Fortunately you are wrong about marriage. Marriage was a contract that was created to sell goats for wives back in the pagan days. It evolved during the Egyptian dynasties and carried into other parts of the world as it was changed to be more about a relationship with benefits than that of just trading humans.

When the US was founded and the constitution drawn up, our systems looked at marriage as a legal contract. Unfortunately the religious zealots of this country have brainwashed even the gays to thinking civil marriage is nothing more than religious institution, when in fact it is not. The only power religion has on marriage is that a pastor or priest can sign the marriage license instead of a government official or judge. That is it.

Now from a sociological stand point. The word marriage, despite what some think, is actually significant in how the public treats individuals as a whole. When this country refused to allow African Americans to marry one another they did so to keep them separated from their humanity. They did the same to interracial couples as well in the 40's and 50's. The word civil union is not new but old. Because back in the late 1800's black people were not considered "people," just as LGBT are not seen today, people offered a slew of names to codify and play down their relationships just as people are trying to do to us LGBT, but refused to give them marriage. By refusing to give these people their humanism, their marriages, the people eventually started to agree on those lines. Separate but equal became a staple as it has once again. But more importantly the white man was able to justify his power over the black man because only the white man had the ability to get married.

This is no different today. I assume you are not aware of the four states that tried "civil unions?" These ideas of separate but equal did not grant any more acceptance towards our brothers and sisters but more separation and justification of that separation. Do you feel happy to be separate and unequal just because the opposition seems too stern to beat? The reason why they want to keep marriage from us is not because it's a religious institution. There are many religions outside of Christianity, Islam and Judaism that actually support gay marriage, and many different sects and religious leaders of those three abrahamic dogmas that do support gay marriage. The main reason why these bigot few want to keep marriage from us is because it has become a symbol of humanity, a symbol that describes the love of two people, a symbol that shows society that these two people have formed a life bond with one another. It is a symbol that shows the true side and nature of humanity, at least in our country. 

If you believe that the UK made the right decision over Canada by granting the separate but equal "civil partnerships" law then let me inform you that many people in the UK, who were not already supportive, have not changed their mind on how they see or feel about gay people. The court system in the UK goes so far as to use the civil partnership law to call LGBT "less than human;" as was the case when the high courts' forcibly divorced a Canadian "married" couple and gave them a civil partnership against their wishes when they had to relocate to the UK. However in states like Massachusetts and in countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada, who have allowed our people to marry, peoples' minds about who and what gay people are have radically changed. They now see us a normal every day people in those countries. Once bigoted religious groups have now reevaluated their dogma and come to accept gay people as the humans they are.

So now do you understand why marriage is so important to humanity as a whole, especially LGBT people. We as human beings have become so strident in our likings to oppression that we are turned from one another; walking in the abyss not knowing what to do and what to support. If it says separate, then walk away and never look upon it again. If it says include then fight with a full heart until you and your fellow brothers and sisters are seen as equal. Never settle for second especially when it comes to your humanity and the humanity of those around you.

Oh, well said, Chris. There has been so very much discussed about this ... just pay attention to Canada everyone. Where ALL adults can Marry legally, and all married couples are called such by grocers, doctors, pastors, repair men, teachers of their children, etc etc etc. 

Only bigots here want to keep others from being able to marry... Want to force their own values on strangers.

But we won't have it. Day by day, person by person, we will achieve the freedom to marry here.

I sure have hope that you are right... but as each day wanes to a close my hope for this country dwindles further. The bridge I once believed was as wide as the Mackinaw has become as thin as the pubic hair from pathogen laced anal region that we like to call American democracy. A democracy that is against the supreme courts and legislation's duty in allocating out fundamental rights to oppressed minorities, and is all in favor of of using ballot initiatives to remove those rights from and re-oppress productive, tax paying, members of society that do not conform to their, said, religious ideals.

Indeed mr. marshall and well said indeed.

@ Chris Marshall.

Dont give up my friend.

We will win...We will win.

From a psychologist standpoint of looking at cognitive dissonance I was wondering that exact same question. However I do not know if there is an answer.