“Any indication that anyone is pointing out to the court that “coupling” male & female trends to have consequences in the interest of the state (reproduction, both as a matter of sustaining the population, and not leaving the helpless as wards of the state), while “coupling” male/male or female/female have absolutely no such consequences?”
If I read it right, I agree with you. The only reason the state need care about marriage at all is procreation. Marriage is all about the children and nothing else. They are treating it like it’s for the gratification of adults, when it’s a restriction on adults in favor of the child.