Bush's Uncivil Union

NameRose Mary Perez, 42
ResidesQueens
OccupationGraphic designer

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?I'm an American and a Latina and I vote and I don't think anyone—particularly in this country—should determine how any two individuals unite. Just look at how different groups marry, be it Latino, Anglo-Saxon, Asian, African American. Jews break a glass, African Americans jump over a broom. We're as varied in how we raise our children. I do think civil unions are a good beginning, because they mean that if you die, your partner's family can't come in and take everything.

NameDamien Prince, 37
ResidesManhattan
OccupationStudent

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment? It's so unfair. You've got a man who is so out of touch with the mainstream of the country. I read that a majority of Americans are against gay marriage, but I want to know who's being asked and what questions they're using. It's another diversionary tactic. The smart voter will realize that the economy and the war are the real issues. Bush is just the rattle on the snake; the head is Ashcroft-Rumsfeld-Cheney. The civil union issue is just going back to the civil rights era. Separate but equal. It's not equal.

NameErik P., 25
ResidesManhattan
OccupationStudent

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?Marriage is marriage, and a constitutional amendment defining it is not important. There are really so many other things to be worried about. All I can think about is the war issue and how pointless it is to kill and shed blood. Americans are just so distracted. Nobody knows whether they'll be working tomorrow, and still all anybody's talking about is Janet Jackson.

NameAlex Santiago, 39
ResidesBronx
OccupationService technician

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?I'm against this. You can't just start amending things. Let the states decide. Bush has proposed it because of this year's election. It's OK to have gays on TV but there are a lot of people with kids who don't like gays. It's on Will & Grace.I am for civil unions because it's a start and you have to start somewhere.

NameAaliah DeSilva, 23
ResidesManhattan
OccupationBartender

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?All the changes Bush has made or proposed are disgusting. They're morally wrong. I don't understand trying to ban abortion. I'm definitely against the federal government involving itself in people's personal lives. Don't mix business and pleasure. I did that once, andit was a big mistake. I had to quit my job. I think we're going to stand up to Bush. I'm so proud to be a New Yorker.

NameRebecca Martinez, 22
ResidesManhattan
OccupationStudent

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?The government shouldn't be able to tell people who can get married. It's wrong from the get-go. I also don't think civil unions make sense either. I don't think my thinking this way is generational—my brother feels this way too and my father has never suggested that he thinks differently.

NameAndy Baker, 29
ResidesManhattan
OccupationSocial worker

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?I'm an anarchist so it doesn't matter to me. I'm getting married in June in the Mennonite church. We're Orthodox Christian anarchists, and we're rejecting the state marriage license. We believe the state's involvement in marriage is nothing but divisive. Bush's proposal has nothing to do with anything but hisre-election. I notice that John Kerry isn't really touching this issue.

NameApostolia Pentogenis, 22
ResidesManhattan
OccupationStudent

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?I think he's taking advantage of his position to impose a law. It's an election year and he's appealing to his conservative base. Gay couples should have the right to marry and civil unions, though a good start, don't give them the same rights as married people. Gays on television aren't very threatening. They're still a novelty in places outside of New York. The L Word is porn for straight men. I doubt many lesbians would find it very appealing.

NameRyuichi Tanaka, 31
ResidesQueens
OccupationStudent

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?I am from Japan, which is a conservative country. We can't imagine gay marriage. It's understandable that the president would propose this—he should promote the stability of the country. Conservatism and stability aren't exactly equivalent, but they're related. New York City is very liberal. When I first arrived, I was shocked by gay couples in the street, but after six years I'm used to it. I'm not sure about civil unions, but I understand it as an equal-rights issue.

NameNicolette Callaway, 20
ResidesManhattan
OccupationStudent

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?I have no idea who Bush is talking to. I don't see the point of civil unions. We were just discussing this in my linguistics class. One of the new dictionaries, either the Oxford or the New Heritage, is going to come out with new definitions of marriage and of the word family: "One or two parents and their children," instead of "a man and a woman and their offspring."

NameGeorge Lewis, 23
ResidesQueens
OccupationSelf-employed

What do you think of Bush's proposed marriage amendment?I think it's wrong. It's a free country. If you're comfortable being with somebody, you should be. I don't know why Bush is doing it now. I also think the vice president's daughter, who's openly gay, should be more public about this issue.