A friend asked why gay people just aren't satisfied with a civil union instead of marriage
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION- and I did some research. There are a lot of good reasons:
1) Civil Unions offer some of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, but only on a state level. That means, NO federal gov't pension, NO Social Security and so much more if one partner passes.
Is THAT fair? No. Certainly not.
2) CIVIL UNIONS NOT RECOGNIZED OUTSIDE BORDERS: If someone has a Civil Union in Vermont, that union is NOT recognized in any other state. The same with gay marriage. Tom and I were LEGALLY married in Connecticut. Do we even get state rights here in Maryland because of it? NO. We get NO rights at all here as a couple. Is THAT fair? No.
In fact, two states, Connecticut and Georgia, have ruled that they do not have to recognize civil unions performed in Vermont, because their states have no such legal category.
3) TAXES: Civil Unions are not recognized by the federal government, so couples would not be able to file joint-tax returns or be eligible for tax breaks or protections the government affords to married couples.
4) BENEFITS AWARDED TO MARRIED COUPLES BY THE FEDERAL GOV'T: The General Accounting Office in 1997 released a list of 1,049 benefits and protections available to heterosexual married couples. TO SEE A PARTIAL LIST: http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/wedding/f/MarriageBenefit.htm
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.
5) EVEN IMMIGRATION ISSUES: A United States citizen who is married can sponsor his or her non-American spouse for immigration into this country. Those with Civil Unions have no such privilege.
6) SO WHY MARRIAGE INSTEAD OF CIVIL UNIONS? Marriage is done for 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. Civil Unions aren't recognized outside of the state they're done in.
I'll tell you, that if Tom is ever hospitalized and they won't let me see him or make decisions for him, I would sue a hospital dry. Denying gay people rights to be with their partner (and I've heard COUNTLESS stories about this) is wrong. That's a difference between civil unions and marriage and that's what happens if couples are traveling outside their little state where a civil union is done and if someone is hospitalized. That's not compassion and equality. It's wrong.
FOR ALL THE DETAILS: http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/wedding/a/unionvmarriage.htm
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