I meant to add my thoughts, but got busy.  Latter tonight I will let you all know what I think

Hmm, I’m probably not the target audience for this thread, since my wife and I are both bi. Chat amongst yourselves, we’ll follow along.

Webs:

My blood flows well as is. Nevertheless, back by popular demand:

Have you ever met a gay person or know one personally?

Yes. 

What were they like?

Generally likeable. One has even served as sort of a spiritual counselor to me as I raged about what a SOB my God was.  That same individual also offered to work their rolodex for me regarding a personal matter.  I never had to cash the chip, but it was certainly appreciated.  Prior to that, I reviewed and offered comment on a book that the individual wrote.  As regards the same individual’s sense of humor, it is priceless. 

As a general observation, homosexual men and bi-sexual women generally have a sharper sense of humor than lesbian women and the heterosexual population at large.

Have you ever been approached by someone that is gay?

By approached, I’m assuming you mean: Has anybody that was gay ever hit on you?  If not, then the question is redundant and see above for general comments.

Yes, several times. 

What was your reaction etc?

I politely turned them down while turning nearly crimson from blushing.

What are your feelings on the issue?  What evidence supports your belief, thoughts, ideas etc?  Why did you come about with those feelings, beliefs, thoughts, etc?

I’ve grouped these together because the latter two (2) piggyback on the first.

I don’t have feelings on the issue generally.  I don’t know of any evidence that supports or contradicts my lack of feelings on the issue generally.  A general indifference would be the reason why I have no feelings on the issue generally.

What do you feel or think about gay rights in terms of marriage, tax status, etc?

I am against same-sex marriage. 

I think that covers it.

I am against same-sex marriage.

I think that covers it.

Which brings up the question of why. Would you mind elaborating?

By the way, your attitude on the subject in general is a bit of a pleasant suprise. I never expected you to be mean, but I thought homosexuality probably made you uncomfortable. No evidence for that, just an impression.

[[1) Have you ever met a gay person or know one personally? ]]
Yes, many, including myself.

[[2) Have you ever been approached by someone that is gay? ]]
Many times.  With so many homosexuals in the gene pool it’s, well, impossible not to be near one, spoken to by one, or touched by one, unless you live in a bubble.

[[3) What was your reaction etc? ]]
The same as when i interact with a heterosexual, bisexual, etc.  And, if they’re hot, i will probably even check them out, if the scene is conducive.

[[4) What are your feelings on the issue?  What evidence supports your belief, thoughts, ideas etc?  Why did you come about with those feelings, beliefs, thoughts, etc?

I think, like many things, our biological urges are heavily influenced by our cultural conditioning.  That said, i love homosexuality, and i also love the American notion of Liberty.

I became, ideologically, open to homosexuality after observing and learning about it nature (e.g., gay sheep, other mammals, gulls, etc.).  Once i realized that homoseuxality naturally occurs the rest became political.

[[5) What do you feel or think about gay rights in terms of marriage, tax status, etc? ]]

Homosexuality does no harm to society.  I’ve yet to see any evidence of such harm or error that is unique to the homosexual relationship.  American society is based upon equality, remember???

As a gay man, I believe it’s part nurture and part nature.  I believe there’s some gene or switch, that when turned on (no pun intented), it allows for that person to be open to same-sex attraction.  I believe then nurture takes over and you are a product of your environment.  The testing going on right with twins where 1 is gay and the other is not is extremely interesting to me. 

I have no problem with people that think gay people are odd or weird to them.  That’s fine.  People have a right to whatever they believe.  As long as they don’t try to tell me I’m a horrible sinner for being who I am, cause their sky-daddy tells them so. 

Yes, I have been approached by gay people.  My reactions range anywhere from ‘no thanks’, to ‘hell yeah’, depending on how hot they are. 

I am a proponent of gay-marriage.

I think it’s fucked up, man. Every so-called gay person that I’ve ever met just wants to be radical: None of them truly enjoy fagot sex. Gays show a desire and intent to shock others by saying they are.

And don’t get me started talking about the mismatch of sexual organs. Dicks are shaped like arrows so that they can master ‘ginas easily. (Gun A fits naturally into holster B.) Not so a Sith Lord and a Rebel can have a light saber fight.

I thank God I’m a natural man and I certainly won’t ever need or want to shock anybody Nobody’s ever gonna feel comfortable judging my sexual correctness.

Hey, smell my finger! Har har har.

I am for the idea of social contracts, otherwise known as civil unions, for all people, including gays. I, myself, being married outside of the church, am presently engaged in a civil union with a lovely little lady.

I say the nation has no bu

I am for the idea of social contracts, otherwise known as civil unions, for all people, including gays. I, myself, being married outside of the church, am presently engaged in a civil union with a lovely little lady.

I say the government has no business in the bedrooms of the populace. Doh....Either the fingers or brain are presently malfunctioning....or it could be influence of the scotch.

homosexuality is gay.

Civil Unions
I often say:  If i can’t get married to my partner (i can where we live in the swamps of SE Mass), then, by G-d, i’ll make sure *no one else* can get married either.  Matter of fact, i’ll work to negate all marriages and force all those breeder-biggots into civil unions, too.  A contract is a contract, available to all US citizens, regardless of the shape of their genitals.  Marriage for all—or NONE !  (i also, once while drunk at the BlackRose in Boston, of all places, proposed we sieze their kids too and place them all in group homes until we get marriage rights—which didn’t go over too well).

That’s so Gay
Whenever i hear someone say that (usually some white-suburb teen), i always respond “As opposed to being so straight-n-stupid?  After all, we all know gays are nerds and straights are not as intelligent, right?” More than one teen has quickly turned away from my “I can bench more than you can dream” scowl and knuckles-cracking on that one.

When opposed, oppose with a force 3 times as hard.
Detterence works.

I’ve never really thought much about any of these questions. I used to think I was fairly ‘normal’ in my thoughts on the issue till I grew up a bit and realised there were many closed or narrow minded arse’oles on the planet that I’d have to share my air with.

What are your feelings on the issue?

To each his/her own.

What evidence supports your belief, thoughts, ideas etc?

No evidence per se. It was my parent’s programming of me; mostly my mother’s 2.5 years’ Ravensbrück experience which reaffirmed to her (and then taught me) people are people regardless of their, colour, race, religion or sexual persuasion and no one has the right to kill or vilify another based in any of those differences. ‘Walk a mile in that other person’s shoes’ is something my mother programmed me with.
I sometimes don’t do it soon enough.

Why did you come about with those feelings, beliefs, thoughts, etc?

It made logical sense just like “If you get to know me well you’ll find more valid reasons to hate me other than for just my skin colour” which I read somewhere.
As well as those little homilies: Judge not lest ye be judged, harm none, etc.

What do you feel or think about gay rights in terms of marriage, tax status, etc?

Marriage, in a civilised society, should be the voluntary union of any two (yes, polygamy is another subject) adults.

Have you ever met a gay person or know one personally?

Many.

What were they like?

People. I liked some and disliked others; their being homosexual had nothing to do with whether I liked them or not.
It was never: I don’t like him coz he’s a homo.

Have you ever been approached by someone that is gay?

Sure, when I was young and beautiful. It’s dropped off a bit in the last 30 years.
Before I left Melbourne 30 years ago my best friends were two bi-sexual couples. I screwed the girls but wouldn’t let the blokes touch me. It’s one of the reasons I left – I knew there was more to life than just sex and mind altering substances.

What was your reaction etc?

It was NEVER fear or disgust.
I’m straight (said with a smile) worked well enough, knowing that most gays (I can’t get used to that word – when I was young they were just queer and here) don’t want to play with someone who’s not going to enjoy the session. 

most gays ... don’t want to play with someone who’s not going to enjoy the session.

LOL!!!  Seriously though.  We don’t want to do every guy we see.  And certainly not with someone who’s not in to it.

What do you feel or think about gay rights in terms of marriage, tax status, etc?

Homosexuals and homosexual couples should be entitled to the same rights as everyone else, including marriage, adoption, driving licenses, etc.

Have you ever met a gay person or know one personally? 

I know a few (most notably one of my best friends from high school, who is now openly lesbian).

What were they like?

Like anyone else. Except gay.

Have you ever been approached by someone that is gay?  What was your reaction etc?

Nope.

Other thoughts - gay sex is icky, but I don’t care if other people want to do that.

And that’s one reason we use e-mails and IM’s to see if the other one IS into it or not. DUH

LOL!!!  Seriously though.  We don’t want to do every guy we see.  And certainly not with someone who’s not in to it.

Yeah, straight guys tend to be freaked out about the possibility of a gay guy hitting on them.
It doesn’t seem to occur to them that women have to deal with this sort of unwanted affection all day long. 
About half my friends are gay. I myself am moderately bi, but mostly hetero. I tend to feel more comfortable around women and gay men for some reason.
As for gay marriage, well my feeling is that ALL marriage should be banned. 

What are your feelings on the issue?  What evidence supports your belief, thoughts, ideas etc?  Why did you come about with those feelings, beliefs, thoughts, etc?  Have you ever met a gay person or know one personally?  What were they like?

Not sure what issue you are talking about - there are several.

Many years ago I took what would be recognized today as the standard fundamentalist Christian position on homosexuality: sinful, dangerous to society, etc.  Then I had a gay roomate who turned out to be a perfectly decent fellow; this undermined my prejudices (for that they were) and I started learning more widely on the subject, including meeting other gay people over the years.  Some were very nice people, some were unpleasant jerks, and I was unable to escape the impression that gay-ness wasn’t the variable.

What do you feel or think about gay rights in terms of marriage, tax status, etc?

I am completely in favor of recognizing full marriage legality for gays, and forbidding most discrimination on the basis of sexuality.

Have you ever been approached by someone that is gay?  What was your reaction etc?

OK this is really embarrassing, but I was 17 and hitchhiking (it was a different time - people hitchhiked then) and a guy who picked me up made quite a production of resting his hand on my leg when shifting the gears… and I was too dense until later to realize he was coming on to me.  So I really didn’t react at all and he took his hand away.

Later I mentioned it so someone and they explained it to me but by then the moment for outrage had passed.  No one (including my gay roomate) ever made another pass at me in the years since, which could be due to the fact that I emit hetero vibes or something.

Although I might have missed a come-on or two; MrsDoF assures me that even today I miss when women are coming on to me, which she says happens fairly often.  I’ll just have to take her word for it because I am apparently pretty dense.

I just heard Mark Foley speaking on Dateline NBC’s pedophile series and I wonder how anyone walked away from him assuming he was straight. Actually he thinks he’s gay but he’s something altogether different.

I was surprised to read the word “icky” used to describe gay sex but I guess we all have our sacred images and absolute limits; I have mine.

My partner and I are both bisexual. Not only is homosexuality just as much a part of life as heterosexuality, but I generally think that gays and lesbians who are out and proud are wonderful, courageous people whom I respect infinitely.

I am pro-gay marriage, pro-gay adoption, and pro-gay rights in general.

homosexuality is gay.

El Josh, WTF? Was that sarcasm? 

Whenever I hear someone say that (usually some white-suburb teen), i always respond “As opposed to being so straight-n-stupid?

When those words were uttered by my teen; I let her have it.  They are rude, ignorant and completely foolish. They promote and maintain an unhealthy (not to mention dangerous) social attitude.

Marriage, in a civilized society, should be the voluntary union of any two (yes, polygamy is another subject) adults.

I agree here with John completely.

Some were very nice people, some were unpleasant jerks, and I was unable to escape the impression that gay-ness wasn’t the variable.

I think that that pretty much sums it up!  Well done DOF!

I just heard Mark Foley speaking on Dateline NBC’s pedophile series and I wonder how anyone walked away from him assuming he was straight. Actually he thinks he’s gay but he’s something altogether different.

I hate the fact that so many homophobic or simply ignorant individuals believe and espouse that homosexuality = pedophile or homosexuality = sexual predator (of any/all type/s)

It also bothers me that many misguided individuals associate bisexual with polygamy.  Just because one is bisexual does not mean they practice relationships with multiple partners at the same time.  Some bisexuals actually believe in monogamy and the sanctity of a marriage/civil contract with a mate.  Just because one is capable of loving someone of either sex does not mean they tend toward 2 (or more) at a time.

Homosexuality is not natural. If they want to go against nature, good for them. They can’t biologically have kids. They should also not be allowed to adopt kids.

Homosexuality is not natural.

Odd then, that it has been observed in almost every vertebrate species.

Odd then, that it has been observed in almost every vertebrate species.

The keyword is “observed”. It’s not very common to find them in every location they exist.

Homosexuality is a developmental malfunction of the mind.

“they” as in the species. I should have been more clear.

I don’t have time to go into the questions proper, but I just wanted to remark on my sudden realization that I have a much larger gay audience than I previously thought.

It’s only surprising to me because I’d never really stopped to consider whether or not gays found my site worth reading.