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I think it's an issue for the states to decide, at the moment. I hope in the future that will change and same-sex marriage will be recognized across the United States. Quite frankly, marriage isn't a federal issue, though--it is a states' issue, as different states have different requirements (beyond gender of the participants) for getting a marriage license (minimum age, possible blood test, etc). It may even be up to specific localities to decide in this circumstance.
Oregon passed a horrible law not so many years ago that defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman; this was in 2004 when gay marriage was the red herring that the Bush camp was waving. However, our state government turned around and passed a law that allowed for domestic partnerships three years later.
So we are making steps, they're just tiny ones, and they're happening in various parts of the country. The United States is a big place, with a lot of diverse opinions. There are a couple states--California and Massachusetts--that allow same-sex marriage. And here in Oregon we're still fighting. It's my hope that eventually we'll be able to get the result of Measure 36 removed from our Constitution, and we'll see the passage of Measure 36 as a horrible mistake.
I'd also like to see the federal Defense of Marriage law overturned, but I'm not holding my breath.
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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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