I have to admit that I underwent my own evolution on this issue over the years. 15 years ago, I was highly opposed to the idea of "gay marriage", actually arguing with my wife that civil unions would be a better solution. I had recently learned that 2 of my college roommates had been gay, but my views were not yet ready to accept that people are people and labeling them with rejoinders is only a way of making them less human.
I was a poor friend - not for not realizing they were gay, they chose to hide that from everyone we knew back in college - but for never creating an atmosphere that would have made them more comfortable just being who they were. I would say stupid things like calling people "fag" or derisively saying "that's so gay" without ever recognizing it for what it was - hurtful. Its my own shame to live with, and my gay friends would never bring it up or hold it against me
People should be allowed to marry - and receive the full benefits of recognition of that marriage from the state - regardless of what other person they are marrying. Its not a "gay" marriage or a "homosexual" marriage...just a marriage.
It took me too long to reach that conclusion, but discrimination before the law must end and labeling marriages to make them different from each other has no place in the future.
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