The problem in the US is that it is too democratic so they lose out on minority rights. I think the moderates in the US should focus more on getting the government out of the marriage buisness.
The biggest problem is the entire debate is that the word marriage is defined so differently by people. In the strictest government sense it is a contract between to people which defines certain rules for the treatment of assets and children.
For some religious people it is an unbreakable bond created by God. So when people are debating it is questionable whether they are even debating the same thing.
I think in the US especially the gay rights movement should focus on Separate but Equal legislation first similar to early imancipation in the civil rights movement then focus on true equality. We probably need a generation to die off to get rid of some of the prejudice.
I also think progressive governments should just quit marrying people rather than trying to push through gay marriage. Make the definition of marriage definable by each indiviual and have the government turn to a more contractual definition.
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