Is marriage a right?

I have brought this point up so many times that I am LDS/Mormon, that it should be fairly evident by now. But, I would like to fully state that I am active in the concept of Human Rights for Humans movement, which includes Gay, Lesbian and Transexual rights. We are all children of God, so says the LDS doctrine, so we should have all the same rights. Makes sense to me, and that is all I really have to say on that, before jumping right into the point.
...
Now, the main point in this blog post is this: Is marriage really a right?
...
Now, I'm going to be saying some pretty heavy stuff concerning the definition of marriage. But, I'm not going to say the definition of "marriage is between a man and a woman", instead, I'm really going to pull to the forefront of you, my dear reader's mind if marriage is a right.
...
There is no real set definition as marriage as a right in the Constitution of the United States. And I thought, honestly thought, that the Constitution protected the rights of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" but, I was wrong there.
...
The rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are never really mentioned in the constitution. Though the 5th amendment ensures the protection of life, liberty, and property, it never mentions the pursuit of happiness. A little chilling if you think about it too long, and really enjoy dystopia worlds, but besides the point.
...
Unless you are suggesting that marriage is a form of property acquirement, then it isn't protected in the constitution. Also, on that note of married as property acquirement, that would be a form of slavery, which I'm really certain is outlawed in the Constitution, the 13th amendment to be exact.
...
Now, I am not saying that I'm against gay marriage, nor am I saying I'm for it. I'm just posing the question, is it really a right?
...
In my opinion, I think it isn't. It's a pledge to remain faithful to one person, and one person only, unless your a polygamist, but then that is illegal. Also, those nice little tax breaks that come from being married, I'm not quite sure if they are right. It is a governmental level thing weighing in on a subject that it shouldn't be. In fact, married is considered a religious rite (as in ceremony), so maybe it is really to be defined as between a man and a woman, (or man and women, women, women... [wait for it~!] and woman), but then again, that is my deal with the concept of separation of church and state as well as rights, definitions of stuff, and others.
...
However, if it is really a right, and I would love to see some numbers on voting here, and so forth. Then it should only be governmental, instead of ran by institutions that are to begin with biased to people who are "righteous." I really hope this makes sense.
...
So, in the end, is marriage really a right? If not, then why is the government treating it as such? If so, then why are we denying a right to a fellow human being? And if one really wants to get married, just figure out a small ceremony and a pledge to be faithful to someone you really care for, and have it witnessed by people. That's pretty much the formula folks, stripped of Governmental witnesses and theological witnesses. I hope I still have many of you after this post, and attracted much more as well.
...
...
...
Yours Truly
Kamden G. Blackstone
Tiger, Mormon, Creative.



References
The Constitution: The Constitution has been the guiding light of the United States for the longest time, and still is and it should always be. I did a bit of digging about to bring your these links, I hope you enjoy.

http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html#life (This is the passage about Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, and the 5th amendment)

http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html#marr (This is a brief overview of the whole concept of Marriage as a right, and the whole fuss of 2004, that continues to this day, there is a link with a bit more, information if you are willing. I found that really helpful)

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am13 (I really hope the wit found about marriage as an acquiring of property funny, cause I sure did)