Law pertaining to marriage has always been a power belonging to the states. It is the leftist who want to make gay marriage a federally protected right.
Wrong, the states had state marriage law, and the feds had federal marriage law for it’s own needs.
The federal government decides marriage law at the federal level for millions of Americans and immigrants, in the military, federal employment and in immigration, and federal law on gay marriage is the most influential force on the national perception by voters, of gay marriage.
Rand Paul didn’t kick off a campaign for governor, he is running for federal office, to be President, and he started that by calling to end opposing gay marriage, and in support of social liberalism.