What most on the right fail to realize is that conservative opposition to equal protection rights of same-sex couples and homosexuals in general does manifest a kind of hatred, regardless how much conservatives might attempt to deny it.
Many conservatives attempt to hide behind the façade of states rights, when in fact the states lack the authority to deny equal protection of the law to any class of persons, including homosexuals.
Perhaps fear of homosexuals better describes the conservative position, rather than hate (although it can be argued theyre one in the same ); as authoritarians conservatives for the most part fear diversity and dissent, and have an overwhelming need to compel conformity for the sake of society. Also as authoritarians conservatives feel compelled to enforce a moral imperative, in opposition to moral relativism, where conservatives believe that there are just certain things which are simply right and wrong, absent any logical, objective, or factual justification.
Indeed, this is why the courts consistently strike down laws such a Proposition 8 and DOMA, where these measures lack a legitimate legislative end, are devoid of any rational basis, and are predicated solely on animus toward homosexuals.
