I had a near 9 year relationship in the past and I think it's highly unlikely we would have got married even if we could have done. I don't believe in marriage and, though you can't argue against gay marriage due to it being an equality issue, I think it's going to bring a lot of unhappiness.

It's going to be relentlessly promoted as some kind of ideal (just look at the title of this thread which assumes we're going to have a wedding), but many men will be unable to find a longterm partner to marry simply because of the way it often is when men get together.

I believe we will end up with a small conservative married elite at the core of the gay community, which will cause misery and exclusion for the many who don't fit in. This is already happening in Britain, with these kind of people teaming up with the police and local authorities in attacking cruising areas and so on. Which would have been unthinkable 15 years ago. Supposedly we don't need these anymore now "we" have gay villages and civil partnerships (porn could be the next target).

Our conservatives aren't as extreme as yours in the States and are backing gay marriage here. You have to ask why. It's going to be like going back to the 1950's except the desperate marriages that people are pressured into by family, friends and social pressure will be same-sex instead of opposite sex.