July 09, 2007

Civil Unions Aren't the Same as Marriage

Joe. My. God. reports:

UPS is refusing to grant spousal benefits to gay couples who have civil unioned in New Jersey, saying that they can only do so for couples that are married, as the company does for married gay employees in Massachusetts. UPS joins a growing list of New Jersey companies refusing to recognize state law requiring full benefits be granted to the civil unioned. Garden State Equality says they have received 150 similar complaints about other companies. And again we see an example of how civil unions fall short of providing full rights to gay couples.

I've said it once and I'll said it again: if there is no difference between civil unions and marriages, then there is no reason to call them by different names. The only reason to call them something different is if they aren't the same, if you intend to treat them differently.

There are only two options: Either call all the unions civil or call them all marriages. Otherwise, gay activists should not stop protesting this outrageous situation.

Naturally, businesses are free to discriminate as they please. And consumers are free to do the same.

Posted by Flibbertigibbet at July 9, 2007 06:42 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Actually, there is a difference; a marriage is a church ceremony, and a civil union is a particular legal contract.

The problem exists because many people use "marriage" to refer to both.

In the eyes of the state, the only relevant joining should be the civil union. If the governments started referring to the license between man and woman as civil unions, it would clear things up.

Posted by: Brian J. at July 10, 2007 09:26 AM

I guess I should be more clear: I'm not talking about what people do in their churches. That is not any business or concern of mine. I'm speaking only to the use of the word in the political context and in that context, I don't care what it gets called as long as both arrangements are called the same thing and get the same benefits, protections, and legal recognition.

Posted by: Flibbert at July 10, 2007 09:36 AM
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