Yet another reason that gay marriage should be allowed.

The religious right is fond of saying that the gay marriage debate is all about money, such as the shared ownership of assets.

No, it's about the government not dictating the sexes of people who are allowed to enter into a contract together. It's about equal protection under the law.

But it's about more than that.

In Black Jack MO, not being married can make your family homeless:

Olivia Shelltrack and Fondray Loving, along with their children, will
continue to live in their Black Jack home while the city reviews its occupancy
ordinance.

The city recently denied the couple an occupancy permit because they did
not fit the city's definition of family. The ordinance defines family as, "An
individual or two or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption, or a
group of not more than three persons who need not be related by blood, marriage
or adoption, living together as a single non-profit housekeeping unit in a
dwelling unit."

[snip]

Black Jack does allow unmarried couples to live together, said Mayor Norm
McCourt. However, the ordinance does not allow for an unmarried couple with more
than one child.

As intrusive and fascist as this law is, at least this couple does have an option for a way to stay in their home -- they COULD get married.

But if the couple was, say, OLIVER and Fondray, what option would they have for themselves and their three children?

Don't tell me no rights are denied to gay people by not allowing them to marry.