Besides gay marriage, when has the US voted on basic rights for it's citizens?

Look at the Jim Crow laws, which existed up until the 1960s. Marriage between the races was once banned, too. Segregation was LEGAL for quite a long time! It's not so different now, although now it's the gay people who have to suffer at the hands of the fearful. Whether you are for or against gay-marriage, the fact remains that marriage should not be made illegal for one facet of the population due to the fear and "religious" ideals of another. It's a private, legal matter. No one should get to vote on it.