what does it mean when one supports civil union and....?

Question

i have to write an essay on presidential candidates and write about if they cover my important issues. for example gay marriage is one of my issues.

i read that Barack Obama opposes gay marriage but supports civil union and gay equality.

what is civil union?

and to me i thought gay equality meant that gays are treated equal as everybody else. so wouldnt that mean they should be treated equal with marriage? i guess i dont know what gay equality means either; what does it mean?

also, what does stem cell research have to do with abortion?

Answer 1

The word "marriage" is more of the term for a "religious union" than anything else. Typically, one marries another in a church of their faith, by a man (and now days, a woman) of the cloth, and it is a very religious ceremony.

A "civil union" is a way of describing the "legal marriage". In other words, a couple is married in the eyes of the law, but isn't in the eyes of the church. I also think that some are trying to use it as swaying the gay voters, since technically, a civil union doesn't necessarily mean that one is eligable for their partner's health insurance like a man and wife are. So it sounds like one is playing both sides of the political fence by stating they support civil unions, but not marriages for the gay community.

Stem cell research has to do with abortion in the sense that the stem cells (cells from the brain stem) are taken from an aborted fetus for research. The pro lifers are stating that scientists are having women abort their fetuses so they can have the brain stem cells. It is an argument that the pro life is using to inflame the public against abortion.

The stem cells are potential "cures" for such diseases as Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders that start in the brain. It could help people afflicted with those disorders/diseases live a longer life, or a life of better quality and less pain. Personally, the benefits far outweigh the "issue" with abortion. If a woman is going to have an abortion, something good might as well come out of it. I think THAT is where the pro life has the issue - something good coming from an abortion damages their argument greatly.

Hope this all helps. . .

Answer 2

A civil union is a civil marriage in everything but name. A civil marriage is one that is performed by a justice of the peace or magistrate in a civil setting (court house, town hall) as opposed to a ceremony performed by a religious figure in a religious setting. The vows are slightly different in most cases. Civil ceremonies are popular among couples of different religions as well as those who do not follow any religion. They're also popular with people who do not want all the fuss and trappings of a big church wedding and/or cannot afford them.

Real gay equality would mean that gays could get married in churches as well as in courthouses.

Anybody who says they are against gay marriage but OK with civil unions is NOT in favor of gay equality.

The equal rights and protections provisions in the Constitution guarantee equality across the board. So anybody who denies gay people the right to get married as well as to enter into civil unions is going against the Constitution.

The argument against expanding stem cell research is that embryos would be created for the purpose of medical research and treatment. Put it this way - if not an embryo but a live baby and scientists discovered that certain enzymes in the vital organs of newborns cured cancer but the enzymes could only be extracted by removing the organs, then would we do it? Different people have different ideas about what constitutes "life". Some think that it begins when the thing draws breath; others believe it begins when the father's sperm penetrates the mother's egg and fertilizes it.

Answer 3

It means they really support gay marriage but don't want to come right out and say so. Gay equality is also another handy catch phrase used to distance supporters of gay marriage from having to say so. Gays already have equal rights in the US. Marriage is regulated for all individual es in the US. I can't marry my daughter now can I. The link between stem cell research and abortion when the use of embryonic stem cells are used is the concern certain people have that we would be creating life in order to kill it for research, this is a question that at least deserves consideration. Just because we can do a thing doesn't mean we should

Answer 4

Marriage is a union sanctified by God. Gay marriage is in direct conflict of that. A civil union allows them to be joined legally as a couple, but not sanctified by God. Gay should be given no more rights than anyone else. The equal rights amendment should apply to them as with any one else in this nation.
Embryonic stem cells come of aborted babies. There are other ways to obtain stem cells such as adult stem cells, and non embryonic stem cells which come from new born babies umbilical cord. The Government funds the last two I mentioned. The special interest groups and liberals would have you believe that we don't and only Embryonic stem cells (which supports the abortion issue) will do. It is not illegal to use Embryonic stem cells. The Government just won't fund it.

Answer 5

Civil union is a legal ceremony that would provide most of the same rights to a couple as a marriage ceremony. I for one don't understand why that's OK and not a marriage; it seems counter-intuitive.

People are concerned with stem cell research because the stem cells are harvested from blastocysts, which are a small group of cells that eventually develop into embryos. Those concerned with it are those who believe that human life begins at conception, not at birth.

Most of the cells harvested are from unused blastocysts preserved from the in-vitro fertilization process. If unused, these are destroyed, sometimes literally by pouring down the drain. I don't see people protesting outside fertilization clinics!