us

Ah, yes. The "family values," "sanctity of marriage" constituency has no problem breaking up married families, as long as the marriages are gay.

Invoking insurgency and Taliban really says a lot about your commitment to bipartisanship.

Thanks for the get to work for Prop 8 tips.

the ones who are married should be left alone, why should they be forced to divorce, talk about wasting money in a time when money should not be spent on such silly things

I think it is sad they involve their kids, keep them out of it and let them be a child for God's Sake! Don't give them another worry about invalidating your relationship, they have enough things to worry about. This is an adult issue and it should stay that way.
With that said, i am very sad that Starr is doing this. As a collective those that voted Yes on 8 did not want to see these marriages dissolved. I think that they should be allowed to remain married.

ya bi-partisan, really what I am seeing now. whatever.

(shivers) That song makes me want to plug my ears with hot lead.

I agree dont involve children, It will be hard for them if thier parents are made to annul their marriage, but dont make them the poster child for the cause.

Absolutely, leave the kids out of this phase.
Let them be blindsided by some kid at school telling them that their parents are no longer married.
Teach them to sit passively while bigots to determine how their lives should be handled by the state.
Make them understand that only some love is legitimate.

Well, wait a minute. A child with a disease can be a poster child. Being sick is not the child's fault. Neither is having one's parents forced to divorce. It does affect the child. Being in a photo or video with a message doesn't affect the child negatively. It affords a child the opportunity to support a cause that directly impacts his/her family.

"I think it is sad they involve their kids, keep them out of it and let them be a child for God's Sake! Don't give them another worry about invalidating your relationship, they have enough things to worry about. This is an adult issue and it should stay that way."

Hain, i agree 100%
First time too, yay

If you were legally married (that is, married when it was legal to do so) how in the world can that be changed?

Let them be kids, and not worry about what is happening to the parents. If parents are getting divorced, and one wants it and the other doesnt is it okay for the kid to hold up a darn poster that says "dont divorce mommy"?

" think it is sad they involve their kids, keep them out of it and let them be a child for God's Sake! Don't give them another worry about invalidating your relationship, they have enough things to worry about. This is an adult issue and it should stay that way." Yeah, because divorce doesn't involve kids at all. I've got a good way to keep kids out of this, leave these marriages alone.

When was the last time the GOP used kids?

Because I can think of this instance, all the stupid parents who put their kids up to say nasty things about GWB on youtube, the MoveON.org ads, the OBama songs.... But I can't think of anything the GOP has used kids as pawns for.

Roar, it involves kids, but you shouldnt have them be a part of the process.

I guess the GOP and its former president have hurt kids in war torn countries, and US kids living in poverty. But you are correct, I don't think they have done any outright damage to their own personal kids.

Its crazy to think these people can file a lawsuit to try and invalidate the marriages of other people, people they don't know and have never met. People need to stay out of each others life's and fix their own problems before criticizing happy couples.

It isn't like their parents aren't going to be together anymore, just in the eyes of the state. It is in NO comparison to a real divorce, which affects the child greatly. should a child be concerned with their parents money problems? No it is an adult issue and it should be kept that way. I cannot believe that you would justify bringing kids into adult situations! Have you ever seen studies about the effects on a child whose parents lay it on them to deal with? Weight issues, money issues, relationship troubles? Seriously, I don't think these marriages should be touched, but for the love of God let the kid be a kid and play, and make believe and let them feel good instead of dragging them down with your troubles.

janneth that is so off base.

Unless they're forcibly making the child do it then I'd totally disagree, but I imagine if I was growing up in a loving home that just happened to have two dads and and they were being forced by the state to get divorced--I'd be upset.

Well that was touching.

I think the kids should know what's going on. If they want to protest or hold up signs let them do it.

Exactly. Kids aren't stupid. I think they'd know if something was bothering her parents even if they never said anything or got her involved. Besides I highly doubt this couple is up in her face like "OMG ISN'T IT HORRIBLE?" like some of you guys are making it seem.

I think it's good in the sense they're raising awareness at such a young age.

"But you are correct, I don't think they have done any outright damage to their own personal kids."
Absolutely right Janneth.

Maybe the children have no problem showing their support for their parents and their marriage? And you can say this is in no way "a real divorce" but I am sure it will feel pretty real to these married couples. I doubt you would like it if you were married and then someone told you that was no longer valid.

absolutely wrong more like it.

If someone told me my marriage wouldnt be valid, i would protect my child from as much as possible.

But your child WOULD find out, and feel helpless against outside forces versus your family.

CG, how have Republicans done outright damage to their own children?

Some kidsas young as 8 have in their mind what's right and wrong and if they think that having the state "divorce" their parents is wrong then they should be able to hold up signs. I would be more than proud if my son/daughter stood up for what they thought was wrong.

*kids as*

"I doubt you would like it if you were married and then someone told you that was no longer valid. "
Umm no, my marriage is between my husband and I and no one else. I could really give a rats arse if the state recognizes it. And my relationship with him would be no different. My child does not know that the state recognizes marriages. She just knows that mommy and daddy are married. Should it really matter to a poor little kid (5-6 years old as in the video) I am no talking about 14-15 year olds, but a little bitty kid, who should be doing NOTHING but playing. She should not be saddled with her parents problems. I do not let my daughter see when i am worrying about finances. And i would NEVER tell her that I was. She shouldn't worry her pretty little mind about it. She should play and be a kid.

The big issue here is not that these couples have involved their kids in this campaign, it's that they needed to in the first place. Just leave these people alone. Keep your beliefs out of their lives and the rest of our lives too. This is why I hate religion and have never and will never practice. I am raising my children to be tolerant of all people and to never judge. We should all be free to live as we believe is best. And should allow others to do the same.

I'd rather talk to my kid about my marriage first rather than have someone else foist his/her own ideas about my marriage on him/her. But that's just me.

Kids should not be involved in this. No way. I think anyone who does that to their children is a HORRIBLE parent. that's right I said it. they don't deserve to be saddled with worry, simply because you are.

Yet roarman, you are judging others?

They put their kids in this ad, it is an issue. i have already said that i don't think that their marriages should be nullified (it's not really a divorce) But involving children, just to pull at people's heart strings is Shameless

Also, this is not the same issue at all (and I'm not drawing a direct comparison, but this did cross my mind), but I've seen little kids (I'm talking 6, 7 years old) holding up large, blown-up photos of aborted fetuses on the roadside before. If the parents of those children think that an issue as complex as abortion can be broached with them, then I think it's reasonable to have marriage--something that undoubtedly more directly affects a child--discussed with these children. Again, not the same type of topic by any stretch, but, both complex issues, both being dealt with by children and parents in different ways.

So Hainan, you wouldn't teach your child that there are some people that choose to hate people without knowing them and that that is wrong? I try to take every opportunity to teach my children such things. Do I burden them with it, no. But is my daughter aware of discrimination, yes. Do we discuss it, yes. Everything is a learning opportunity for a child. Does my daughter still have plenty of free time to play and just be a kid? Yes. I would never suggest to her that such things are "adult problems" and to not worry your pretty little head. It is my job and my goal to shape that pretty little head into a responsible, caring human being.

I think anyone who does that to their children is a HORRIBLE parent. that's right I said it. they don't deserve to be saddled with worry, simply because you are.

Just tell me do you like the view of us peasants from up there.

I don't see where I am judging others?

Are they really using the children to tug at hearstrings? I can't see the video, I'm just going off of the comments on whether or not children should be talked to regarding this topic.

That song is pretty.. I love it.

The whole "leave the kids out of it" is okay when they are super young and are "protesting" against something they dont really know much about.

This situation is not that. My daughter is 4 years old and knows (more or less) what it means to be married, if I was in that horrible situation of not knowing whether I will stay married with my partner or not I WOULD tell her. Not for her to get involved but for her to know whats going on.

I guess it depends on your parenting, if you want to be the type of parent to hide something HUGE from your children by all means.

These kids that are holding up the signs aren't protesting or hitting some books to figure out how to stop it.

I dont understand the "lets kids be kids"...how are they not?

"Kids should not be involved in this. No way. I think anyone who does that to their children is a HORRIBLE parent. that's right I said it. they don't deserve to be saddled with worry, simply because you are."

Why is this so horrible that children shouldn't be involved? Who's doing the horrible?
Shouldn't children know that their parent's neighbors can vote to destroy their parent's marriage? If that's too horrible for a child to know about, why is anyone willing to do it?
Is it better for the children that we all keep bigotry a secret?

Good points, momma.

"Shouldn't children know that their parent's neighbors can vote to destroy their parent's marriage? If that's too horrible for a child to know about, why is anyone willing to do it?"

Yup.

"Kids should not be involved in this. No way. I think anyone who does that to their children is a HORRIBLE parent. that's right I said it. they don't deserve to be saddled with worry, simply because you are."

Wow. So any parent who decides to tell their children what's going on in their life is a horrible parent? sheesh.

Em1282 it is the same thing to me. On this site they showed a pic of a little boy with an abortion tee on (looked about . Abortion is much more comlex than marriage but I didn't see anybody complaining about him wearing the t-shirt. Double standard, double standard.

*looked about 8*

"Shouldn't children know that their parent's neighbors can vote to destroy their parent's marriage? If that's too horrible for a child to know about, why is anyone willing to do it?" Great point, Steph.

Because I have seen a child worry all night long about stupid crap they shouldn't be worrying about, that's why. What is that child going to do to change it? Tugging at heartstrings and using a child as a ploy is wrong, I don't agree with it for the abortion poster (as mentioned by em) I don't agree with it for elections etc. Should a child know that 51% of the population can elct people that can change their lives forever, yes.... should they hold sign advocating against those people NO!

abortion is more complex than gay marriage??? i don't think so?
That kid should be happy that they have 2 loving parents, not worrying about whether the state will recognize their relationship. Does the state not recognizing the marriage make it any less committed?