Separate AND Inequal!

I honestly don't know. Research time!

http://en.wikipedi a.org/wiki/Civil_union#List_of_jurisdictio ns_allowing_same-sex_unions

Here's a list of states on Wiki. I know, I know. wikipedia, boo. Get over it. A quote I would like to place:

"Jurisdictions in the U.S. that offer civil unions or domestic partnerships granting nearly all of the state-recognized rights of marriage to same-sex couples include:"

Nearly all the state rights? That means NOT all - so Civil Unions are NOT equal to a Marriage. Secondly, it mentions nothing about the FEDERAL rights granted by marriage! A civil union is like giving a person in intense pain some ice-cream instead of a painkiller. It's a distraction, but it doesn't fix the problem - The fact that civil unions are UNEQUAL compared to marriage.

Something ELSE that's preventing civil unions from being equal to marriages:

http://en.w ikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act< /a>

The DOMA. Sickening to read. This is American LAW!!

This really hasn't anything to do with tax breaks, but my sister just divorced her hubby, but is staying whih him. She divorced him becasue she is on medication and he has no insurance and if she is not married to him her meds are free.
Something wrong with that picture huh?

But then I wondered why my hubby had to clain his total income at the end of the year when $650.00 a month of it he never seen because it went to his x wife for Child support. I'm not saying he should not have to pay, but why should his W2 reflex that amount made when he never even seen it.. Then she can turn around and clain the child and he couldn't.. Strange system.. isn't it?

yeah...its out of wack...

If everyone stopped getting legally married, if the marriage machine ground to a halt, I wonder if big changes would be on the horizon.

. . . because I like being married!! Lol...

still not sure what the tax benefits are, though.

I would like you to be married as well, homerx. Sounds like you and partner are more than deserving!

I would argue that yes, it is an unjust country that you live in.

thanks. You know, Ricky and I were talking and he said he really thought that getting married is a man and woman thing and that a civil union would be fine with him. Now I don't know how I feel...I guess it should be an individual choice as to weather you want to marry or have a civil union, whether you are straight or gay... P.S. I wanted to slap him!!!! j/k...sort of!!

I mean, its complicated because the word "marriage" is a religious thing to most people. However, it's still a legal term, which ends up being problematic. I've heard that argument that gay marriage shouldn't be allowed because marriage is a church thing (ok, a sacred bond between man, woman, and God) but then there's a problem.... they don't get legal rights if they're not married!! My hubby and I had as close to a "civil union" as is legal in our state- we had our friend ordained online and he married us. But it was still considered a marriage.

Separation of church and state, anyone??

YES! They need to be separate all the way across the board. As for the sanctity of marriage...does that count with Britney Spears and Elizabeth Taylor..even though I adore her...and all the other Stars that get married and divorced every 3 months...my mom has been married 3 times, my dad 2 times, I have an uncle that has been married...ready for this...14 times!!!! So if that is what the government calls a "sanctified union under God" then give me civil union and the heterosexual population can have the word "marriage"..Its so hypocritically to take holy vows under the church and sanctioned by the government only to turn around and go "Sorry God...we take that promise back".. thats my 2 cents... By the way, if you promise to love and cherish each other for ever or until death do you part in the name of God does that mean your going to hell if you divorce...after all, that was a divine promise before God that you broke ???Hummmm...

Whoever said they had to get married through a church, anyway? My husband and I used a celebrant and thousands of other non-Christians do the same or go through a Justice of the Peace or certified pagan priest/ess. Christians who insist that the institution of marriage belongs to them are kidding themselves.

If Christian churches want it to be illegal for a gay union to take place under their sanction, fine. They have no right to prohibit same-gender couples from getting married through other faiths (gasp, yes Christians, other faiths DO EXIST) or non-spiritual legal methods.

Darkmoon...yep

Originally, the concept of 'separation of church and state' was put in use to protect the church from the state.

Now we need it the other way around.

I think we need to keep 'marriage' as a religious term, and 'civil union' as a secular term.

me 2..but its still ignorant. I hate word games like that...

You're right, homerx. It's all just a big pile of stupid.