I believe the real conservative position on this is to look at basic rights and the laws and determine if the claims by the homosexuals are valid. The typical charge about marriage, and this is also used by otherwise conservative people in my experience, is that it is illegal discrimination to deny marriage to same-sex couples while allowing it for others. I say that if it is, then I am an MD.
Marriage is nothing but a defined institution which anyone can freely partake of if they simply meet the qualifications. Doctorates of Medicine are the same. If I want to be a doctor I have to go to school, take tests, apply for licenses and so on. But what about stupid people? Or the insane? Or people who do not believe in western medicine, or tests, or schooling? And of course there are the many, many poor people who cannot go to such schools. They are discriminated against under that system, just like gay people are in marriage.
Marriage is what it is. Being an MD is as well. And homosexuals can marry, and many have, only not usually to one of the same gender. They are not barred from the institution at all. It is simply not discrimatory to have standards. It is, though, if one bars those who actually meet the standards based on some other non-applicable criteria. But, that is not happening, and so there is no issue of individual rights being violated, which should satisfy any real conservative.
Doc you should demand a refund for your tuition.
You have no clue the purpose of Marriage.