A "civil union" is a government sanctioned recognition of a couple that is similar to marriage but lacks the name and hundreds of rights. Civil unions have traditionally been entered into by same-sex couples, but increasingly by heterosexuals who oppose the institution of marriage but want to receive government benefits.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Word of the Gay: "Civil Union"
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4 comments:
Synonyms: "Separate but equal."
For heterosexuals, it's usually less an opposition to the institution of marriage than an (over) respect for it. If marriage is seen as something that requires much commitment, and civil unions something as frivolous, then it's easier to agree to a civil union than a marriage, because of less societal baggage.
What are these heterosexuals saying about gay relationships when they do this?
I agree, CrackerLilo. It is for this reason (amongst others) that I do not support Civil Unions but DO support Marriage Equality. I don't care how straights feel about it to be honest. My marriage deserves as much dignity and respect as any straight marriage--I, for one, will not settle for anything less.
I don't know, Anonymous--strange how they supposedly respect marriage by having extramarital affairs and divorce/remarry so damned easily. It is heterosexuals who have brought the divorce rates up to where they are today. I think they're just bigoted jerks who want something exclusively to themselves. (Yanno, it's so spayshul that we can't keep our marriages together, but don't let the queers have a crack at doing better." That and just plain mean-spiritedness.
This nonsense is why I married in Canada. I don't have to worry every time I turn round that the legal status of my marriage will be taken away by religious hypocrites.
I don't plan on getting married or having a civil union or whatever until my state allows marriage equality. I know I won't have rights, but the issue is bigger than that for me.
How could I possibly get married and invite all my friends, many of whom are gay and lesbian, to the ceremony? To me, it'd just be a painful reminder that our government thinks I'm more deserving of rights simply because I was born straight. I have no desire to celebrate that.
We'll have a ceremony for our family and friends in a church with a minister who will affirm any two consenting adults. It's terrible that I feel the need to say "consenting adults" instead of just "couples" but I've dealt with many people who have an abnormal fixation on marrying goats so it's a habit.
If someone still insists on giving me grief after they know how I feel [and they often do.], I ask them why my commitment ceremony will be any less valid than the covenant between Jonathan and David. Unfortunately, that usually gets them rolling on a whole other issue.
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