No one has changed positions about this topic more than I have. Not because I think that there should not be marriage equality, but what I thought it might have been. Boy, I was wrong!
But I used to hold to my thesis that marriage is a religious thing, and that civil unions are a state thing. However, I have been counseled by many folks that tell me that my thoughts are not quite right.
For the record, here are my thoughts:
Marriage is transcendental. It is much more than any civil or religious law. It the the union of two people, regardless of their gender, but ONLY two people.
Marriage IS a contract, and civil law has to be observed for it to be fair for everyone. I was married once, and the civil law divided the assets when we, sadly, split our union.
But the idea, and the ideal, of being married is much more important than the idea of signing a paper. Here is why.
When two people marry, they pledge their hearts and souls to each other, and to any progeny (adopted or natural) that they choose to love. Love is the real word. So here is my short suggestion for Federal law.
The United States recognizes as a marriage a sworn, loving bond betwixt two people, of legal age, to love each other until one dies, or until such time that one has wronged the other badly.
All States shall recognize any marriage in any other State as their own, with all of the legal benefits. This does not require any State to recognize a marriage betwixt first cousins.
To make way for proper Federal enforcement, all laws and state constitutional amendments that outlaw marriage betwixt persons of the same gender are now null and void. The Federal government also recogizes those unions, and DOMA is moot.
Well, that is my first stab at it. Any comments?
Warmest regards,
Doc