Poll: Where Do You Stand on the Natatorium Issue?

Kate Bigam February 3, 2012 at 03:47 pm

Well said, Wanda.

Wanda Minor February 3, 2012 at 03:48 pm

I noticed this too. I bet if you check the Patch's stat counter you'll see a lot of hits from city hall and the board of elections!

Kate Bigam February 3, 2012 at 03:52 pm

Either that, or one of these evangelicals sent it out to their networks... disappointing.

Chris February 3, 2012 at 04:00 pm

Yet, not disappointing, Kate, when you said earlier that you sent it out to your secular network. Interesting.

Kate Bigam February 3, 2012 at 04:08 pm

Chris, I mean I'm disappointed that the numbers have changed to favor discrimination, not necessarily that I'm disappointed that someone fought to get it this way. We all have the right to our activism, even if I don't agree with your views.
For the record? My network is not secular. I work for a religious organization. But you know what they say about the word "assume."

Chris February 3, 2012 at 04:11 pm

Ok Tristan. I will answer those questions above, and as Christopher pointed out below, you will likely not understand them, because he did indeed answer your questions. You just don't understand the answers. First I will apologize that when speaking of our Lord and Savior, you find capitalizing the 'H' offensive. This is called honoring Him. God does love all His children. Absolutely. And He wants them without sin. Homosexuality is sin as stated in the bible. What hurts those who believe what the bible says is that we truly want all God's children to live a faithful life and be saved. How it affects my day to day life is that we all try to walk the walk so to speak, and bring others to know Christ. We are happy and accepting and loving of all people the way God wants us to, we just do not have to agree with the behavior. There is no psycho babble here, but I am sure that you still do not understand, since you keep putting the word God in quotes as if he does not exist.

Chris February 3, 2012 at 04:17 pm

Kate, sorry you still see it as being discriminatory. On a lighter note, truly, I would like to know where your blog is, as I saw someone mention it. I am appreciative of people who can state their views and have half a brain. Not to say that I don't disagree with you on some issues, but think its possible we may see eye to eye on others. Would like to see your blog. Sorry to go off the beaten path. Blessings.

Kate Bigam February 3, 2012 at 04:31 pm

Hi, Chris. I hope I'm not opening myself up to a lot of angry readers by posting this here, but my blog is www.suburbansweetheart.com. I don't usually write about politics, so you should be safe. ;) Thanks for asking!

Shane May February 3, 2012 at 05:36 pm

Last time I checked this page was at 11:14pm. So between the hours of 11:15pm and 9:00am almost 1,300 people logged onto this page to vote no? Wow, I think we need to start a poll and find out how many citizens of Cuyahoga Falls suffer from insomnia because that seems like a ton of restless sleepers. This is a poll on a news website do not be discouraged it has absolutely nothing to do with the real issue at hand. All this did was allow people to badger back and forth with each other and spread their hate messages for the two minutes of fame they wanted. Some of the people on here should honestly be ashamed of themselves for the language they have used and putting individuals down. I am 22 years old and do not even speak the way many have on here towards another individual. What is this teaching your children? To bully and not like someone because they are not like you? Such a disgrace.

Adam C. Miller February 3, 2012 at 05:55 pm

It's a friggin gym pass lol Shane, you guys should get a family pass, but I am in no position to say who is right or who is wrong! Valid points on both ends.

Pastor Chris February 3, 2012 at 07:54 pm

I have enjoyed watching this unfold. Things have been heated, but for the most part they have been civil. Somethings that have been written I totally disagree with. There are even some remarks that have been made supporting marriage as one man and one woman that I do not agree with the approach and delivery. But over all...I hope all realize this is not about being against something...it is about being for something. Is it bad to defend traditional family values that this nation was founded upon. I realize times have changed. I realize from a secular perspective this seems like the right thing to do. But can someone on the other side, supporting same sex marriage not acknowledge the same. Can you not see some validity in supporting marriage from a traditional perspective. I hope you can.

Kate Bigam February 3, 2012 at 07:56 pm

There are a lot of heated issues I can see the other side of - even issues as testy as gun control & reproductive choice. On civil rights? No. There is, frankly, no other valid side to this argument, as far as I'm concerned. Anything but full equality is bigotry.

emily February 3, 2012 at 08:11 pm

All they want is a family membership. Could they go to another gym, sure. Should they have to, no. This isn't about saving money on discount passes. This is about discrimination. From the way they were treated by the staff to the way the mayor is handling the issue. I find it very hard to believe that there is no way they could make accommodations, or figure out a way in their system to give them a family membership. You can quote the bible, you can bring up Ohio laws, but really in the end this is discrimination..and no amount of facts about laws, and quotes about Gods word could change my thoughts.

Bill February 3, 2012 at 08:22 pm

Maybe they should change there policies, maybe they should just do away with the family pass, the guest pass, the custodial pass and the city rate and just charge everyone the same price. Maybe they should also charge a sign up fee like other facilities. As far as the way they were treated by the staff unless you were there you have no room to talk and unless you have worked that job you have no room to talk. The staff there does they best they can and deal with a lot of ......., even Kate would have to agree with that! I for one am not for or against this issue I am just tired of the Nat bashing. Its simple you don't like it don't go there.

emily February 3, 2012 at 08:32 pm

Well I'm taking this as an account from their story that I saw all on the news, on their Facebook page, change.org,.. they obviously wouldn't take this story to this level unless they felt discriminated against. I'm not speaking out against all those who are associated with the Nat, but the business itself.

Raymond Skocir February 3, 2012 at 11:31 pm

Hey Wanda I had my 7 year old ( who attends a cf school by the way ) say the pledge of allegiance for me and it says one nation under God so make sure to quote all your dates correctly ... So I'm sure your now going to tell us when it was removed from our schools...

John McMillan February 4, 2012 at 02:04 am

acckkkk...typical behavior from zealots who insist everybody agree with their opinion. This totally invalidates the percentages and the poll itself. Very immature behavior. It was interesting to see how the voting was going...now it means absolutely nothing...

Kate Bigam February 4, 2012 at 02:17 am

You're correct. In 2010, the Ninth Circuit upheld a ruling that keeps "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. In 2011, the Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Mj February 4, 2012 at 04:26 am

I've heard these guys do not even live in the city of Cuyahoga Falls. Why don't they go get their; "two minutes of fame" in the city where they live. Additionally, not one person could corroborate their story about the alleged employee who said their marriage; "wasn't considered real". Lastly, the scuttlebutt around town is that this was a very well planned media blitz to "bring awareness" to Ohio's "gay agenda". Channel 3 News has been contacted will multiple sources that can attest to this, they will be running a counter story in the coming weeks.

Kate Bigam February 4, 2012 at 04:29 am

No, Coty & Shane do not live in Ohio; they live in Akron. No one is trying to hide this fact; it's been in every story about them. That said, Shane grew up in Cuyahoga Falls & graduated from CFHS. Aren't we allowed to give a damn about our hometowns?
As far as a "well-planned media blitz," I'm flattered. Shane & I pulled the call-in day together in less than a week & did all the promotions for it ourselves. if that's all it takes to be called a "well-planned media blitz" promoting whatever "gay agenda" you speak of, I guess it doesn't take much. I welcome Channel 3 to contact either Shane or me regarding our organization of the call-in day & any other events surrounding our opposition to the Nat's current policies. We'd be more than happy to speak with them at length.

Mj February 4, 2012 at 05:43 am

Where do we stand?
Against. Same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Ohio, so the Natatorium shouldn’t be pressured to change their operating procedures by a bunch of attention seeking non-residents. The residents of Cuyahoga Falls overwhelmingly support our mayor and the policies of taxpayer owned establishments throughout our great city. Stay away from my kids.

John McMillan February 4, 2012 at 03:43 pm

Your last sentence very clearly shows your ignorance and the reasons for your unfounded fear and prejudice concerning this issue. I wouldn't be surprised if you were at least partially responsible for the skewing and invalidating of this poll.

Frank N February 4, 2012 at 05:10 pm

And Mj, please stay away from my kids. Your disgusting hatred and frayed morality of judgement and generalization of what you think "everyone" feels in Cuyahoga Falls is exactly why this backward community is deteriorating while new generations look to build their lives elsewhere. You sit and spew hatred masked as "religious morality" when in fact there is not one Christian element in that entire argument. The "gay agenda", of people desiring basic civil rights in this country, what this country was founded on, along with freedom of religion, also a constitutional element, is no one's place to be voting on. As I understand it, all Christians are in fact sinners. So before you go throwing any stones, why don't you take a look at yourself.

Shane May February 4, 2012 at 05:49 pm

Hold onto yourself this one may be a shocker. We do not live in Cuyahoga Falls as every newspaper, internet and television report has stated. But here is another shocker for you, really you may need to brace yourself, out of the 22 years I have been alive I have spent almost 20 years in Cuyahoga Falls. So I guess that makes it my hometown. Our home that we just purchased sits right on the border of Cuyahoga Falls and Akron. Actually half my road is considered Cuyahoga Falls and half is Akron. Next time I will make sure to purchase a home on the opposite side of the street so this whole issue makes sense since you obviously have to live within a city at that moment to make the argument real. As for the employee who told us our marriage was not real, I could call up her daughter and get her mother's phone number for you if you would like to speak to her personally seeing as I went to high school with her daughter. She was not some random made up stranger at the facility I know her which hurts even more. Lastly, the buzz around town that you speak of as this being a very well planned media blitz about the gay agenda is completely ridiculous. You may want to contact Channel 3 news and ask who reached out to who. I had reporters hounding me via telephone and email to get a story. Never once have we reached out to a source and said "Report about us!". So please take this back to "your" community for which you speak for and let them know what really happened.

MJ February 4, 2012 at 07:27 pm

I am not religious. I never mentioned religion.

Kristina D. February 5, 2012 at 02:05 am

You should take the "we" out of this and also, "the residents of Cuyahoga Falls" because I am a resident of Cuyahoga Falls and I do not support this policy! Nor do I have such fear and hatred of gays and lesbians that you obviously do by your last sentence. I hope your kids grow up better than the hatred and prejudice that you teach them!

Derek Arnold February 10, 2012 at 01:36 pm

I am ok with same-sex couples being recognized as a familial unit. I am also ok with cohabitating opposite sex unmarried couples and same or opposite sex roommates being recognized as a familial unit.
However, the law in Ohio (which I voted against--it should have never been a constitutional amendment) says that the City has no legal obligation to recognize these couples.

VIKKI CORCELLI February 10, 2012 at 04:11 pm

ARE YOU KIDDING ME...REALLY!!! GOD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING ABLE TO GET A FREAKIN MEMBERSHIP TO THE FALLS NATATORIUM!!!!!!! IF YOU ASK ME IT IS ALL ABOUT CONTROL, IMAGE AND DISCRIMINATION THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CF WAY! I HAVE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE. THRU THE "CAUCASION FALLS" AND NOW "THE ANTI GAY FALLS" I AM SICK, SAD AND ANGRY!!!!! LETS GET REAL PEOPLE..IF YOU WANT TO BRING "GOD" INTO THIS..."ARENT WE ALL GODS CHILDREN"?? LOVE THOU BROTHER,

Chris February 10, 2012 at 06:02 pm

Vikki - Once again, we must reiterate to you the actual debate - because them not getting a membership IS NOT THE DEBATE. They CAN GET a MEMBERSHIP to the Nat. Whenever they want. The DEBATE is about whether or not their marriage, which is NOT recognized legally by the STATE OF OHIO, QUALIFIES them to save $50 and get a FAMILY membership.

Pastor Chris February 10, 2012 at 06:35 pm

This dialogue is very intriquing. Vickie if you read all the posts I answered all of your questions already. First, this is not discrimination nor a violation of rights. They can & actually do have a membership to the Nat. Second, please realize this is about beliefs. The gay marriage side says we are imposing our views upon them (which have been the traditional values of our nation and community from its existence, not to mention for most civilzations, and from the origins of history). But if gay marriage is defined as marriage or as family then it violates my beliefs. You impose your views upon me. So do not be mistaken it is a belief system. Third, you brought up God's Children. If you really believe we are all God's Children where do you get that from? What is the basis of your statement. For the Scriptures say we are not all God's Children. Only those under the Jewish law in the Old Testament and those who are now in Christ under the New Covenant are children of God. When we accept Christ's death for our sin upon the cross we become children of God and the Holy Spirit adopts us as Children of God is what the Scriptures say. So unless you accept what Christ did...die for our sins you are not a child of God. As children of God we acknowledge that Chrsit died for sin. That means we are not to blatantly live in sin or condone sin. Marriage is God's way. A true child of God cannot condone sin, anything against his ways. If marriage is redefined it is sin.