By the way... the most hardened of atheists could and should — if he cares for his fellow man and the good of his society and state — recognize that the only sexual preference and practice which should be normalized and legitimized by society and state is that of adult, married, permanent, man-with-woman couplings.
This is a Christian issue, and a religious issue, but it is not necessarily a Christian/religious issue.
It shouldn’t be that difficult to grasp.
Take the government out of the marriage process and just don’t get a license sanctioned and/or issued by the state.
Before the invention of license or certificate it was commonly held that your declaration alone was sufficient for the state.
If one objects to the misnomer “Gay Marriage” and the current war by homosexuals, using the law and government, as blunt instruments to force a social validation and acceptance, then we simply cannot seek or obtain permission by givernment.