The state doesn't recognize the marriage, and that's the problem with it. I'd say a good 90% of politicians opposed to gay marriage don't care one way or the other about gay people, it's the taxes that they're worried about. They want to prevent gay marriage in order to take more money from them. That's all.
Mega, it appears to me that the each state has to recognize it. If I were to go get married in MA where it is legal and travel on back down to Texas and claim that she is my wife, it will not be recognized.
^I get happiness out of streaking in public. Should I be allowed the right to persuit of happiness? No, not if it infringes on other people's happiness. That's one right the government WILL take from you if they see fit.