All this B.S. about marriage. The institution of, the protection of, the war against.
Please, for the love of Pete. I have the solution. It's a clunker, but It's a no-brainer, people. It is, to be Frank, driving me up a wall that I have yet to see an elected official on the proper side of the fence (the heart is a bit to the left after all) even come close to proposing it.
The state: i.e. local municipalities, state and federal government entities shall henceforth remove itself from the marriage equation.
All american taxpayers who wish to enter into a mutually beneficial familial, social, and financial contract shall be granted access to The Civil Union.
The Civil Union will confer, upon all agreed parties, the benefits now known to be conferred by the Marriage Licence.
The Marriage Licence will cease to exist as a legally binding document. It will be replaced by The Civil Union. If couples wish to marry, then they must turn to an institution willing to confirm the agreement and relationship in a manner agreeable to all parties.
If one wishes to place further gravitas upon this agreement, specifically in regards to religious significance, all religious establishments shall feel unfettered freedom to place whatever restrictions fall into their respective belief systems, providing they fall within constitutional bounds.
This will allow for the definition of Marriage to fall within the bounds of chosen religious tenets.
The Government of The United States must remove itself from the marriage equation altogether. "Marriage" as the case may be, should become the sole province of religious (or secular) institutions that place their limitations and restrictions upon a willing and voluntary congregation, membership, or affiliation.
This is about nothing more than equal access to the law and its' provisions in this country. Truly separating church and state in this matter is the simple answer to the problem.
It's a no-brainer.