Odds are, apparently, that the State Senate won't approve a bill legalizing same-sex marriage this year. But one year soon, legalization will come, here and in many other states. Slowly but surely, American opinion and understanding are changing.

I was dismayed, then, to read the long, contorted argument against same-sex marriage in Sunday's Democrat and Chronicle.

Homosexual couples must have equal rights, the D&C editorial said. "Barriers to equality under the law, in the workplace and within the social framework must be removed," said the D&C. But, said the daily's editorial writers, legalizing marriage is going too far.

The rationale: The institution of marriage "predates not only American but recorded history as the union of man and woman." Gays and lesbians can get equal rights through civil unions "without tossing out faith, history, and culture."

"Addressing discriminatory practices against gays is important to pursue," said the D&C. "But government must also be careful not to marginalize mores and religious tenets cherished by millions of Americans as it rightly seeks to guarantee equality."

Marginalize mores and religious tenets? Nobody's proposing that government order religious institutions to perform same-sex marriages. By refusing to legalize same-sex civil marriages, governments are marginalizing people.

And surely we don't need to point out some other examples of the United States righting wrongs despite public opposition based on "faith, history, and culture."

Slavery would be one.