"Is that really the case ? I do n't think so . Look at the actual benefits given to married people . Are any of them actually about recognizing a relationship between a man and a woman ? No , they 're not . They 're all about making it easier to build a home , a family , and a life together . That 's the real intent of the marriage laws , and there 's nothing about building a life together that requires the participants to be of differing genders ."
"I believe it to be the case that marriage existed prior to any legal recognition of the relationship . If this is true , it seems reasonable to conclude that the state , for whatever reasons , wanted to encourage that particular relationship . Now , if it did so in order to foster an atmosphere where family life can best be nurtured and brought to maturity , that 's well and good . But I still disagree with your conclusion that `` there 's nothing about building a life together that requires the participants to be of differing genders. `` As a general proposition , I agree with this . Two individuals can certainly build a life together without any encouragement from the state . However , in a strict legal sense , there certainly are requirements one must fulfill in order to receive the benefits the state wishes to confer . In other words , legislatures have determined not only that they want to foster and encourage an atmosphere conducive for family life , they have determined that the best way to accomplish this is by encouraging the relationship to be between two individuals of the opposite sex . Now , I will probably say this more than once so that I ensure it has been taken into account : my primary purpose in starting this thread ( and my other posts ) is not WHETHER the definition of marriage should be changed , but if it is to be changed , WHO should change it ."
"benefits given to married people , there 's nothing about building a life together that requires the participants to be of differing genders ."
"But I still disagree with your conclusion that `` there 's nothing about building a life together that requires the participants to be of differing"