[Darkwolf377]

a matter of fundamental human and civil rights.

Gay marriage is not a fundamental civil right.

I am not a Christian, and I have no problem with gay people. One of my best friends is gay.

But since when has marriage between people of the same sex been considered a "fundamental civil right"?

Answer: Since gay people decided it would be a shortcut to "acceptance"--just get the law to SAY it's so, and wheee! Everyone will accept gay people as equals.

It's a lazy, embarrassingly dishonest attempt twisting reality to fit a model that has never, ever existed in any society.

[RU88]

Queers don't care what straight people think of them. The only thing they're concerned about is having the laws changed to grant them protective status. They can't change enough people's minds but they can go about trying to change everyone’s laws. Once they have the law on their side they have de facto acceptance no matter what ones opinion may be. That is exactly what this is all about.

[AustinBill]

The sole "beneficiary" of such unions is divorce lawyers. "Gay divorce" stands to be much more profitable than "gay marriage".

If two adults of whatever sex want to live together there's nothing stopping them from doing so. No law restricts who can and cannot be named as a beneficiary in a Will. And Power of Attorney may freely be granted and revoked between consenting adults.

The legal foundations of marriage are based upon society's interest in the protection of any children which may issue from that marriage, for by definition they represent the future of that society. The state has no say in the religious dimensions of marriage (and in the U.S. that prohibition is explicit in the 1st Amendment) other than to note that such foundations exist and are part of every faith and creed.