Reply #5: There already is the civil ceremony option

[LiberalFighter]

It is either a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony. Each state determines how and who is qualified to marry individuals. Ministers and others must have their credentials on file with the state. I believe they generally must have a leader of the religious organization verify their status.

Then there are the Justices of the Peace, Judges, Mayors and other state approved individuals that can marry individuals outside the religious institution.

In reality, the civil ceremony is the primary requirement with religious institutions allowed to performed marriages in lieu of the civil ceremony. It is considered marriage to be a policy in the interest of the state... children, death, divorce, financial responsibilties and other factors.

What is to stop a new religion being created just for gays/lesbians? Wouldn't it be a violation of our U.S. constitution and state constitutions to interfere in the practice of religion? What public policy would states have that would be against the public good of the state?