Getting government out of marriage is the last thing the gay marriage lobby wants of course.
We now have several living generations who believe that a legal decision automatically equates to societal acceptance and it’s no different with the gay marriage debate.
Removing government from the equation frightens them but what they really fear is being ignored.
I don't know if that entirely accurate, or reflective of the ENTIRE gay community's position.
I'm certainly not an authority, but I read that there were quite a few prominent members of the gay community that weren't terribly excited about the language of California's Prop 8. Elton John comes to mind. He has said that marriage is between a man and a woman and that gay people should have civil unions. Perhaps it's a distinction without a difference, but John recognizes that marriage is something that has a religious and traditional component that many people would find offensive to extend to the gays.
I agree with your point about other gay activist using the gay marriage issue, not to advance "marriage equality" per se, but to advance a larger and broader gay agenda. Forcing religions or faith-based charities to accept gays and to drop positions that the gay lobby sees as hateful, would be a great example how the gay lobby is twisting the arm of religious institution through gay-friendly legislation at the state level.
Indeed, but it seems to be the last thing 99% of conservatives want too. They should think about why they're so eager to agree with the gay marriage lobbby that marriage has to be defined and recognized by government.