This is a post I put on my Facebook wall a couple days ago. I'm starting my blog with this post so you know what you are getting into by reading my blog.  I welcome your thoughts, although comments with slurs will be deleted...please try to stay polite!  Thanks!

Those of you who know me well know three things about me. I don't like labels (gay, straight, conservative, liberal, stupid, smart etc.), I don't like stereotypes and I don't like to talk politics on my wall. But, I'm starting to get frustrated with the labels, stereotypes and opinions posed as fact that I see posted on a daily basis. That said I'm gonna have myself a little rant...

I just got off the phone with a dear old friend of mine. This woman is a lesbian. We were on the phone for nearly two hours and the subject of gay marriage came up. My friend has been with her partner for 8 years. They are committed and have gone through lives ups and downs together for that time, just as any committed couple would.

I've seen many postings condemning any action to legalize gay marriage as just another way for the liberals to get more money out of the government. I've ignored many of these posts, commented on a few. But now I have something for the "conservatives" to think about.

Has it EVER occurred to you that this is NOT about money? Has it EVER occurred to you that maybe "gay" couples want to have the same rights as us "straight" people so that they can make sure that their partner is taken care of in the event of one partners death? That un-accepting family members, can not just take everything that the PARTNERSHIP has worked for away from the surviving partner?? That just possibly they want to have their partner make their end of life decisions, and not be blocked out, because of a law?

Some people are making this out as a strictly financial benefit. And it's true, their is a financial benefit. But, think about this for a minute. If you have been in a long term HETEROSEXUAL relationship and you are not married and you get hit by a bus tomorrow, do you want your partner or your parents to have your assets? Do you want your partner or your estranged siblings to make your end of life decisions for you? YOU can run down to city hall this afternoon and make your PARTNERSHIP legal. They can't. Yet, many of these couples have been together for decades and have no rights when their partner becomes sick or dies.

I could really give a crap about the political lines on this one, and don't EVEN spout the Bible at me because God says to treat our neighbors as we ourselves would like to be treated. It is an overriding religious value in every religion.

Liberal, conservative, gay or straight, I don't really care. Treat others as YOU YOURSELF would want to be treated.