The Constitution doesn't even have the word marriage in it because it was never supposed to be a government thing, but a religious thing.
What do gays need protection of when it comes to marriage? Any two people can marry provided they find a religion willing to marry them. But it's not about marriage, it's about them cramming their issues down our throats and ignoring the will and vote of the people. That's not what a SC is supposed to do.
That's a contradiction in terms. The people have no vote to deny rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
It was the same reason antimiscegenation laws were struck down in 1967 in Loving v Virginia, when interracial marriage was illegal.
You don't get to tell anybody who they can or can't marry, under any circumstances in any state.
Which also falls under 14th Amendment protections.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.