Well, firstly, homosexual couples who wish to marry out of love and a desire to be wed, and their supporters, rather than people who are trying to "rock the system," do not feel that they are making a circus out of marriage. They feel that they are fighting for something they should be allowed to do because they are U.S. citizens who should be entitled to the same rights and privledges as other U.S. citizens.
Whether or not you agree with homosexuality, the desire to marry the person you love with your friends and family there to publically support you as you do so, should be a familiar desire for most people.
You don't have to agree with them, you don't have to like homosexuality.
But the large number of people who support gay marriage are not out to destroy society...they feel that they are fighting for what is right. Now, you can feel that they are right or wrong...but if we are trying to start from sqaure one...its better to start at an honest square one: People who are fighting for gay marriage believe that they are fighting for the rights of fellow Americans to marry the person they love. People who are against gay marriage feel that it would be detrimental to our society to allow gay marriages.
We can have a lengthy conversation about what I've written already, I'm sure...but here's my main gripe with the pro-gay marriage side of this debate....
What I have an issue with are people who consider any objection, or even a person asking questions about gay marriage, as a sign of bigotry and hatred.
I believe that any time the nation is considering making a change that would alter forever the way things have been done in that nation since its inception...it should be a decision made with hesitancy and consideration. Not because I hate the people pushing for the decision...but because I want to be fully aware of the possible ramifications of such a decision.
The homosexual community has made a serious blunder, in my opinion, in allowing its supporters to define any discussion or debate over gay marriage to be labled as hate speech against gays, screaming, "BIGOT" and "HOMOPHOBE!," rather than saying, "We welcome a discussion about the pros and cons of gay marriage, because we feel that when that conversation is over, the majority of Americans will see, as we do, that allowing two people who are in love to marry will be good for our society, rather than bad."
Now, obviously, people like OCA and Pale Rider and many others can not be swayed. Their opinions are well-formed and deeply felt, and must be respected as much as the next persons. However, the gay community alienated many "moderates" in the past few years...and I agree with you, it will be an uphill climb for them to gain the popular support they seek.