Curious how this pushes an agenda down a religion's throat. It doesn't require any religion to participate or condone it. It does not require any religion to abide by another religion's belief that marriage should not occur. What does it have to do with religion?
The founding father's wanted church and state separate. This is keeping it separate. I see it as religious neutral and takes religion out of the legal marriage. Church has no business dictating requirements for marriage. Which church do you decide is dominant? Should it be the Catholic version, the Hindu version, the Westboro Baptist 'Church' version, Islamic, Mormon, ELCA, Missouri Synod? My church does not think same sex marriage is wrong. Should we use only my Church's belief system? The answer is it should be up to the church to practice what it believes within it's walls. The secular world is on a different plane and should not need to abide by religious beliefs.
Many people (heterosexuals) never get married in a religious ceremony. Their marriage is legal. Why should this be different. When my in-laws got married in France they had it right. They go to the town hall and do the civil thing, process down the village street to the church and get married in the religious ceremony.