Artifact #5:: "What's the Difference between Civil Unions and and Gay Marriage?"
Kathy Belge. "What's the Difference between Civil Unions and and Gay Marriage?" About, Inc. The New York Times Company. 2006. December 20th, 2006.
http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/wedding/a/unionvmarriage.html
"First of all, What is Marriage? When people marry, they tend to do so for reasons of love and commitment. But marriage is also a legal status, which comes with rights and responsibilities. Marriage establishes a legal kinship between you and your spouse. It is a relationship that is recognized across cultures, countries and religions.
What is a Civil Union? Civil Unions exist in only two places: Vermont and Connecticut. In 2005 California created a domestic partnership law that offers many of the same rights as civil unions. Vermont civil unions were created in 2000 to provide legal protections to gays and lesbians in relationships in that state because gay marriage is not an option. The protections do not extend beyond the border of Vermont and no federal protections are included with a Civil Union. Civil Unions offer some of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, but only on a state level."
So apparently there are things out there that resemble marriages for same-sex couples. They are called "Civil Unions." Civil Unions are only legal within the state they are made. You can't move out of the state and still be "married." You must stay in the state for the Civil Union to come into play. Also, Civil Unions, however similar to marriages' legal contracts, it is not the same. There are less benefits for couples in a Civil Union.
"The General Accounting Office in 1997 released a list of 1,049 benefits and protections available to heterosexual married couples. These benefits range from federal benefits, such as survivor benefits through Social Security, sick leave to care for ailing partner, tax breaks, veterans benefits and insurance breaks. They also include things like family discounts, obtaining family insurance through your employer, visiting your spouse in the hospital and making medical decisions if your partner is unable to. Civil Unions protect some of these rights, but not all of them."
This is the reason that many gay couples want marriage and not just a Civil Union.
"The United States Constitution guarantees equality for all."
Questions::
http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/wedding/a/unionvmarriage.html
"First of all, What is Marriage? When people marry, they tend to do so for reasons of love and commitment. But marriage is also a legal status, which comes with rights and responsibilities. Marriage establishes a legal kinship between you and your spouse. It is a relationship that is recognized across cultures, countries and religions.
What is a Civil Union? Civil Unions exist in only two places: Vermont and Connecticut. In 2005 California created a domestic partnership law that offers many of the same rights as civil unions. Vermont civil unions were created in 2000 to provide legal protections to gays and lesbians in relationships in that state because gay marriage is not an option. The protections do not extend beyond the border of Vermont and no federal protections are included with a Civil Union. Civil Unions offer some of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, but only on a state level."
So apparently there are things out there that resemble marriages for same-sex couples. They are called "Civil Unions." Civil Unions are only legal within the state they are made. You can't move out of the state and still be "married." You must stay in the state for the Civil Union to come into play. Also, Civil Unions, however similar to marriages' legal contracts, it is not the same. There are less benefits for couples in a Civil Union.
"The General Accounting Office in 1997 released a list of 1,049 benefits and protections available to heterosexual married couples. These benefits range from federal benefits, such as survivor benefits through Social Security, sick leave to care for ailing partner, tax breaks, veterans benefits and insurance breaks. They also include things like family discounts, obtaining family insurance through your employer, visiting your spouse in the hospital and making medical decisions if your partner is unable to. Civil Unions protect some of these rights, but not all of them."
This is the reason that many gay couples want marriage and not just a Civil Union.
"The United States Constitution guarantees equality for all."
Questions::
- What other reasons are there for homosexuals to want marriage and not a Civil Union?
- If the Brown vs. Board of Ed ruled that seperate but equal is unconstitutional, then wouldn't Civil Unions be too?
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