While you make a decent argument Static, it's entirely based on the fact that Gay people choose to be gay, and you give no credence to anything other than that. I assume that you did not choose heterosexuality, so what makes you think someone else chose homosexuality? Simply because it's different than you? I didn't choose to like Asian women more than White women, I was just born that way.
Most doctors knowledgeable of the subject will tell you that homosexuals are not born that way, of course any homosexual will tell you that will tell you that, and even the Pope himself has said that and it is now part of the Catholic Catechism.
Now, I realize you might not be Catholic, but you don't get much more religiously conservative than that as a Christian. And even the Catholics believe that homosexuals are born that way. Of course not all of them feel that way, but it's the official view.
There is no reason that something "so special" (as you say) should be reserved for heterosexual couples only, when there are millions of homosexual couples that are in the same loving relationships and even raising the same children. Besides, Homosexuals can already get married by a great many priests/ministers/rabbis/etc, although it might not be "officially" sanctioned by the respective church. To most that is fine.
Now they just want the rights to legal marriage. Especially the protection that comes along with that.
Homosexual couples that are willing to get 'married' or "unioned" or whatever now, are taking a step that's a million times harder than for any heterosexual couple to make. Not only is there the societal conflicts, there is the legal conflicts. They have no way out once they're in that bond, and the work a lot harder than most heterosexual couples at sustaining their relationship for that reason.
Homosexual couples can get married in some churches, can give birth to or adopt children, provide for their children (very well because homosexuals are generally wealthy) and do everything else that heterosexual couples can do; except 2 things.
1> Have sex (which is now legal, finally) 2> Get a piece of paper from the Gov't saying their marriage is legal, and all the legal benefits and detriments to that (except for in Hawaii and Vermont)
How many heterosexual couples have a strong enough committment nowadays to get married if it meant they had to fly to Hawaii to get married, would be discriminated daily, would greatly impact them professionally, and had no protection in case of a divorce?
You'd see marriage rates amongst heterosexual couples plummet. I think it says something that homosexual couples are willing to go through what they do to get married. Anyone going through that kind of trouble deserves a simple sheet of paper in my mind.
Oh, and to address your people marrying dogs and cats thing -- You're right, people would want that. But it wouldn't be legal because a dog or cat can't give consent. The same reason why you can't marry a child younger than the age of consent in whatever state you're in or marry someone declared legally retarded and unable to give their own consent.
But there is absolutely no reason why two consenting adults shouldn't be allowed to get married. It's legal in every way except for that they are 2 men or 2 women -- and that is a Christian principle, not a legal one. Which is why you will find it changed very soon.
I'm sorry if it makes your marriage feel less special. Although I don't know why it would. I assume your marriage is special because it's a religious marriage in the eyes of God, not a legal marriage in the eyes of Uncle Sam. I assume it's your vows that are special, not your marriage certificate.
Gays can already get the religious marriage, always have been able to if they could find a priest willing to do it, so your marriage vows have already been tainted. They simply want a piece of paper from the state saying they're legally married.
Times change. People felt that their education would be lessened by allowing blacks into their schools, but they had to learn to deal with it.
