I'm not going to spend much time with this one, other than to give a brief account on marriage. Basically, when a man and woman, make public announcement that they shall be joined together in marriage, it had the attached understanding, and formalized by both church and state, that these two were joined, together, for the bearing of offspring, and everybody else was to have hands off. It came down that, certain disciplines, were employed, because the family was held sacred, and the bond, for that reason was recognized, and respected. All living things on this planet have two things in common: The will to survive, and reproduce...anything that gets in the way of that, and hinders surviving, and/or reproducing is actually a form of death. Marriage, between a man and woman, was,and is recognized, institution of that. (though there are people who marry, and having children is not part of their particular program) Though the mores,and values have changed, the institution of marriage was for the above said purpose. If people want to have the same rights as marriage, they should also recognize that those rights were institutionalized, for the REASON of marriage(as said above). Now if people want to 'enjoy' all the same privileges of marriage, but their reason is to accommodate their lifestyle, of choice, then perhaps they would, should or could, try calling it something else, as to, differentiate, what their lifestyle is, which is other than what the already established, institution is about.
Do they have a right?? Legally, they can do what they want. Morally? Well, that is dictated by the morals, of acceptability, within the society, which also incorporates the spiritual aspect of religion, as being a part of society. For those who want recognition in the religious community for their lifestyle, and call the church narrow minded, and stupid, that is pretty arrogant, yourself. After all, when someone in a church whips out their Bible, and shows you, that 'it says right here....etc..'I doubt the same scripture doesn't include the phrase 'except for you'. That is their belief, and no, they don't have to change it, to accommodate you! You think their silly....they think you're silly. Get over it!
Now, let's take it a step further....Two guys move into a place together, and they are not sexually active with each other, nor with anyone of the same sex, ok?..Do they have the right to claim 'same sex marriage' so to collect the benefits, that claiming that, would afford them???
If another 'designation of status' is made to accommodate homosexuals, then that is the designation for that situation..marriage is not that situation. Perhaps they'll come up with something else...ok?