"My answer to your question is that marriage is part of what America offers" FIRST MISTAKE, BECAUSE AMERICA DIDN'T CREATE MARRIAGE, THE CHURCH DID THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. THE GOVERNMENT GIVES CERTAIN RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES TO MARRIED COUPLES AND FAMILIES, AND ALSO EXTENDS THOSE TO CIVIL UNIONS.
"right to pursue Life, Liberty, and Happiness, which includes being able to have a Gay Marriage" WHY DOES A COUPLE HAVE TO BE MARRIED IN ORDER TO PURSUE LIFE, LIBERTY AND HAPPINESS?
"otherwise being in a civil union would be the only thing gay couples could do, while being in a civil union would be an option to a straight couple, which is not liberty, or justice, or a pursuit of happiness." SO IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR STRAIGHT COUPLES BUT NOT GAY COUPLES? WHY THE F**K NOT? WHAT ABOUT CIVIL UNIONS PREVENTS LIBERTY, JUSTICE, OR THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?
"Why would calling it a "Civil Union" be just as good as calling it a "Marriage"?" IT IS NOT A MATTER OF WHAT YOU CALL IT, IT IS A MATTER OF TAKING THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AWAY FROM PASTORS AND CHURCHES TO STILL PRACTICE THEIR DOCTRINE WITHOUT WORRYING WHO IS GOING TO SUE THEM NEXT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NAME BUT THE VIOLATION OF THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
"Why does it matter so much to the religious that gay marriage was legalized?" WELL I HAVE SAID IT ABOUT A THOUSAND TIMES NOW, BECAUSE IT FORCES CHURCHES TO CHANGE THEIR DOCTRINE OR GET SUED FOR NOT PERFORMING A GAY MARRIAGE.
"They haven't been harmed in any way," EXCEPT FOR THE MULTITUDE OF PASTORS AND RELIGIOUS BUSINESS OWNERS THAT WANT TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS BY NOT PERFORMING SERVICES FOR SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE IS MORALLY WRONG. IT IS MORALLY WRONG TO SHOOT SOMEONE REGARDLESS IF THE INTENT IS JUST TO INJURY THEM OR KILL THEM (UNLESS IT IS MEANT SOLELY FOR SELF DEFENSE AND IT IS THE ONLY OPTION). SHOULD A GUN STORE OWNER SELL SOMEONE A GUN THAT OPENLY ADMITS THEY PLAN ON SHOOTING PEOPLE ONLY TO INJURE THEM BUT NOT KILL THEM? IF THE GUN SHOP OWNER REFUSES, SHOULD THE PERSON BE ALLOWED TO SUE HIM FOR DISCRIMINATION? THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. YOU MAY THINK THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS HARMLESS, BUT RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO STICK WITH THE DOCTRINE AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BELIEVE THAT THE ACT AND LIVING THAT LIFESTYLE LEADS TO ETERNAL DAMNATION. WHY SHOULD THEY CONDONE THE ACT BY PARTICIPATING?