But people are different. We should strive to all be treated equally but we are all nevertheless different.
The issue of equality is right up there with the other great paradoxes of life. It's like claiming that we live in a 'free society'; well actually we don't. People are not truly free, society has laws that we expect people to abide by.
That doesn't mean you have to support it. I believe everyone should be treated equally. Saying "Yes, but..." means either (a) you don't really care or (b) you tacitly support the status-quo.
I understand your suggestion and I like the sentiment that is driving it, but I'm not sure I'm ready to accept that we're all the same because it's socially expedient and it avoids disagreement. We're supposed to disagree. But we're also supposed to respect each other.
I'm ready to accept that we're all the same because it is right, and it is true.
I respect anyone's belief to believe *anything* they want. As long as it only affects them. I can disagree with, say, Stoner on economics but respect his view nevertheless. Disagreeing and arguing with someone is not the same as proscribing their behaviour based upon your own views/faiths.
The moment it affects me I will consider what they have said and either agree, ignore or shout 'rubbish!'.
Who do you think isn't the same, by the way? And why? 
I think the main point we may disagree is in the semantics. I see no reason why two people who love each other can't get married/partnered/squidgified in exactly the same way as any other two. If those people are followers of a religion which supports them then they may opt to have some form of religious ceremony. Bully for them and I'd support them to the hilt. If they are not religious then they won't. Bully for them and I'd support them to the hilt. And if they want a religious ceremony but their religion hates them then perhaps they should have a long hard think about their church/mosque/sangha/temple/etc.
