Question for GLBT DUer's about "marriage"

[MercutioATC]

As a non-GLBT supporter of equal rights for ALL Americans, I'd appreciate the input. I feel that the ONLY union that the law acknowledges is a "civil union" (for ALL people). The "marriage" moniker should be left to religion. The result:

"Marriage" is a religious institution that is NOT recognized legally, but is accepted by the government. The individual religion performs "marriages" per their beliefs.

A "Union" (or whatever you choose to call it) is a legal contract for ALL people which conveys certain legal rights. This is the ONLY form of partnership legaly recognized. It would, obviously, be open to ALL couples.

Therefore, any couple wishing a "bond" could have either a "marriage" or a "union" or both, depending on what their religion allowed. Legally, "marriage" would not be recognized, as a religious bond...only "unions" would.

Does this make any sense?

[Maple]

1. No

I was married by a Justice of the Peace over 30 years ago.

Married...not unionized.

[TheEarthIsFlat]

4. Yes

It makes perfect sense. The original poster is not inquiring about your anecdotal experience thrity years ago, but rather posits a possibility for the future -- and it's a good one.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi TheEarthIsFlat!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Andy_Stephenson]

2. Yeah...

make the marrigae licence for same or opposite sex couples...a Union. If your church allows it marriage is fine. Perfect a workable solution.

[Devlzown]

3. I really don't want a constitutional amendment

over this issue. I think the so-called defense of marriage act should be struck down. It's really a state issue, since states license marriages and all. Problems that arise when one state refuses to recognize a marriage (or union) performed in another state should be settled in the courts, IMO.

[ErasureAcer]

6. This is a national issue, go read the 1st and 14th amendments

what we can learn from those is that it is federal law and our rights that gay backed churches or religions should be treated equally with other religions by all jurisdictions of government in the USA.

Simple as that.

[Devlzown]

8. The Bill of Rights only goes as far

toward gaining freedom and equality as the people allow it to. Sad but true.

[donco6]

5. Believe it or not, here's a quote from Andrew Sullivan:

"It seems as if heterosexuals are willing to tolerate homosexuals, but only from a position of power. They have few qualms about providing legal protections, decrying hate crimes, watching gay TV shows, even having a relative bring her female spouse to Thanksgiving dinner. Yet arguing that the lesbian couple is legally or morally indistinguishable from a straight couple is where many draw the line. That's why marriage is such a fundamental issue. Allowing gay marriage is not saying, We Will Tolerate You. It's saying, We Are You. This, it seems, we have a hard time doing.

Time, August 11, 2003

Are straights willing to see us on equal footing? I'm not sure they can . . . yet.

[Devlzown]

7. I don't think so either.

That's why I really don't want to push the issue too much. I'm only 34, but I've seen us come along way in my lifetime. I'd hate to see us lose ground. That can happen very quickly -- just look around.

[dsc]

9. In an ideal world your solution

is probably the best one. Sadly we have pretty much mucked that up. Marriage is too tied up with legalities to be seperate now. The best I think can be done is civil unions for LGBT and marriage for straights. I don't like admitting that as it renders me second class for the duration but I would rather have that than nothing.

[election_2004]

10. I'd be fine with that...

If my future husband and I can get the same basic rights as married heterosexual men and women, that will be a significant advance in progress by itself.

[Andy_Stephenson]

11. Ya'll...snap out of it!

Equal rights are not special rights!

[PretzelzRule]

12. Perfect sense

n/t

[IndianaGreen]

13. ACLU: Get Busy, Get Equal Campaign

About the Campaign

A once-in-a-lifetime chance to make change

This website was created to help you take advantage of one a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make significant changes in the way America treats LGBT people.

<snip>

We now have the best opportunity we have ever had to insist that governments, business and schools treat us with dignity and respect, and give us equal treatment in day to day life.

This website provides tools to: 1) get better treatment for same-sex relationships; 2) get safe schools; 3) get civil rights/discrimination policies that include LGBT people. The tools include simple but important steps that will take only a few minutes-like sending an electronic message to your representatives in Congress supporting a law to protect LGBT people from discrimination. The tools also include more ambitious things, like a step-by-step guide showing how to get a an anti-harassment policy from your school district or a domestic partnership policy in your town or your workplace. There are also tools to help you protect your own relationship, or to get a gay/straight alliance at your school. And more.

No one who cares about equality and dignity for LGBT people should let the opportunity this Supreme Court decision has given us pass without doing something to bring us a step closer to equality. So go to the tools. Take the easy steps, and check out the rest.

Equality is up to us.

http://www.aclu.org/getequal/campaign.html