Then I guess my vote doesn't matter either?
That depends on where you live.
If you live in a solid red state Then, no, your vote doesn't really matter. These states will go (R) regardless. Same if you live in a solid blue state.
The states that will matter will be Ohio and Florida. Republicans have no path to victory without both of them. Win these states, and you have a good chance of turning a handful of purple states red as well.
But first our candidate has to survive the primaries where populous blue states like California and New York play a huge role in selecting the Republican candidate. Add in Illinois, Pennsylvania and the liberal Northeast and it is easy to understand why a serious candidate may wish to steer clear of social issues like abortion and gays. These issues may play well in the South but Republicans aren't worried about winning here. They already have.
Only in so far as it makes voting for someone like Cruz a problem.
These issues are matters of legislation. Abortion can be legal. It can also be something so reprehensible that no modern teenager would even consider. Abortions are down, and clinics are closing.
Education is working.
Gay marriage is a 10th amendment issue. Restore the teeth back in the 10th amendment and let the issue sort itself out in the states. Don’t live in a state where gay marriage is legal, and gay adoption of children is legal (or tolerated).
I see gay marriage as a lever by which we get the feds out of using marriage for all kinds of federal programs. Let the states decide whether traditional marriage is a boon to that state’s society and then live in those states.
Make it moot. The problem ISN’T gay marriage - that’s cultural rot. The problem is the 10th amendment doesn’t mean anything anymore.