Yeah… what JDixon said. 

The trick is to find someone you can share the rest of your life with and be happy as equals, as partners, as friends.  It’s as simple as that. Nobody should have the power to tell anyone otherwise.  I’ve found that the people who fear same-sex marriage and want it outlawed all have some significant baggage to deal with in addition to their own homophobia.  It’s just too bad that there are so many of them out there. By the looks of the poll - it’s about 2 to 1 against.  That sounds about right for our part of the Panhandle.

Same-sex marriage is not about religion. The fact is that marriage is a function of the state.  When a pastor or rabbi concludes a ceremony, it is with the phrase, “By the power vested in me by the State of Florida, I now pronounce you…”  This makes clear that religious ceremonies are unnecessary to become married.  Couples may walk into a town hall and get married, sans minister.  I am by no means suggesting that conservative religious institutions be made to conduct marriage ceremonies which run contrary to their teachings.  Instead, those religious institutions which traditionally allow same-sex marriage ought to be free to practice their religion. 

The conversation ought not focus on religion, but on civil rights, namely the right to choose a partner of legal age and capable of mutual consent to enter into a state-recognized partnership that grants the married couple a wide range of responsibilities toward one another and State support to meet those commitments.