@Clanad.
OK, some interesting points. I would argue that Government and private citizen alike need to obey the same laws. We live in a society, and as well as enjoying rights, you also have responsibilities and obligations toward that society; And part of that is not to discriminate against others based around ethnicity, skin colour, religion or sexual orientation.Treat others as you yourself would wish to be treated. What you appear to be advocating is anarchy, with private citizens choosing which laws and behaviours they wish to display.
And your objection to same-sex marriage can be summarised thusly. It appears to rest upon 2 strands of belief,
1.Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, it's a deliberately chosen behaviour. This, to your mind, is supported by your anecdotal evidence of 3 people allegedly once gay now straight, and upon some particular objectors from within the black community, who reject the genetic basis of homosexuality in favour of a learned, behavioural "lifestyle" choice.
-The science and the evidence disagrees with you. I would suggest.Homosexuality has been observed in many mammalian species, especially those highly social mammalian species that have more time to engage in sex, and play. So by that measure it is not unnatural. And all the evidence collected from the various studies into human sexuality suggest that your sexual orientation is as hard-wired into an individual as is their colour. I have no doubt that there will be some individuals whose sexual preferences are not as polar, who might well experiment. This is because your sexual preference can be hardwired anywhere along a range of sexual orientations.
There will also be individuals who "live a lie", rather than admitting what their own body is telling them, but again the evidence tends to demonstrate that when you finally align your life with your biology you are much happier bunny. There have been many often religiously- sponsored "deprogramming" camps, but these have been spectacularly unsuccessful.
2. Homosexuals are more promiscuous than their heterosexual counterparts, and in consequence would not take their vows seriously, and this in turn devalues marriage.This belief you support with a mix of references and opinion. Sexual fidelity amongst gay men is less of a concern than a heterosexual couple.
There are indeed studies that show that gay men are less concerned about sexual fidelity. There are also several studies showing that many same-sex couples have the same opinion about marriage as their heterosexual counterparts.And attitudes towards sexual behaviour is not so polarised and binary as you suggest.You will find heterosexual couples who love each other, but who make accommodations amongst themselves about sleeping around. In contrast, you will find many gay couples who are devoted to each other and have no desire for promiscuity or other sexual partners.
There are all sorts of behaviours amongst heterosexual couples carried out right now, around the globe, that contradict the vows they may have taken, but that is their choice. It does not of itself devalue your marriage vows. The same would apply for same-sex marriage, it seems to me. Given the steadily rising divorce rate and increasing sexual freedoms for people, the concept and contract of marriage has to change and adapt. And in world where drunken strangers can get married 24/7, how does granting same-sex couple the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts devalue marriage any further than it already is?
As far as prop 8 goes, it was an illiberal measure, supported by roughly half the population and objected to by roughly half the californian population. I do not pretend to be familiar with US law, but the judge struck it down and offered compelling reasons for doing so. That seems entirely fair to me, since the community of California resides within the larger social grouping of the USA.