1+1 = 2

The way I see this whole marriage thing is like this. It is a right not a privilege. It is about civil rights, equal rights under the law. If religion opposes it, that their religious right to do so. However, it is not their religious right to limit someones civil right or be involved in government matters. Marriage has two components. The civil part and the religious part. We are not seeking a religious right from churches. We are seeking a civil right from the government. Not special rights, equal rights. Our relationships should have the 1,100 or so rights, privileges, and responsibilities that straight marriage does. End of story. Nothing more. Nothing less. I personally don't care what it is called as long as it is unequivocally equal in it's provisions as a straight marriage. To not grant them to same sex couples, is to discriminate against taxpaying citizens who in every way is just American as the straights. The whole reproducing thing is a farce. Not all straight marriages are about reproducing or even love. Even my parents had to adopt. The sanctity of marriage is another farce. With a divorce rate hoovering around 48% to 50 %, it hardly seems the straights are taking it very serious. I read that in the UK, since same sex marriage was legalized there 4 years ago, only 10% have filed for separation. 10%! A whole lot less than 48% to 50%! If anything same sex marriage will strengthen the floundering institution of marriage. It sure can't make it worse than what the straights have already done. Since it has been a hard won right, we enter in to it more seriously. No quickie annulments after leaving Vegas. How is a same sex marriage gonna affect a straight marriage? That is ludicrous. If your neighbors have that much influence on your marriage, it wasn't much of a marriage. The end result is this. If you aren't for same sex marriage, then don't get one, but stay out of pursuit of happiness for others.