Don’t fall into the marriage license trap. ALL American law comes from English common law and the English began issuing marriage licenses in the 14th century, this was done as a convenience to eliminate the banns of marriage that were issued earlier. To say that marriage isn’t any of the government’s business is the same as saying that ALL laws regarding marriage should be ignored and this would include polygamy, incest and the marriage of children.
I am not saying that at all. I am entirely in favor of marriage licensing between one man and one woman at a time. I am also in favor of licensing being denied in cases that the SCOTUS seems to think are civil rights -- see post 212.