Regulation of marriage is not a Federal responsibility constitutionally. I don't oppose gay marriage but the authority to regulate it belongs with the states. Gay marriage is also not the leading problem of our day and too much time is wasted on it.
True, as contract law is much the province of the state, not the federal.
I don't oppose recognition, but not under the term "marriage", as it, obviously, violates respect for words and their true meaning and the reasonable and customary beloved social cultures built upon them, which is why I don't call a cat a dog or try to enter a cat in a dog show.
Regardless, such determination, whether out of intelligence or ignorance, belongs to the state from a federal constitutional perspective.
And, regarding much time wasted on this issue, oh that is soooo true! The vast majority of Americans really don't care one way or the other from a social perspective. When people are asked to weigh in on a poll, then they make a choice, but it's just a choice on a question, not all that important.
In fact, in a recent relevant poll on the matter, 37% favored the oxymoronic "gay marriage", 33% favored recognition
but under a different term than marriage (like, say, "homarriage", or something), and 30% were opposed to recognition at all. This makes it crystal clear that there is no cultural traditional long-standing precedent for the oxymoronic "gay marriage", as although 70% favor recognition, 63% oppose the oxymoronic "gay marriage" in these polls.
If the SCOTUS said state's rights, the great majority would be just fine with that. If the SCOTUS said state's rights but that recognition is required under a different term, the great majority would be just fine with that.
Sadly, the Supreme Court is loaded now with enough left-wing ideologist weight, thanks to Obama's two appointees, that the relevant matter before the SCOTUS could be 4-4 .. leaving the quiet megalomaniac Kennedy to once again stamp his signature on "an earthshaking" decision, about which the great majority of Americans would be opposed .. but most of whom really wouldn't care all that much.
Truly sad.