Are Civil Unions....?

Question

(For the purpose of this question, regard civil unions as completely equal to marriage in regarding to death, health, property, and tax benefits and rights).

A) An acceptable "starting point" toward complete and total gay marriage, ie, a victory, OR

B) A completely unacceptable "second-class citizen" ranking that should be avoided, nothing is acceptable except total equality. OR

C) Completely acceptable and would be fine if there were two systems, civil unions and marriage. OR

D) Other?

Rats wrong category. *mutter*

Homeland Security - If you notice my opinion is not stated in this question, and I meant to ask this in the Gay/Lesbian/Transgendered section, so I was careful in the way I worded it so as not to offend anyone. I am only seeking opinions of others at the moment.

And thank you for your kind words regarding my testimony, I have received a lot of wonderful and positive feedback from it (and just a little negative) since I first posted it. God bless! =]

Oh yeah and Entwife is a reference to the Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books.

Thank you, my goal is to be a writer, I'm working one of several novels right now.

Ah yes, so as to my opinion on the matter. I believe marriage predates the constitution of the United States. I believe marriage was created by God and should be between an adult man and an adult woman only. I believe marriage is a reflection between the blessed union of Christ and the Church, his body of believers.

But bit by bit, the government has gotten involved in marriage -- an obvious religious institution- and has muddied the waters. I didn't marry my husband for the tax break or the rights to his estate. I have debated this issue at great length and I asked this question to gauge the opinion of people who are in favor of gay marriage and of civil unions.
I do not hate homosexual people. And I am in favor of extending death benefits, tax breaks, and health insurance benefits to ANYONE I wish...for example, if I want to insure my mother or my next door neighbor I ought to be able to.

But in the same token I am not willing to approve of homosexual MARRIAGE. So I'm wondering if people would support a separate but equal system, or if they would see it as second class citizen status.
Sorry to be so verbose, but this is an interesting topic and worthy of discussion.

Answer 1

**EDIT**:

Thought I would go ahead and verbalize some thoughts on the matter.

Only GOD is capable of marrying two people. And by HIS own definition, marriage is between a man and a woman. He would never marry two people of the same sex. Couldn't actually becasue they cannot reproduce. Nor would He bless any union between two people of the same sex.

So in that regard, any marriage not recognized or blessed by God in heaven is purely a civil union. Many straight people who call themselves married simply have civil unions in God's eyes because they left Him completely out of the union (for example my own son).

My opinion as always is the same as God's opinion - that two people of the same sex should not be joined in a civil strictly sexual union of any sort. Technically, what we call sex between two people of the same gender is not actually sex at all (by definition). It is perversion of sex.

Not a Tolkien fan so I wouuld have never guessed the entwife part. I did notice that your opinion was not included and I wonder what it is. I am a great discerner of persons but you are a bit of an enigma to me. BTW, you obviously have literary skills. You should use them

Answer 2

I'm Christian and I take great offense to the assumption. I believe marriage is an arrangement made between two people that is private and is noone's business, including the government yet they had to stick their noses in everything. Two people who are atheist should be able to have a marriage done by the Justice of the Peace or whoever they wish, wherever they wish, and however they wish. Why should I care? I should try to stop two people from wanting to be happy together? I should "downgrade" their relationship to a civil union because it wouldn't serve my best interests? But since when was it about me, and not them? In my family there are Christians, Muslims, and Hindus. Why should I ever be so stupid to think that my Hindu relatives shouldn't have a marriage or a wedding simply because of their faith (or even lack of it)? If the government had kept their noses out of marriage in the first place, there wouldn't be the controversy with same-sex marriage in the first place. Let people make their own decisions.

Answer 3

I think this was totally the right category.

My answer is C. Marriage is generally known as a religious institution. The whole purpose behind it has religious connotations, though in recent years the government has been getting involved.

Personally, I feel that the government should stay out of marriage, period. No lawful restrictions on it other than it must be two consenting adults. I think it's a pretty bad sign if we NEED laws against polygamy, incestuous marriages, and other things that aren't ethical when it comes to marriage.

But that's just my opinion.

Answer 4

If Civil Unions are completely equal to the legal rights and tax benefits of marriage then I am fine, so C. I don't care what you call it, as long as two consenting adults who love each other are able to be together legally then that's good for me.

Marriage doesn't have to be religiously influenced- many people don't get married in churches or by religious figures. If a church doesn't want to perform civil unions/gay marriage, then don't. The government shouldn't disallow two healthy and consenting adults from marrying each other by a judge just because of their gender, race, or creed.

zoril - Opposed to gay equality eh? So what would you have us do, hang them like the president of Iran?

Answer 5

I don't know!

I think that GLBT should be granted marriage rights. But so many people are opposed to that, but much fewer people aren't as opposed to civil unions, but it just isn't the same!

I've heard it proposed that legally, all marriages should be called "civil unions", and whether or not it is called a "marriage" is completely up to individual churches to decide. I kind of liked this idea...it made everybody's partnerships equal, but it still left religion some say in it.

Answer 6

Civil Union is still a marriage. It's the same as going to a JP and divorce is involved they want to split up.

As a Christian, I will stick with D.

Marriage is between one man and one woman. It is a religious institution.

Marriage used to be treated as sacred...too bad most don't still treat it that way.

Answer 7

Personally, I don't see where it is any ones business what happens between two consenting adults. It does not affect me in any way and even if it there were a god (which there is not) why would it care if two people were of the same sex. The bible says your supposed to love your neighbor as your god has loved you. besides Jesus is supposed to be the bride groom, that's an awful lot of men he has to marry just to fulfill a prophecy..

Answer 8

B
But I have to admit that A is a good place to start IF it continues on to total equality. If left as two separate systems I'd be mighty annoyed.

Answer 9

None of the above. I am opposed to gay marriage, gay unions, and gay equality.
God designed marriage to be between one man and one women not two men or two women. Sex is a gift reserved for marriage.

Answer 10

C.

Civil unions do not necessarily mean same sex unions. It could men heterosexual couples who chose not to need solemnization from the state or some religious group.

"Marriage" should be allowed to all adults of sound mind regardless of the gender make up of the couple seeking state solemnization.