> It's not just a legal contract between the participants, it confers certain legal privileges (you could say the government is also a party in the contract).

> It's not just a legal contract between the participants, it confers certain legal privileges (you could say the government is also a party in the contract). This is the part that needs to change imho. Marriage should have zero legal meaning outside of some sort of contract all parties sign at the time of marriage. You are essentially cofounding a business and that’s what it should stay at. The government doesn’t make special amends (afaik) if two random people say “We are business partners” so why do it if two random people say “We are married”. Who cares, you do you.