2. Most places which have domestic partnerships do not offer the same legal implications as marriage.

3. Where is it written in stone that marriage(something that isn’t a natural phenomenon anyway!) requires a only a man and a woman? Oh, the bible? Well, can I write my own book and use that as an argument then?

4. Trying to degrade our struggle for equality? Weak attempt. Next!

Domestic partnerships are legal in only a handful of states, that’s true. But Domestic Partnerships are not the same as marriage:

1. Domestic Partnerships( DPs) & Civil Unions (CUs) are not recognized by the federal government.
2. If a person has a domestic partnership/civil union in a state where that relationship is recognized as such, & the couple moves to another state, the new state does NOT have to recognize the DP/CU because of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).
3. DPs/CUs s do not receive spousal benefits, inheritance benefits, child custody, visitation of partner/decisions about health care in the hospital if partner is incapacitated, etc. outside the state where the DP/ CU is recognized
5. In addition, the General Accounting Office points out 1,138 benefits (survival benefits from Social Security, Veterans Benefits, federal employees’ health insurance, etc) that are denied to GLBT couples who are in DPs/ CUs.

To break it down, this means:
1. Civil union ARE NOT recognized in any of the 50 states or any territory of the US.
2. I wouldn’t be able to go back into the military as an Officer & have my union recognized. This means my spouse wouldn’t get the same benefits as a military spouse.
3. My spouse can be fired from her job just for being in a civil union with me. There is no protection for her if she is gay (& no, she’s not in the military. She works for a private agency- church-that can discriminate against sexual orientation because of their religion)
4. The federal government still taxes me on health insurance benefits from my employer when I put my spouse on my health insurance in states where DPs/ CU are legit. I live in CA, & I’ve had the hit on my taxes.
5. I’m unable to have the civil union paperwork confidential (the same option given to married straight couples), & since people can still discriminate against GLBTs in employment, this threatens my livelihood. That’s one reason we have a confidential marriage.
6. The federal government will not recognize a civil union for tax purposes, custody cases involving my partner’s blood relatives should my partner become incapacitated or dies, or inheritance rights.
7. Straight people don’t have the option to get a civil union instead of married if they wanted one. I mean, marriage & DPs/CUs are equal in the eyes of the state, then why can’t straight folks get a CU or DP if they want one? In addition, if they WERE able to get the DP/CU, it wouldn’t be recognized by the state (unless 1 person was at least 62 out here in Cali) & federal government.
8. Even if we pass whatever background check required by an adoption agency, my spouse & I would be unable to adopt children & raise them wherever we live in the US. There are laws on the book in Florida & Arkansas against gay adoption.

It’s not about the name. It’s about having the same benefits as any other married couple, and for any straight couple (who wants it) to be able to enter into a civil union as well. If DPs & CUs provided the same 1138 benefits as marriage while not calling it marriage, I’ll be in line, no problem. Unfortunately, this won’t happen.

Most of the major religious groups claim they would be ok with civil unions. But if you look on their websites or ask someone in their hierarcy of their church’s position, they are OPPOSED to civil unions & domestic partnerships, & of course, the notion of gay marriage. So, what would you have the LGBT community do? What is a real, legal, alternative to LGBTs who want to make sure that their families are taken care of?

There is little room for compromise between the majority of the major religions (I did say majority, not all) & the LGBT community when it comes to gay marriage OR civil unions/domestic partnerships. How can a compromise be worked out if one side refuses to even listen to us? How can people deny rights that would ensure my family would be protected in case something happens to me or my spouse?

In order for the same rights to be given to 2 consenting adults who qualify for marriage without violating any existing laws in that state, something has to give. I’m not trying to marry my 1st cousin (which, btw, is legal in quite a few states) or another blood relative, a minor, animal, 2 or more people, or an inatimate object. LGBTs want to marry another adult that they love. We were married on the 1st of November, before the people took away the right for gays to marry each other.

Separate but equal, in this case, is not equal. When Domestic Partnerships offer the same benefits as marriage, & those benefits are recognized throughout the US in every state & by our own government, then we’ll stop with our struggle.

Does this answer your question….

We pay taxes, fight in wars, and perform both good actions and bad actions. We are simply people.

My basic right of marriage should not be contingent on the comfort level of others. It wasn’t that long ago (1967) that the federal law finally banned all restrictions on interracial marriage.

As a country we all learned before that time (focusing mainly on education and health services) that “separate but equal” doesn’t work. It took our country a while but thankfully and rightfully it was outlawed as it was “unconstitutional”.

The rights and privileges in domestic partnerships in many states has been reduced in the last 6 years, affecting both homosexuals and heterosexuals. I know for Utah specifically the platform for this amendment to their state constitution was based largely on limiting the rights of homosexual partnerships.

Should my rights be denied simply based on the person I fell in love with ?

No.

This is why we protest.