Religious conviction is a very real and powerful force in the world. You would do well to remember it was one of the most important factors in the formation of the United States.

A homosexual couple has no more right to a religious ceremony in say a Baptist Church, than an atheist would have in Moslem Mosque or Jewish Temple. Society by its very definition, and as an aggregate, has certain social mores which it reserves in institutional form. (For example a citizen can’t marry a goat, claim a pet as a dependent on his tax form, or have sex with underage minors.) The so-called legal rights being sought by homosexual activist (through the creation of homosexual marriage) are in fact newly minted extensions rights. For example, I have a foot fetish therefore I want the creation of certain rights for my sexual behavior. The human sex drive is a very mutable behavior, and has always been subject to societal intervention and control.
By contrast the institution of marriage in society has its roots in religion.

In the end, no legal rights are being denied to practicing homosexuals. Any estate or benefit issues can be solved in the manner of any other citizen (through the creation of a simple will, an a-b bypass if there is a large estate with tax large issues, and the simple naming of beneficiaries on insurance forms.)

And one last note. As a Black Man in American, I find the comparison of homosexual activist with our own civil rights struggle to be rather forced and personally offensive. Believe me when I tell you that I have known irrational hate, and through your writing, it’s clear you don’t know the meaning of it.

Meh, I guess the worst you can say about me is that I’m intolerant of irrational prejudice.