Please read the following, and if you have not previously grasped these facts, do so now, and share them with homophobic straights that are against gay marriage:

All marriages (gay or straight) are Civil. The State has the legal right to determine whose marriage it will and will not recognize. Religious organizations only have the right to marry or not marry a couple, but if they choose to marry, the couple has to have the State's approval, or the marriage is null and void.

If someone tries to get married by his church alone without the approval and legal sanction of the State, his children will be bastards, and at death, the surviving partner will have no inheritance rights without a legal will that also must be recognized by the State.

The State can refuse to issue a marriage licenses if State requirements are not met, which include: a fee for the license, maybe a waiting period, possibly a residence requirement, and even blood tests. Unless the State approves and issues a marriage license, no clergyman, not even the pope, can perform a legal marriage service.

When people realize that all marriages are civil, with or without the blessings of an organized religion, then the issue of gay marriage becomes moot. Atheists get married every day at their City Halls, and not a person in the world tries to pass laws to keep non religious people from marrying.

Bottom line here is that marriage is only legal when it is sanctioned by the State. Religious marriages like walking down an aisle or folk ceremonies like jumping over a broom stick are and have always been optional rites in democratic counties. Those churches that are against marrying gay people, do not have to do so, but gay churches should have their right to the rite of marriage for gay people. Why? Again, because all marriages are civil. Putting a spiritual spin on them by organized religions is fine but optional.