It doesn't bother me at all that you think I made a weak argument. Coming from someone who thinks Walker made a sound argument that's amusing .
I'll say it a little differently . State issuance of marriage licenses is a conferred benefit by the State . It is not a right. The State may decide who receives and gets the benefit of a State license and the priviliges that implies much like it can put limits on who receives any other state benefit. State laws provide rules for those who wish to get married in their state... and those laws vary considerably.
Wondergirl is correct in citing just a few of the benefits the state grants married couples. California already dealt with that in making the same benefits available to same sex unions ,and common law arrangements. Are you arguing then that California is also denying equal protection to common law couples ? Of course not because it isn't happening. And until you can prove to me that same sex civil unions denies gays equal protection then the argument is lame.
Other states have not made those provisions in their laws. In fact most don't .Even your most liberal leaning ones don't have civil union privilages . I would say there is a more compelling argument in taking on those states because the issue of equal access is legitimate there .
But not in California where the people ,through the intiative process amended their constitution to strike a fair and reasonable solution to the competing arguments.
Perhaps in some near future the minds of the people will change ,and that change will be reflected in the will of the people . Anything less than that is a justice like Walker "deeming " a result on the people of the state.