The English Exam wasn't even a month ago and we all have seem to have forgotten. The Encountering Conflict prompt mentioned something about compromise. The only reason why "Gay Marriage" is an issue is because neither side compromises.
Firstly, those in support of gay marriage often fail to see what they already have. Civil unions have basically bridged the gap between a conventional married couple and homosexuals who are within a civil union. They demand the "right" to marry, but as MJRomeo was stating, there is no such "right", marriage is not a "right", it is an undertaking defined as the union of a man, his family and a woman and her family. That is its definition. We aren't here to destroy the institution of marriage and redefine terms. Furthermore, those in support of gay marriage often fail to see why others, especially those who are religious, oppose gay marriage and homosexuality. They need to understand that just because it is right by them doesn't mean it has to be accepted by everyone. For example, I think that eating meat is ok, vegetarians might think that it's cruel to eat meat, does that mean I have the right to attack them and undermine their beliefs?
Secondly, those against gay marriage often are a little bit behind the times. Religions need to become accepting of homosexuality and that it exists, they should respect the rights of others to practice that, it's not OK to force others to take on your point of view. You want to be vegetarian, OK that's good, but others want to eat meat, so you accept that, that's the way to move forward.
I think compromise is the issue here, and from my gathering, it's a little bit lacking from both parties, but honestly, what we have is fine, sometimes you can't have everything you want, and the only way to move forward is to work with what you have, I think those in support of gay marriage should understand the privileges they have been given over the past few years and rather than complain, they should appreciate that more and more people are now becoming accepting of homosexuality.