excuse me? Religious freedom VERSUS gay rights? Why can't gay rights be protected as a religion? Only a church has the right to perform marriage ceremonies? What about synangogues and temples? What about gay churches? What about mock churches? Are they breaking anybody's copyright monopoly by competing with churches to perform weddings?
Why not have gay rights activists fight for the expansion of civil union laws? Because "civil union" is a term that's only different in name, much like calling black people "black people" instead of just calling them "people"
Why should they be called something different unless legally they have to be treated differently? Why should they be "separate BUT equal" not "separate" or "equal"? I am NOT saying gay people should be treated equally, I am saying, we should be open about our bias and hatred, not dress it up and disguise it.
"Churches can keep their freedom" (or else they may lose it) is a lie, churches ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL have the freedom to deny gays marriage just like synagogues deny gentiles marriage and Mormon Temples deny non-Mormons. Furthermore, just like how black people can still be hated, society is still free to hate gays and gay couples even if they are legally equal.
Just because black people are given full human rights as whites and called "people" rather than "black people", does not force anybody to see them as people, you are (and certainly I am) free to believe blacks are dirty, stinky subhuman beasts (and teach your children that), if you feel like it.
No rights of any religious bigots are violated by giving marriage licenses to gays, just like nobody's rights are violated if I gave driver licenses to monkeys or gave drinking licenses to dogs.
