[Beetle01]

Bestiality and pedophilia should not be equated with homosexuality in any fair or reasonable discussion. Equal protection under the law extends to every citizen. Same sex couples who live as "marrieds" should be under the umbrella of the Equal Protection Clause. The same rights should exist for "gays" as for "straights"... we are not talking about "special" rights here. The Equal Protection Clause extended is not a "gay" right.

Why not? They are all equally wrong and unnatural. Are you saying homosexuality is natural and normal? Its a choice.
They have equal protection from persecution, they even fall under special laws which worsen the penalty for "Hate" crimes. Marriage does not fall under the Equal Protection Clause. Marriage is a privelage, when it comes to the benefits you recieve from the govt. Just as driving. Im not saying the govt has the right to deny people to get married, but they don't have to give people the tax breaks and such, those are a privelage. It is not a basic right to recieve those things for being married, thus imo, marriage can not fall under the Equal Protection Clause, because it only protects people's basics rights listed int he constitution and amendments. Marital benefits is not one of those.