[Cymbaline]

For conservatives, the issue is pretty simple. The institution of marriage predates any existing government or nation. So no government has a right to redefine marriage. But it is okay for the government to become entangled with marriage towards the end of promoting marriage. The institution is good. It tames men. It protects women. It is good for children. Therefore, it is worth promoting.

Interesting thought; I will have to remember that. Since Government didn't create marriage, it's not theirs to redefine.

[DuncanWaring]

Also, historically, marriage has never been a “right”, it’s been an “obligation”, an obligation two people undertook before engaging in behavior which could reasonably be expected to lead to children.

(Hasn’t always worked out that way, but that was the goal.)

Further, there are lots of restrictions placed on “traditional” marriage - you can’t marry a close relative, you can’t marry (usually) someone who’s already married, you can’t marry someone who’s got a “social disease”, you can’t marry someone who doesn’t want to marry you.