Marriage has always been defined as the union of a man and a woman. The title of marriage also denotes that a heterosexual male and female joined in marriage can beget children. And as such a married heterosexual couple should be accorded all the benefits that the laws allow.
Homosexual male couples and lesbian couples cannot beget children. That is the main difference between these two groups. The term marriage must be reserved for heterosexual couples, and the term civil union should be applied to homosexual/lesbian couples. Couples who choose a civil union cannot call themselves married, because they cannot bear children. And they should not be accorded the title...yet this doesn’t stop them from demanding the same title and status/benefits as that of married couples.
I have nothing against couples who want to form a union and share a home life. But I am against a homosexual who understands the difference between him/herself and a heterosexual, yet demands that he/she be granted the same title and benefits of a same sex union as heterosexual couples share. They are two different groups, and different titles and laws should apply to each.
It is a fluke of nature that homosexual men and women feel the same desire to form a family union and nuture children. But it is unfair for a child to be raised by two men or two women. Males and females were put on this earth because each have different qualities, and each of their qualities are necessary in the upbringing of children.
It remains to be seen where all of this goes, but I do feel for the children of homosexual unions, who will never know the care and nuturing of a mother and a father in the true sense of the word. What a confusing world this must seem to these children.
How all of this turns out remains to be seen.
A state, the fed, some made up rule of the church? What about natural law? As I see it, American law says any two can be wed based of location and who are any of us to say differently? As far as I can tell, a marriage is any two beings of the same species that stay together long term and procreate. Why do I need a state or some church law to say that is right or wrong for that matter? What got us here before homo-sapiens could even read? Because there certainly was not a bible back then; unless you are some young earther.