I'm straight, but I am STRONGLY in favor of homosexual marriages. So far, we've heard many religious arguments against it and the argument that gay people can't have kids (which is not the only reason people get married). Marriage, in our society, is BOTH a secular and a religious institution. I think that this is the problem.
As a religious institution, marriages are given God's blessing and church endorsement and community status, etc.
As a secular institution, marriages are given tax breaks, hospital visits, inheritance rights, some 3,000+ marital rights under law.
I do not care whether or not any religion wants to endorse a homosexual marriage. But it is imperative that everyone in America is given equal rights, I would like to think that very few people disagree with that. My solution is make these two institutions sharing one name more distinct. We could give "marriage" 100% to religion - keep the state out of it; marriage would just be the bond between whomever, in God's eyes. If any couples want to be bound *legally*, call that a civil union. For everyone. For any couple that wants to be recognized *under the law*, they would need to fill out the proper paperwork and become an official "civil union" before being granted any of the rights that accompany it. If they also want to get married in the church, they can do that too, before or after.