The government does not have the authority under the constitution to say who can and cannot be married. That power rest solely with the religious organization performing the marriage.
The government does have the right and authority to grant civil unions for purposes of taxation, legalities, and census records.
In trying to redefine marriage the government has forsaken the bill of rights, in regards to freedom of religion, instead of acting under the authority granted to it under the Constitution.
The current suffrage is over semantics and a flawed understanding by all parties of the powers of the government in this realm.