Many on the right love to claim that they are protecting the institution of marriage by fighting back the aggressive homosexual lobby.  They act that allowing gays to marry is the only thing that is undermining the institution of marriage.  This argument is an easy cop out for people who do not want to accept personal responsible for their own actions and behaviors.  It is alot easier to blame the deterioration of the institution of marriage when you demonize others instead of looking at your own behavior.  Find me one case of divorce where the cause of action was that another gay couple was allowed to marry.

From the Family Research Council:

Homosexual marriage is an empty pretense that lacks the fundamental sexual complementariness of male and female. And like all counterfeits, it cheapens and degrades the real thing. The destructive effects may not be immediately apparent, but the cumulative damage is inescapable. The eminent Harvard sociologist, Pitirim Sorokin, analyzed cultures spanning several thousand years on several continents, and found that virtually no society has ceased to regulate sexuality within marriage as traditionally defined, and survived.

Before I get into the issue of the cheapening of marriage, I need to address the analysis from Sorokin.  It presents a false causal relationship.  Where is Sorokin's evidence that a society has fallen because of the acceptance of gay marriage and the lack of regulation?  Most societies crumble because of military invasion.  This is a ridiculous argument.

For those who believe that gay marriage degrades the institution of marriage, I ask that you look at your own behavior and call for the following:

1.)  The repeal of no-fault divorce laws.  The best way to stop divorce and the cheapening of marriage is to make divorce difficult.  Does it not cheapen marriage when Britney Spears can get married and then annul it a day later?  No-fault divorce makes it so that you can marry anyone and not worry about the obligations of marriage because you can just get a divorce without suffering any adverse consequences.

2.)  Recriminalize adultery.  Really, what is more likely to lead to the break down of marriage - adultery or gay relations.  If you want to protect marriage, you need to protect sexual exclusivity (affairs create jealousy and causes marital rift) and the best way to do that is to punish those who commit adultery. 

The charlatans don't really carry about the institution of marriage and, if they did, they are only willing to push an agenda that they can sell and milk money from their adherents.  They would rather demonize a group of people and blame them for their own problems.  Clean your own house first.  But, we all know that no one would listen if you promote the repeal of no-fault divorce laws and criminalization of adultery.  Demagoguery, plain and simple.