I don’t think things would change much at all. Marriage is a two sided proposition. There are the legal concerns and then the familial and social concerns. Gay people aren’t waiting for the government to get on board. Gay marriage is all around us. The personal commitment of it and the emergence of out families has had more to do with social advancement than the laws or lack of laws addressing homosexual rights. People live their lives, regardless of the rules. It’s always been that way. The legalization of gay marriage would just allow the sharing of benefits and such. It would also protect gay citizens at the worst of times. When there is an emergency, when there is a job loss, when there is a death. These things that so many Americans take for granted. The rest is just day to day, living, and that battle was won a long time ago.

I think if gay marriage becomes legal nationwide then we would see more openly gay people, and in a few generations Homophobia would be close to the same rate as Racism, people don't debate whether racism is bad, and people wouldn't debate whether that quote about all gay people being sissy was offensive or not.

Also, If Gay marriage was legal nationwide then DADT would probably be Rescinded faster, and we might soon be on the fastlane for finally having equal rights.

Obviously this is all hopeful speculation, but in the end, gay marriage being legal wouldn't affect a straight persons life at all really.

What would America be like if gay marriage were legal?

Just like Massachusetts, maybe.

I'm Canadian...
We got to feel all warm and fuzzy for a while, and then life went on. It became a political non-issue very quickly. I'm mostly straight, and in practical terms, nothing changed for me. Just got to feel better about my country.