[mugs99]

The question is whether or not we really have a representative republic

In our representative republic marriage is decided by the states, not the federal government. A marriage amendment to the Constitution erodes the right of self determination of the states and increases dictatorial powers of the federal government.
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[SAJ]

An amendment would be entirely in keeping with basic constitutional principles. It is the granting -- voluntarily and democratically, in that supermajorities of both the Regress and the legislatures of the several states must approve -- of more power to the United States in a specific named area.

The things that are utterly unconstitutional are the occasional 'Defense of Marriage' Acts that are proposed by one or another grandstanding Regresscritter. As currently written, the constitution grants exactly NO power to the Regress to legislate on this and related subjects.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

A marriage amendment to the Constitution erodes the right of self determination of the states and increases dictatorial powers of the federal government.

Actually you have it exactly backwards.

The amendment, if passed, will prevent one state from imposing it's will on the other 49 through "full faith & credit".

So the amendment is precisely what is needed.