Saturday, August 21, 2010

Gay marriage versus civil unions

I admit outside of unequivocally supporting equal rights for gay couples, I haven't really studied the particulars about why gay marriage is different than civil unions. I was recently challenged on this point in a discussion at facebook with a devout Catholic. It's not that I didn't know some of this, but for instance I wasn't aware that many states don't recognize civil unions from other states, whereas marriages are universally recognized even if the laws differ between states.

Anyway, this is informative and worth archiving for those debates you might find yourself in with some random gay basher. [via Avedon]

Labels:

Bookmark and Share

4 Comments:

Blogger Capt. Fogg said...

It used to be that some states didn't recognize and even criminalized interracial marriages legal in other states. I'm sure it's the same people who opposed the 1967 court ruling that now oppose any kind of contract that offends their bible belt bullshit.

12:28:00 PM  
Blogger Libby Spencer said...

I often point that out in these arguments. Astounding really, that so many civil rights aren't that old, yet people forget how hard it was to get them and are so willing to let them go without a fight.

Hell, wasn't that long ago black people couldn't drink from the same water fountains, but now the wingnuts are able to sell affirmative action as unneccessary. Feeling a little in despair for civil society today.

1:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As someone who has been in an interracial marriage for 33 years, I find your analogy to be the ultimate in nonsense.

7:45:00 AM  
Blogger Capt. Fogg said...

Mine is only in it's 25th year, and so I find your finding to be nugatory. Would your care to tell us why you find it nonsensical?

In the absence of anything but snark and bluster, how can we share in your wisdom?

Until you do step down from Olympus and enlighten us, I'll have to reaffirm that the government interfering in personal relationships, religious sentiment and the right of people to enter into contractual relationships is based on rights not granted that government but forbidden to it. I'll have to affirm that the government has no legal right to enforce religious taboos, any more than it has a right to limit the rights of any individual because of race or sexual preference.

10:53:00 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home