I have no problem with expanding that definition to include a man and man or a woman and a woman. There is apart of me the believes homosexual marriages will by and large under perform heterosexual marriages when it comes to be life long commitments built around raising children and growing old together but I am willing to admit that I have no fact to base that on so I don't believe it should be law. Yes heterosexual marriage is far from perfect but I believe there are societal and cultures pressures that help keep heterosexual marriages together that may not exist in the homosexual world. Everything I have seen and read leads me to believe that homosexuals are on average about a factor of ten more promiscuous then heterosexuals. Rampant promiscuity does typically lend itself to future long term monogamous relationships.

My experience with homosexuals is unsurprising limited but my wife’s aunt is openly lesbian and we interact with her and her friends on an occasional basis. They seem to swap partners more often then teens on high school kids. Of the small handful of gay men I have know only one was in a relationship that was over a decade old. But that is all antidotal so I am willing to accept the gay community’s assertion that they want nothing more than what heterosexuals have. I do get concerned though when you start hearing noise about further redefining a family. I am much more concerned with the level of commitment people put into marriage then who is entering it. I would not object to polygamy if it was done in a manner that did not victimize young woman (or young men for that matter since they are victimized as well even if it is in a different way). I have real concerns about the practice but again it is based on opinion.

Marriage should be two people making a life long commitment to nurture and support each other and if desired to raise children. IMHO childless marriages are missing something but that is nothing but my opinion. If that is what the gay community wants then I accept them buyt if I have to subtract from that definition to accommodate them they I oppose.

Final thoughts are that if homosexuals are going to raise children (and they are) then it makes sense to use the social pressure of marriage to keep them together. KMy atidue on gay marriage are pretty much the same as gays in the military. I have concerns but none of them large enough that I think it justifies dimishing their rights.