Marriage, for social purposes, is a civil and religious event.
Religious wedding ceremonies unite the couple in the eyes of that religion's deity.
In some ceremonies, the two are celebrated at once, but couples must always undergo a civil marriage in order for the marriage to be considered legal (Masci, 2008).
In legalizing gay marriage states and countries are
establishing laws that allow gay civil marriages.
Under the “full faith and credit” clause of the
Constitution, “if one state makes a law,
other states must recognize it” (Should Same-Sex Marriages be Legalized?, n.d.).