It's just a definition of terms and the legal recognition associated with those terms. It's simply "not" marriage. Other legal "union" terms do apply.
As to the impact...it is clear to anyone with common sense. Our society as a whole is based upon strong nuclear families capable of raising strong, moral children capable of going forward and doing the same. And yes, according to the people who founded this nation, morality and religion was a predominant factor, to whit:
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."- John Adams, Oct. 11, 1798As we get further and further away from these foundational principlest, we impact society negatively. IMHO, no fault divorce is another destructive device as regards families and their ability to provied that essential underpinning and foundation of society.
Just my opinion.
Well stated
You are so right about not wanting to undermine the foundation of our society. It comes down to that. I bet you anything that there are gay people out there who agree with you.
Many people are capable of being concerned with the greater good. It fact, this is a foundation of our society too. It's not just about "me, me, me." Sometimes it has to be about what's best for those beyond "me."