March 4, 2004

Street Talk by Shari Kaplan

What do you think of President Bush's proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to stipulate that marriage should only be between a man and a woman? (Asked at Almaden Lake Park)

"I think everyone has different beliefs on that, depending on how they were raised, and their religious background. I believe in the Bible and that God made the natural order of things. I think marriage between a man and a woman is part of that order. I think an amendment could be a good thing, because it goes along with what this country was built around."

Gloria Salinas , 60s
Almaden Valley
Medical research team member

"The president of the United States isn't above the Constitution. It belongs to all the people of this country. The president shouldn't change the Constitution without the agreement of the majority of people in the country. I don't think he should try to change things based on his personal feelings."

Ephraim Salinas , 74
Campbell
Retired electronics technician

"I don't want to judge other people, but marriage is very important to my husband and I. We believe that the family unit is part of the central plan of God. To us, marriage is sacred. I like the idea of the amendment because I'd like to see the definition of marriage protected."

Alyson Pugsley , 24
Campbell
Homemaker

"I'm completely opposed to the amendment. I think marriage should be between any two people who love each other. I think sometimes the government gets too much into people's personal lives, and I don't like that. I don't think the amendment will happen. I think there's enough opposition from the left to prevent it."

Jenny Dufresne , 48 (and Zeus )
Almaden Valley
Registered nurse

"I'm not for gay marriage. If these marriages keep happening, there will eventually be less and less population, since many of the couples don't have children. I don't think it's natural. But, I also don't think it's right for the president to change the Constitution for something like this."

Ana Farrington , 14
Almaden Valley
High school student

"I believe marriage should be between men and women. If you look at it in terms of nature, that's the only way for humans and animals to reproduce. In the Bible, God made Adam and Eve—a man and woman—to be together. I also worry that if two people in a same-sex marriage adopt children, as the kids grow up, they might get confused about gender roles. They might also get teased at school."

Michael Shaheed , 37
Almaden Valley
Unemployed