I spared a few minutes from 2ND JOB I've taken for a couple of thoughts.
The Constitution is not a document that should be amended for religious/moral reasons. If Conservatives want to define marriage they should do it at the state level. If Liberals/Gay community wants to get civil unions/gay marriage then they to need to fight at the state level.
Question: What level of gevernment regulates marriage? That is the level it should be fought at. If I were a state govenor or local gov official, I would fight tooth and nail for my constitutes to make the decision.
Marriage, no matter what you think of it, should not be a constitutional issue.
Question: Why is marriage liscensed? Unification of property/assets, Tax, etc... If the basis is reiligious...then we have a conflict between government and religion. Keep gov. out of religion and vice versa.
That is the whole problem. Had the law been adhered to by state officials in California, the whole idea of a constitutional amendment would never have come up. Otherwise I agree most of what you are saying.