Hi Phyllis, It’s an orgami dollar folded in the form of a cat. Probably a little hard to tell. About the belief thing, beliefs aren’t based on anything tangible, provable, or empirical, so I accept them all on about the same level. I try not to have beliefs, and certainly don’t try to talk anybody into sharing mine, because how do you argue their validity? Speaking for myself, other than yakking to women about taking charge of their financial lives, I try to listen and learn tolerance. I’m Irish, with all the accompanying termperment, so ithat’s a challenge. By the way, your picture is one of my favorites. Are you an artist?

Maizie, I respect your opinion and wouldn’t ever choose to argue a closely held belief. However, i wonder what your definition of a “family” would be? In my many years I have known many types of families and the best are always those with an abundance of love and acceptance, no matter the members. There are so many assaults on the integrity of our society and culture (leaders who don’t tell the truth, business interests whose priority is profit over safety and political candidates who promote fear over hope), but love between two consenting adults is not one of them. Truly loving another human being is not a “moral” abhorrence, but a gift from God.

Either you are an amazing troll, with this post, or you are for real. While I respect that you have your opinion, and I also think you have voiced your opinion in a very careful and somewhat polite manner, I think your opinion is abhorrent. I actually feel sorry for your niece. I hope you do not cause her emotional damage with your attitude and beliefs… Your psychologist friend needs to be disbarred, or whatever happens to disqualify someone from practising that profession. The uncountable damage he or she could do, with such biased and outdated attitudes, is shocking. I am in my mid-thirties. Never once did I pause at any point in my life to even consider men or boys. Your suggestion that it is a childhood phase borne of some sort of irrational concept, is absurd, and deeply insulting. Kind of how the suggestion that people of other races except for Caucasian, were animals, back in the days of yore, or that women were too hysterical to be allowed to vote, ad nauseam. Gay people are not forcing their will upon you, the existence of gay marriage, does not violate the sanctity of heterosexual marriage, if anything it will make it stronger. Heterosexuals left and right, are doing a fine job all on their own, with destroying the sanctity of marriage, such as it is. To point fingers and lay blame on a group of people who are just trying to live, is about as unchristian a behaviour as I have seen. Worry about the log in your own eye, before you point at the fleck of dust in some other person’s eye. Ellen DeGeneres is a fine role model for girls everywhere, and boys as well, and most adults. An example of integrity, good humour, graciousness and humanity. Her sexuality is only a big deal to you, because it is a big deal to you. I would be deeply surprised if some young girl someplace, suddenly ‘decides’ to be gay, after watching Ellen. How absurd. How small minded. How deeply immature and insecure. No one needs to be converted, there is no secret agenda. The only problem is that people like you, would strip the rights of people like me, out of some irrational fear of the boogeyman who does not, in fact exist.

Our country was forged on the ideals of liberty and the personal choice of whom to marry should be protected under that umbrella. I find it abhorrent that so many Americans still believe that they have the right to live freely how they wish and at the same time restrict the rights of others in such a personal choice, which frankly doesn’t effect them and isn’t any of their business. One couple’s marital situation has absolutely nothing to do with anothers’. It is a complete disconnect. It is intolerance, prejudice or zealotry plain and simple.

Maizie, you say everyone should have fundamental civil rights just not lesbians how very white of you. My daughter is a beautiful, smart young woman of 24 she has a masters in early childhood / special education and this year she will be teaching 7th grade and let me tell you the kids in that school are lucky to have her she is a great teacher! Yes she is a lesbian, would it be better for her if she were strait yes but not for the reason someone like you would think but because she has already had two scary encounters with people like you who thought she was reckless,irresponsible or immoral. I worry about her not because she is a lesbian but that she may come into contact with someone like you a self appointed guardian of all the worlds values. Elizabeth - a proud mom

Hey! Animals are awesome, especially wild cats. LOL

Men.

Yes, could we please not use that term? Especially on this site, I’m surprised to see it in a headline. It’s very pop culture, not to mention sexist. Didi, the animal I’d use to describe a man who prefers younger lovers would be human. LOL!