America was founded because the British were oppressing them religiously. In essence, America exists because of the idea that telling people that they can or can't do something based on your religious beliefs is wrong.
For a very long time, black people were slaves. But eventually, America grew past that prejudice. For a very long time, women were basically property. But eventually, America grew past that prejudice too. As time has gone on, America has gradually evolved to the point that race and gender no longer limit what you can or can not do with your life.
It is well past time that America grows past its prejudice against homosexuals. It is the next step in the slow social evolution of this country from a hypocritically oppressive theocracy into a fair and just assemblage of some of the more enlightened minds in the free world.
Homosexual marriage won't hurt heterosexuals. You can't argue that you're "protecting the integrity of the institution of marriage", because allowing homosexuals to marry each other will not damage the institution of marriage. It won't suddenly become more difficult for heterosexuals to marry, nor will it cause them to be denied any benefits of that union.
Nor can you make any arguments based on religion or faith. If you do, you are attempting to use your faith to decide what other people...people who may or may not believe as you do...are allowed to do. That is the very worst kind of shoving your religion down someone's throat, the kind that oppresses innocent people and denies them rights that others enjoy.
mythosx, you have yet to give one good reason that you feel homosexuals should not be allowed to marry that stood up to scrutiny. Everything you have said has either been an attempt to depersonify homosexuals, an argument based on your personal religious beliefs, or an erroneous claim that somehow, allowing homosexuals to marry will harm the institution of marriage.
I have called you to task on multiple points upon which you have made grievous errors.
You have incorrectly defined 'oppression' as being based only on age, sex, or religion. Look up the word in the dictionary sometime.
You have recently attempted to assume facts about me which are significantly off-the-mark.
You have utterly failed to produce any quotes from the bible that claim that homosexuality is a perversion, when asked to do so.
You have claimed that calling you a jackass is an infringements of your rights, which it most definitely is not - you would know this, if you actually knew what your rights were.
You have accused me of 'dogging' your faith, but when I pointed out that I never did so, you had no evidence to offer to contradict me.
You have referred to homosexuals of being 'of ill mind', but have failed to bring forth any evidence to that regard.
You have claimed that research suggesting that homosexuality is genetic is 'biased', but failed to bring forth any evidence to that regard as well.
You have claimed that the homosexual marriage would be a marriage of convenience that existed only for tax breaks, ignoring the hundred or so protections posted on page 1 of this very topic that heterosexual married couples enjoy, that homosexual couples currently can not.
In short, virtually everything you say seems to boil down to unfounded, unsupported, and blatantly inaccurate statements, followed closely by 'I'm Christian, so homosexuals shouldn't have rights.'
Well, you win. I give up.
Over the course of discussing this topic with you for I-forget-how-long now, I have come to the realization that you have decided to cling to your opinion, regardless of how unfounded, unjust, and ill-conceived it is, both in foundation and in execution. No amount of factual evidence, moral appeals, or attempts to appeal to your rational side will sway you from your unshakable opinion, no matter how unable you are to support it.
My patience with you has reached its end. There is no point in continuing to discuss this matter with you - your mind is closed. I will rattle your cage no longer.
May God have mercy on your soul.