Gay/Lesbian Marriage backlash in California

Let me lay my cards out on the table as a Conservative about how I feel about Gay and Lesbian marriage, I am against it. Before you jump down my throat I want to make it clear that I am against the marriage aspect for one reason and one reason only, the lifestyle though, I am completely fine with.

It's been an interesting road for me the past couple years, my views through research have completely changed my perspectives. When I heard that Hillary was running for the senate I thought, she should just run for president, hell she basically pulled Bill's strings anyway! Then I ran into one of her former secret service agents and they described her antics behind the scenes calling her female staffers "C*nts". That was all prior to her running for president. Then Obama steps out on the stage, when rumors arose about his enter for the presidential race I got excited. Here is a young, intelligent, black man that would literally make history. I would make history by actually considering a democrat as a choice, as a top choice to be precise! Then I researched all about him and continue to hear, almost daily, his faults through friendships and policies. Then we come to gay/lesbian marriage, I never thought my position would change on this from being for it to being against it. I am not a homophobic person either, let me say that right away also. I have gone to gay/lesbian clubs with gay/lesbian friends and it was probably more of a blast than the regular clubs I have been to! I even have a couple great outrageous stories about a lap dance from a drag queen....oh man those memories. SO let me explain where this change came from...

My theory has always been and continues to be, let people no matter sexual preference, be happy. I mean, no one is bothering you if you are straight and a couple wants to be together, just let them be and move on if you have a problem with their lifestyle. Hell, most people should be able to find a problem with the lifestyle of any person or couple. It is when I looked into who is involved in the whole ordeal of marriage that changed my mind. I researched and learned the difference between "marriage" and a "civil union". Basically the couples receive the same rights, benefits and responsibilities in both situations. The difference being the actual ceremony and the religious figure involved. Learn more about civil unions here:

Civil Unions

I'm not a Bible "Thumper" and I refuse to push any religion on you here but I beg that you take a step back and see my point. A regular person will find a job, work the days and come home leaving that work behind. When you look at a reverend, pastor, rabbi, monk or whatever other religious leader you can think of, and you look at their job, they "live" their job. They live by the book that gives them their guidance and if they believe that the book says that gay marriage is wrong, then I am sorry but it is VERY unethical to expect that they marry the couple.

Now, I realize that these figures can refuse or "turn down" the opportunity BUT this can create a backlash and lead to unfavorable PR for that person and their church and that is basically unfair. Unfair because we go to these places of worship expecting them to abide by their teachings. The other point would be that, obviously, some churches can choose to do the ceremony while others stand aside. This is the perfect timing for this article because government offices are feeling what churches are sure to feel in the near future in CA if they refuse to wed couples of the same sex as talked about here in this New York Times article:
New York Times "'I Do'? No. Not here you don't"

People are quick to argue for or against marriage because they are either talking about what the Bible says or arguing for the happiness of a couple, they don't take the time to consider, or they just don't care, about that third party doing the marriage. Really, that is all I am against, not the gay/lesbian lifestyle at all. So I asked (nervously) one of my gay friends what he thought of the whole situation, his response was that he feels that those that refuse a civil union and protest for marriage are attention seekers and just want the spotlight. That is straight from his mouth and frankly I only asked him, one person but I admit that.

So honestly, I am interested, what do you all have to say about what I am pointing out? Is it right to say "screw you" to someone that lives by their religion for the rights of people that can gain the same rights, benefits and responsibilities by going the "civil union" route instead of marriage? I kind of feel like a civil union with a ceremony not involving a religious figure is totally appropriate, I mean, even straight couples do that. Just a thought.