Steve2, a bumpy ride? Heh, vicious custody battles are a little more than a bumpy ride my friend. I have seen shit fly out windows and former lovers be separated by baliffs and deputies during those badboys.
Oh, and then there is alimony, that should be interesting. In the US in some states once you say I do everything becomes community property, so if you have a net worth of 1 million before marriage and your partner 10 bucks, after you say I do, his net worth just increased substantially.
Division of property, let me tell you, it can be far from orderly for heteros, I have seen some truly epic battles over who owns what.
But as I said, I'm all for it, why should us heteros have all the fun. Yes, there are some benefits to being married in terms of health and possible pension benefits, but here in the US most of it can be gotten around in other ways, probably health benefits being the most difficult, but all in all, big picture, hmm, I don't really know that gays stand to gain more by being allowed to marry, but I know that lawyers sure do.