Here's my take, since it affects me personally...

I couldn't care less if the Catholics want me to marry in a church. I ahve no desire to be married in a church. I just want the same rights afforded to everyone else. I don't think a lot people understand how hard it is to have rights in a same sex relationship. Did you realise that if Bella was sick and in the hospital, the chances of my being told that I am NOT allowed to see her because I'm not FAMILY are huge. In order to make sure I will be able to see her, we will need to get a power of attorney, stating that I am considered family. Do straight people have to do that? No.

say we buy a house, and it's in HER name. Because Bella is quite a bit older than me, this is actually a concern. Should something happen to Bella, even tho we've been together (hypothetically) for 20 years, I could lose the house because I have no rights afforded to me in that instance. We have to make extra sure that it goes into the will.

And children. We want to have children. But because of her age, I'm going to be the one to carry. We have to get all sorts of paperwork filled out so that Bella will be their "guardian", not even PARENT! if something ever happened to me.

Married couples don't have to go through all of this. It's easy. You know who the parents are. Most property is in both names, so that's not a problem. Why should I be denied the same tax breaks, and rights regarding property and children as anyone else? I pay the same taxes. Bella has close to $1300 in taxes taken out a month. I have to abide by the same laws. I am not allowed to murder, steal, or harm anyone. I was born in this country. I am an American citizen. So where the hell does ANYONE get off telling who I can and cannot marry! And how can anyone tell us we're allowed to do what we want? This obviously comes from someone who has never been a victim of a hate crime, or has ever been harrassed because of their sexuality. You know that if it were the straight people's rights being questioned, there would be RIOTS! WHY THE HELL AM I SO DIFFERENT?!?

Edit: Sorry if I sound upset. I AM upset. It's one thing to have an opinion, it's one thing to live it. I appologise for sounding heated. I do NOT appologise for anything else .