I do believe that for many people (Not all), it totally is about preserving a special, socially revered place for heterosexual relationships. Many people literally do believe that their love is better and more "real" than our love. And for many people, that's definitely a part of why they have an issue sharing the word "marriage"; it's ok if you want to like visit in the hospital or whatever, but don't you dare imply that YOU are the same as ME (goes the thinking).
If these people (some of whom are for civil unions but against marriage but wouldn't dream of encouraging the solution proposed by Pablo) truly believed that gay relationships were equal to straight ones, they would have no problem sharing the word.
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