Social conservatives who oppose gay marriage have suffered a series of losses as voters have embraced gay marriage in state referendums and in public polling.

The argument that gay marriage "harms" heterosexual marriage is not one that has found resonance with most Americans. That is not to say that marriage isn't in trouble. For the first time we have more unmarried households than married households and more single than married women. That has ramifications for mental health, the economy, politics, childhood development and a slew of other aspects of American life.

We know some of the reasons for this stampede toward singlehood is voluntary (more working women delaying marriage and children), but that does not mean the atomization of American life makes us a more stable, happy and prosperous country. It doesn't.