What Do You Think? </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 7:45 PM on Wednesday, March 28, 2007

What Do You Think?

On April 3, Alaskans are being asked to go to the polls to cast an advisory vote on the following question: Shall the legislature adopt a proposed amendment to the state constitution to be considered by the voters at the 2008 general election that would prohibit the state, or a municipality or other subdivision of the state, from providing employment benefits to same-sex partners of public employees and to same-sex partners of public employee retirees?

• Yes: 53 percent = 62

• No: 47 percent = 55

TOTAL: 117

Selected comments:

• The natural family is under attack. We need natural family security not homeland security.

— Peter Nagle, Homer

• How dare the state discriminate against a demographic of people. I realize that a homosexual couple can’t prove their commitment to each other through marriage such as a heterosexual couple can, but that is to no fault of their own. Imagine if instead of homosexual or same-sex, the statute read “black, Jewish, or minority”? What would you vote then?

— Hannah Harrison, Homer

n You cannot discriminate one segment of population from equal rights. Trying to change the constitution is stupid and a waste of money. Legislators were stupid to propose this advisory vote. The law clearly prevails.

— SR Phoenix, Homer

This week’s poll question:

Do you support Gov. Sarah Palin’s proposal to freeze tax rates on gas for 10 years as an inducement to make Alaska more welcoming for companies to develop a natural gas pipeline?

• Yes. • No.