If civil unions provide all or nearly all benefits of marriage, does the name really matter?

Question

this is a question for disscussion from my theology class so as much feedback as possible would be nice.

Answer 1

If you could go back to 1960's and ask a black man if it was OK for him to drink from a separate water fountain or always sit at the back of the bus, what do you think he would say? Do you think he would consider himself equal? Like another person before me said; separate but equal is not really equal. The name does matter and it should not be exclusive of any groups.

Answer 2

Some churches and temples allow and condone same sex marriage. Some don't. Jesus said there were many rooms in his fathers house. Since all these faiths are a means to the same end, who is to say which one is better than the next?

Regarding civil unions vs same sex marriage. In the US people who are married in a religous service and are of the opposite sex are automatically recognized as married under federal guidlelines. This is not the case for same sex couples married in a religous service. What this is doing is setting up homosexuals as being second class citizens. A sort of caste system. Even prisoners in jail are allowed to marry when they forfit most other rights. Do you see where I'm going with this?
Although Civil Unions are a step forward they are not a solution. The problem is two-fold. One is about the right to marry, the underlying problem is the right to equality. I see no reason why law abiding tax paying citizens should be denied equal treatment based upon orientation. The reasons given of procreation/family/tradition are bogus. Not only bogus but should be moot under Constitutional law. No where is orientation ever mentioned in any of the founding documents of the US.

Answer 3

To me, it doesn't matter what the rest of the world calls it or thinks about it. As long as you have the same civil rights it's the same damn thing. It's just a piece of paper, who the hell gives a **** what it's called? The people involved know what it is and that's all that should matter. I mean take a laptop computer for example. Some call it a laptop, others call it a notebook but guess what it's the SAME DAMN THING. That's what I see Civil Unions/Domestic Partnerships/Marriage as, it's the same damn thing just different terms since the Religious Right is trying to do away with the seperation of church and state.

Answer 4

I agree 100%. If civil unions provide all of the benefits of marriage, then it makes NO logical sense to call it anything else. If it is the same as marriage, it should be called such. Calling equal things by different names only shows that they ARE different. And different is NOT equal! That has been shown many times in the US

Answer 5

I do not care if it is called 'marriage' or not. Millions of heterosexuals take marriage for granted and make it look like a joke. The divorce rate is unreal. I dont care to be associated with that. Whether I can ever have a legal binding union with my girlfriend or not and regardless of what they call it, I am just as damn good as any body else and will NEVER consider myself a second class anything. I AM equal.

Answer 6

If the name really does not matter, then straight people ought to STOP referring to themselves as "married". After all, a civil union would provide all the benefits anyway.

Answer 7

The name does not matter at all - the benefits, tax deductions, alimony, adoptive rights, and health insurance benefits DO matter. Ask all the straight married couples you know if they would give up the "rewards" of being married. One's life partner is no longer covered on his or her employee health options. There is no legal recourse should one partner need the other to make medical decisions for the other. No, it is not fair - it is not right - it is not over.

Answer 8

Well I have a domestic partnership and I am perfectly satisfied. I have the same basic legal rights as if I was married, but without the title and I'm ok with it. Just for me, I don't feel the need to behave like a straight person. I'm not straight. Yes I want to have my relationship get the recognition and respect I feel it deserves, and I want the right to be in my wifey's hospital room if she is sick. But I don't need to have the exact same thing that straight people get. As long as we are recognized I'm cool with it. I still see my partner as my wife, and a legal title wont change that.

Answer 9

"Nearly all" is not good enough. If "civil unions" or "gay marriage" or whichever label is used is not equal to the rights and benefits of a "straight" marriage then it still makes second class citizens of those who are limited to that union.

Answer 10

No, I guess the name doesn't matter.

Just make sure that you don't create a state calling the same thing two different names for two different groups, or you are then being prejudicial once again.

In other words, if people have a problem calling two men or two women "married," and want to bar sex-gender couples from using that term, then we MUST bar the same term for all couples. You can't play both sides of the fence.