1. Marriage is not a religious institution.

Religious values have no place in the legal system, and as long as marriage entails certain LEGAL rights to couples, it cannot be restricted, defined, and/or based solely on what is considered morally acceptable (or unacceptable) only in religious terms. Nowhere in any religious text is it stated that married couples have certain legal rights that protect them financially, and therefore, if marriage is expected to adhere to religious values, it should not include any legal rights. Furthermore, while marriage may be defined as between a man and a woman in a religious context, it does not mean that homosexual couples shouldn't be privy to the rights included in a marriage contract.

2. Gay marriage is not harmful in any tangible way. Saying that something is "gross" is not a valid reason to have it banned, as the definition of what's gross varies between each person. It does not involve the violation of a minor/animal/other person's consent, and while some forms of gay sex are more likely to spread certain diseases, gay marriage in itself does not equal gay sex. People will continue to have gay sex regardless of whether marriage is legalized. Since similar practices are common among heterosexuals, it cannot be legally acceptable to ban it on those grounds. There is no proof that gay marriage is harmful to children in any way. Children raised by gay parents are statistically proven to be developmentally the same as children Refusing to legalize it simply because it is frowned upon and only wanted by a minority by is like refusing to let someone build a church because the atheists in town wont like it they can still have church in the grass, so why should the state be expected to pay money for their new building if only a few people want it?

3. The purpose of marriage is not determined by religion nor society, but by the individual couples in question. Some would argue that it serves no purpose considering that homosexuals cannot reproduce with their partners, but many straight couples simply choose to not have children, and their marriages are still considered valid by the government and by the general public. If a couple wants to get married but live in separate homes, theyre allowed. If a couple wants to get married just so they can claim ownership over each others sex toys if they get divorced, theyre allowed. If a couple wants to get married just because theyre being pressured by someone else, theyre allowed. But if a gay couple wants to get married because theyre in love, its suddenly not okay anymore just because theyre the same sex?