Just a point about one little item...
...(and not to imply I agreed with the rest of your post - the made up statistics, in particular.)
"The GOP are monsters who stop two people who love each other from marrying!" spin cycle.
Holy smoke, Tech! Conservatives invented this issue and bring it into the news whenever they can. If it isn't talk of an amendment to the constitution (!), it's an election--year rah-rah bill. It is very good for Republicans. It frightens a few religious Democrats from showing up at the polls. It tells the religious right that Republican candidates have their backs.