civil unions

This is perhaps one of the most disgusting attempts by state government to remove the rights of its citizens I have ever read, seen, or heard about. And it's all happening right here in our sunny little state of Florida.

Because I haven't heard a good one yet. Usually, I just hear the same old arguments like, "Marriage is between a man and a woman!" I am apt to respond, "Says who?" Almost invariably, the answer I get is: "God!"

According to my local news cannel and nydailynews.com, As of June 9th, 2008 The first openly gay bishop of the Episcopalian church has been joined in a civil union. Rev. Gene Robinson was legally joined with his partner of 20 years. This was made possible by the Episcopalian open acceptance of the LGBT community and the recent legalization of civil unions in New Hampshire.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on marriage; however, placement of homosexual couples within this institution has sparked hatred, violence, and discrimination of many kinds. It is most unfortunate since a solution to this "problem" has been at hand for many years.

Since Vermont legalized civil unions for same-sex couples in 2000, the battle between legalizing same-sex civil unions vs. same-sex marriage vs. neither has been raging.

This is my understanding of the gay marriage debate. Homosexuals feel that they should be entitled to have some form of civil union, because as American citizens the government has a responsibility to protect them in there relationship (for instance, so one partner can’t suddenly leave and take everything with no legal intervention).

So I want to understand better what the arguments are against gay marriage and civil unions. I want to also hear more things that are positive about the possibilities for if they were to be allowed. For the last two days of lunch, me and a kid I know have been debating this and he seems to have all these ideas about why gay marriage/civil unions are bad.

I don't entirely understand what the issue is with gay marriage, I don't understand how it's going to affect anything relating to anybody else's personal marriage. I don't see how it takes away the sanctity of marriage, I would that that the fact that just about 50% of marriages end in divorce would do that.