Actually, we do have the same rights. Gays and straights have the same right to marry someone of the opposite sex. The is what the word "marry" means. What gays want is a new definition of the word, not the same right. Do straights have a right to sue for discrimination against straights in employment or housing. Not in most states. Some laws against sexual orientation discrimination, passed for benefit of gays may cover straights, but even without the laws, gays have the same right as straights.
I mostly agree with this.
Marriage in the United States, has been defined for the past 230+ years as the union between one man & one woman. I rarely use the phrase "marriage equality" (which liberals love to use), because we technically already have "marriage equality" -- any gay man can marry any woman he chooses. If a gay man were to go to a county office to request a marriage license with a woman, no county clerk would ask "Are either of you gay? If either or both of you are gay, we cannot issue you a marriage license."
So yes, gays DO want a redefinition of the word & institution of marriage.
But is there a case to be made for "redefining" or "expanding" the institution of marriage to include same-sex adult couples?
I would argue yes. I do personally support same-sex marriage.
I also do support non-discrimination laws including sexual orientation when it comes to employment and housing, with exceptions made for churches and businesses that are directly owned by religious institutions.
It's interesting you mentioned discrimination in housing. If you ever check out listings for apartments or roommates in major US cities like NYC, San Francisco, Philadelphia, DC, LA, San Diego, Chicago, etc etc -- a lot of people (mostly women) state in their ads that they prefer female or gay male roommates or tenants. Most of the time gay men prefer to have other gay men as apartment roommates or tenants.
Maybe it's because gay men have a stereotype of being fabulous and clean and responsible. I don't know. But if a person specifically says in their housing ad -- "Females or gay men only" -- isn't that discrimination against straight men?