The only reason marriage has become a government institution is because some bonehead decided to write tax breaks for married couples into tax law. The spirit of that law was to acknowledge that the family bread-winner (who, at that time, was the man who was the sole source of income for the family) was providing for more than himself and was give deductions to reflect his wife and children to ease his tax burden. Up till then the government didn't sanction marriage. The government should stop recognizing marriage altogether and instead recognize domestic partnerships allow for homo and hetero partnerships. Marriage has ALWAYS been a religious institution since the beginning of organized religion. If a church wishes to accept and encourage homosexual marriages then so be it. If a church has historically and traditionally discouraged homosexuality and wishes to continue to do so then I say let it. After all one of America's founding was that congress would write no laws that establish a state religion. This has been interpreted to mean a separation of church and state. That concept in itself permits, nay empowers, religion to discriminate, AS IT SHOULD BE.

To recap, government should NOT in any way be in the business of marriage and provide for domestic partnerships regardless of the orientation of the couples in the partnership. Churches SHOULD be in the marriage business. Besides, if a church believes and preaches that homosexual relationships are sinful and a path to damnation, why would a gay couple want to beg for acceptance with a title of marriage? Why would a gay couple want to be accepted into a bigoted institution? Take some pride in who and what you are. Don't beg to join a party where you are not invited.