[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Any supporting evidence for that?

Several ancient Greek writers speak of marriage as an assigned state duty, the sole purpose of which was to raise children. Neither love nor religion entered into the picture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_marriage_law

I don't see how matters of race or color have any bearing or relevance to gay marriage.

Then you need to study your Mormon history. The custom of blacks not being able to hold the priesthood was probably at its root because of contemporary racism, but the official reason was that blackness was the mark God put on Cain, and again the punishment of Ham for exposing his father Noah's nakedness. The real cause may have been secular, but the stated official cause was entirely religious. The stance against gay marriage is also stated to be religious, i.e. scriptural. The real reason? I don't know, but the official reason is exactly the same.

I think this subject more about forcing an alteration of religious beliefs.

As was the subject of Mormon Priesthood, hence my original comment.

Beliefs that are voluntary and optional in life, and forcing these changes in the Church via the State; which i think is wrong at a fundamental level.

I completely agree here. Using the state to force a change in the church is decidedly unconstitutional. I was talking about trying to convince the church itself to change on its own.

There are cases on the dockets involving gay couples bringing lawsuits to attempt to force churches to marry them. I certainly agree in the belief that this is wrong.