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Yup. I'm Christian but for me I don't have an issue being both Christian and a supporter of gay marriage. The main point of my feeling on gay marriage is I just don't understand how fighting against it benefits anyone. If two gay people get married that has literally NO effect on my life or my own marriage. Why stop people from being happy when it doesn't hurt anyone.

I'm Christian and I'm fine with gay marriage. I think it's in everyone's interest to support loving partnerships.

@MamaMoose: Totally agree. I support any loving relationship/marriage including those with homosexual partners.

As a Christian North Carolinian, this is a topic that has been HUGE for the past few weeks. I voted against Amendment One. It doesn't surprise me that my state made the decision it did, but I was sincerely hoping it would go the other way.

I also do not support gay marriage because of my faith. Of course I don't treat gay people any different than others because that is just as against my beliefs, but if my opinion is asked I will certainly give it.

I support gay marriage because it is none of my business how other people live their lives. If we could all mind our own business, the world would be a much happier place.

It doesn't affect me personally and I wish all the best for gay couples--I don't think gay marriage should be illegal! As a Christian I try to love, not judge.

Law and public policy should never hinder human rights for the sake of someone's personal opinion.

I do, especially in a legal arena. I believe religion should not dictate law, much as law should not dictate religion. If people are going to live as if they're married, why not allow them to choose to take on the same responsibilities and have the same rights as any other couple?

And, not to be argumentative or disrespectful, but I don't really understand supporting civil unions but not marriage? Isn't it just a difference in name? Or is there something I don't get? (Asking legitimately, not being a jerk.)

I mean, I agree that churches shouldn't be forced to performed gay marriages if they don't want to, but churches don't perform lots of marriages they don't want to. There were churches that wouldn't perform my marriage because we had a child and lived together before we were married. And people who are married civilly but not religiously are still married with the word married, so it's not a religious term only.

For those of you who say you feel that marriage should only be between a man and a woman... I understand feeling that way for yourself. But can you explain to me why other people's relationships effect you? Do you think that homosexuals being able to get married somehow cheapens your own marriage? I dont mean to start a fire storm. Just genuinely interest in the answers.

@Mrs. Jacks: Completely agree.
My cousin is gay and catholic and felt very abandoned as a teenager by a faith that was important to him. Luckily he had a lot of support and turned things around and went back to church, which has luckily been accepting, and is in a wonderful partnership. He's a much happier person now and I think his behavior as a teenager was because he was lost and thought negatively of himself even though he really wasn't a bad guy.

@Rock n Roll: I agree with you - I was married by a Justice of the Peace because my husband and I are not religious. There was nothing religious about our wedding, but we have a marriage, according to the law. Gays should have the same rights that I do and be able to have the same kind of marriage that I have! They shouldn't be excluded any rights because of religions, just as I am not.

@Adira: Just so you know - separation of church and state is a legal doctrine derived from the First Amendment stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

The First Amendment restricts government (specifically, Congress) from restricting freedom of religious expression.

There is no such requirement for citizens or voters.

I'm Catholic and 100% supportive of gay marriage. It doesn't bother me at all to disagree with the church's stance on homosexuality, either; I'm committed to the larger Christian message of community and love, not the lesser theologies and doctrines.

I can see why your faith would make it a hard choice for you, but our government can't use religion as a basis for law. You can absolutely disagree with it from a moral standpoint & keep those as your family values, but that isn't a reason to prevent two grown consenting adults in love from being married.

In the past, my marriage wouldn't have been legal, we are an interracial couple. There are still people that disagree with my marriage, and that's sad to me, but I'm ok with it. my marriage isn't hurting anyone, gay couples who marry aren't hurting anyone with their marriages either. They are just people in love who want to make a commitment to one another and looking to have the same rights as heterosexual couples.

@Adira: Yes, this. I just wrote and deleted a post about 4 times because I'm struggling with how to write this without sounding like I'm trying to be rude or start a fight. I think it's so important to allow people their religious freedom, even if you don't agree with them. It's what our country was built on. And in keeping in line with that, we should not allow our religious beliefs to dictate our governmental actions, no matter what those beliefs may be (one side or the other).

Personally I think it's ridiculous that this is even a legal/governmental debate. Aren't there starving children, several wars, a massive debt, housing crisis, record unemployment, cancer, AIDS, etc we should be focusing on? Not who's marrying whom?

@beka: I think she knows there is not a requirement for that for voters, but is wanting to know whether religion causes people to vote in a certain way without considering the legal ramifications of their vote. In other words, do they vote based on religious beliefs, effectively putting their religious beliefs into law that affects other people, or do they vote based on what they believe the law should be (or are these beliefs one and the same- they believe their religious beliefs should be the law)?

Yes, yes and yes. Our govt brought in a civil partnership bill here in the last couple years, and while it's a start it doesn't go far enough towards true equality.
As i see it, each church has a perfect right to permit/deny whatever activity to its congregation. The state is a different matter. You have to be allowed by law to spend your life with whomever you choose and to bequeath to them your family home etc the same as every other marriage etc.
It is so past time we got past this. We scorn countries who follow Sharia law because they deny women the right to drive etc- our long established "democracies" are supposed to be better than this. Separate church and state properly.

I support gay marriage. I also support the right of churches to decide who they would like to marry or not. To me, the two don't seem mutually exclusive.

In any case, I think it's pretty clear that history is on the side of marriage equality. It will happen and probably sooner rather than later.