New York Passes Marriage Equality

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_and_...ted_States

Also, discussion time! For those happy for this progress, yet still hold mixed feelings, I'm curious - why mixed feelings? What reservations do you still have?

Oh that's simple. While I do approve that same-sex couples should have the right to be together, be recognized by the state as a couple, and be given the same rights as married couples, I'm saddened how the definition of marriage has changed.

This isn't just religious beliefs I'm talking out of here. I've always grown up with the ideal that a marriage is solely between a man and a woman. I was always exposed to it in some form or another, whether it was from my huge family with many of their happily married couples, to meeting many of my friends' parents and seeing how happy they are. It may not make much sense from all of that, but in the end I never gave the definition of marriage a second thought. If I wanted to marry someone, I'll do it happily with the woman that I can love and cherish and trust.

Now just because I say all that does not mean I hate gay/lesbian/bi people nor do I disapprove of same-sex couples. After all, I do have friends that are gay/lesbian/bi, and some of them happen to be in a pretty nice relationship, so kudos to them. I think it's awkward, but I don't give it any more negative thought than that. We're all human, and we have rights and choices we are free to make. And again, I am happy that they finally get the rights they deserve.

I'm just not comfortable with how marriage has changed. To me, I thought it was something really special to have between a man and a woman. Now it's not like that anymore. :/ I'd be more inclined to say civil unions instead of same-sex marriages, but that's just me.

So, who'd like to be the first person to flame me? Not that it'd matter since I'm not changing how I feel about what a marriage means to me, but go ahead anyway.