1) Gay-braham Lincoln.

2) On Pat's misguided attempt to hijack this thread, is there anyone that has made the distinction between marriage as a purely legal union between two people and marriage as a union of adults sanctioned by a religious institution? They are two separtate issues which have become clouded in the discussion of same-sex marriage.

There is nothing special about the legal aspect of marriage. It carries certain legal obligations, particularly in the areas of dissolution and offspring. Wouldn't you say that it's much like establishing and occasionally dissolving a business or partnership.

From a purely secular point of view, why can't two people of the same sex enjoy the same legal and economic benefits of marriage that two people of the opposite sex enjoy? Answer that for me...WITHOUT making a reference to moral values, being careful to separate your legal arguments from your moral or religious arguments.

tony b.