Gay Marriage

Rather than calling these unions “gay marriages,” some propose simply calling them “marriage” as an expression of fairness to same-sex couples, whose marriages increasing numbers now view as no different in nature or intent to those of opposite-sex couples. To some gay activists, use of the term “gay marriage” seeks to reinforce the belief that gay people and their marriages are  somehow different than those of straight people (e.g., we don’t use the term ‘straight marriage’ so why would we use this?)  

To religious conservatives, gay marriage is something fundamentally different than other marriages or what God intended marriage to be - which has underscored their opposition to marriage equality.” For these groups, the entire effort to insist on a broadened definition of marriage itself has felt like an aggressive imposition on their conscience and values - essentially side-lining their own meaning of the term for one aligned with a progressive set of views and values.