TCG -“@Health: yes, as for secular common law, I do indeed believe in equal rights. There is nothing ‘liberal’ about that – actually I would rather classify myself as a leftist person, not rightist.”
Yes this idea of equal rights for Gays is a big tenet in liberal philosophy. In actuality they really aren’t liberals in true sense of the word. A true liberal would believe that marriage should not be legislated at all. But these people who claim to be liberals are really just anti-morality and/or anti-establishment. (The former hippies of the 60’s!) A true liberal in philosophy should have no problem if a human married an animal. Maybe this is what’s coming next – humans will get marriage licenses with their dog or cat.