Elton John Says No to Same-sex Marriage?

Elton John surprised many gay advocates recently when he commented on California's Proposition 8 saying that gays don't need same-sex marriage, just civil partnerships.

John said, "I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. The word 'marriage,' I think, puts a lot of people off. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."

I wonder if Elton John will now find protestors outside his house?

Comments

[BillyHW]

What a filthy bigot.

[Jason]

"I wonder if Elton John will now find protestors outside his house?"

Or inside like that homosexual groups did to that church.

[Steve]

This is a great example of someone surprising us with a view that seems to not fit the stereotype. Isn't that a good reason to set aside stereotypes and give people the benefit of the doubt?

I'm not arguing that we should assume that everyone will be reasonable in every point they make, or always have a nuanced position. I am arguing that we should assume that every person *sometimes* has a reasonable argument or proper nuance on points of consequence. I think if we default to the benefit of the doubt we protect ourselves from making too many assumptions about a person too quickly... and we promote better dialogue:)

Plus, it's just good manners and treats the other person the way we want to be treated.

See http://www.str.org/site/DocServer/stevewagnernews0804WEB.pdf?docID=2981 for more on this.

[Wanda Zippler]

It is far too easy now days to lose hope in people and become just as bitter and smart mouthed as they are, but when you do you missing the candles in the darkness like Elton John's statement, even worse I have seen Christians miss opportunities to witness by assuming that a non-Christian's questions were not genuine and responding with a smart mouthed attitude.
I sometimes hang out at yahoo answers. Many of the questions there are smart mouthed people looking for an opportunity to make Christians feel bad, but sometimes they turn out to be genuine as evidenced with my last 3 answers to yahoo answers getting voted best answer by the non-Christian who asked them.
Over my years of witnessing I have learned that whenever possible it is best to listen twice as much as you talk, it helps you to avoid staw men arguments because not everyone thinks alike, and it makes people feel like you really care about them, and when they believe you care, they will be better listeners when you actually do get around to talking.

[William Wilcox]

Steve & Wanda,

Amen & Amen.

Wanda said: "Over my years of witnessing I have learned that whenever possible it is best to listen twice as much as you talk"

Francis Schaeffer maintained much the same thing.

[John Q. Public]

Witnessing on the Internet, is similar to being fed to the Lions in the arena. They want one thing; to kill you (metaphorically speaking) and they are not listening! However, I agree, we should listen, respond, not take it personally, and pray!! It isn't a mission for the weak of theology, intelligence or faith! Oh, and Elton John is being reasonable. He is so admired by the gay community...I wish he would speak loudly!