End Social Security. That's something that needs to be done with or without "gay marriage".
Ultimately, that's what "gay marriage" is all about - using the government to fleece your fellow citizens for your benefit. That, and legitimizing depravity.
...and inheritance issues ...
Find a lawyer and write a Will. That option has been available for centuries.
Getting married is now a purely religious event here in the states with some people.
I am not sure how it affects other issues.
I imagine one could be head of household with a religiously married wife.
I dont think that social security would come through.
Of course you are right about inheritance.
All well and good as a suggestion, but the social security abolition is never going to happen, at least not for a couple of generation, who have had money confiscated from them for decades and now have a reasonable expectation of recompense.
Anyway, I just listed those two off the top of my head, but there are many other relevant, compelling reasons for the government to recognize a marriage. Rights to protect against testifying against a spouse in court, benefits employers are obligated to offer the family of an employee, the conflict resolution and settlement in a divorce - all universally and practically require some kind of enforcement or arbitration. Saying this should be done on an individual basis through the courts is impractical and unnecessary when we have the universally understood institution of marriage to make the lion's share of these conflicts mute.
Marriage, real marriage, unites men and women into a single unit, in all important respects. Society understands this, has understood this for thousands of years. It's not unreasonable for government to merely recognize these realities and record, not manage, this relationship.