Somehow gays feel that we need the straight seal of approval on our relationships. Let the straights hold ceremonies in churches that, for the most part, don't want us there anyway. It is incumbent upon every gay person, coupled or not, to learn how we can insure ourselves the rights that are afforded to straight couples without feeling the need to transform ourselves into caricatures, parodies of straight couples. If there are any special rights, straights have them, and they intend to keep them. Let's call it Heterosexual Privilege.
Employers provide extensive benefits to married couples.
Most, however, give no benefits at all to same sex couples. These benefits include health insurance, tuition reimbursement, and paid leave from employment when grieving the death of your spouse. Any such benefits are tax free to married couples, whereas same sex couples must pay taxes on such benefits as ordinary income. Married couples with a single working spouse, or one making significantly more money than the other, get the tax benefit of splitting income between the two of them. Same sex couples get no such benefit, and are taxed at a higher rate.