"Douglas Berry" wrote in message
...

Not really. People did pair up, but the legal concept of being joined
in the eyes of the law is relatively recent.

There are two kinds of marriage: civil and religious.

Civil marriage is what you get when you file for the license, then
sign it along with the person who conducted the ceremony and a couple
of witnesses. You can be married by anyone who registers with the
state. My sister is getting married next week, and my brother will be
performing the ceremony. All it takes is the license fee (about $80
in my county) and being able to show that you understand the rights
and obligations of marriage.

Religious marriage is what you get in your church or synagogue. It is
separate from civil marriage, but the two are often taken care of in
the same ceremony. It doesn't matter is you have a full wedding mass
conducted by an Archbishop.. the state doesn't recognize the wedding
until that slip of paper is signed.

Since marriage does grant rights, it is unconstitutional to deny those
rights without due process of law (14th Amendment, Section 1) Here in
California, Article I, Section 31 of the State Constitution forbids
discrimination in public contracts, which includes marriage.


Who is being denied marriage?



Now, I'd like you to explain what has happened to your life now that
over 3,000 gay couples have been married in San Francisco.


By "gay couples" I assume you mean same-sex couples. No same-sex couples
have been married in San Francisco. Marriage requires persons of the
opposite sex. Homosexuals are free to marry persons of the opposite sex
just as heterosexuals are. No rights are being denied to anyone.



Are you married?


Yup.



I am, for almost 13 years now. My marriage is
still solid as a rock. What harm is being done? Explain it to me.


Harm is not the issue.