Reply #12: Can I ask why?

[gratuitous]

When a man and a woman marry, under the laws of the state they're in, they immediately have conferred on them a number of rights: The right not to be compelled to testify against one another in court; rights to inherit property; rights to visit and see one another in the hospital; and about 1,000 other rights big and small.

Two other persons, just as committed to one another, are deprived of those rights, or have to see an attorney to draw up the legal paperwork necessary to secure those rights, and they should be prepared to produce those papers on demand should any of those rights or privileges be questioned. The only difference for the second couple is that, even though they may want to marry, they're forbidden to do so.

Why isn't the equal protection of the law extended to second couple? Please, if you can, cite a compelling legal or social reason. Also, if you would like to cite a religious reason, keep in mind that the United States Constitution is, by its own terms, forbidden to enact a law favoring one religious practice over another. I would also assert that no religious tradition, and certainly not Christianity, speaks with one voice on the matter of same sex marriage.