Should Gay marriage be called marriage or a civil union and why?

I personally think that it should be called marriage because they deserve to be treated the same as everybody else. But im conducting an opinionated survey for a school paper...so write down as much as you want to. thanks :)Should Gay marriage be called marriage or a civil union and why?
It should be called marriage.





We have ';civil partnerships'; in the UK and now people think we have no right to moan about not being allowed to marry. But I still believe it should be called marriage.





A ';partnership'; just isn't the same - it's not the same as a marriage and it makes me feel like gay couples are still seen as different from straight couples.





It seems unfair that straight couples are allowed to marry whereas gay couples can only have a partnership. Should Gay marriage be called marriage or a civil union and why?
Personally, I think that any legal union (government sanctioned, granting legal rights and protections) should be called a Civil union. And any religious union (religiously sanctioned, offering only the 'blessing of god') should be called a marriage. How ever, a religious union would not offer legal rights and protections, that is for a legal union. Of course, you could have both forms of union, one for religion, and one for legalities. But that way it could be left up to individual churches/temples/etc rather or not they allowed gay couples to get married.
It should be called marriage, and nothing else.





Until you can explain to me the difference between my relationship with my husband, my brother's relationship with his wife, or my sister's relationship with her husband, it IS the same. And if it is the same, calling it something different makes no sense.
I see no logical reason to completely redefine a word after thousands of years just because a tiny little splinter group is so insecure that they need to pretend that their relationship is exactly the same as marriage (as it has been understood in all cultures throughout recorded history.





If they were really secure in their lifestyle they wouldn't need to ';be the same'; as everyone else and would simply accept themselves as they are.





Calling a truck a bus ... well, it still doesn't make it a bus., does it?





Considering the high levels of suicide and emotional/psychological problems in the gay community, they'd be better off spending their time on more important problems than this.





Perhaps they're afraid to tackle the REAL problems?
It should be called Marriage.











And to answer Smokehillfarm鈥?br>




When did asking for the same rights as Heterosexual couples mean that Homosexuals are insecure?





All that I saw during the elections this year in California were straight couples saying that allowing Homosexuals to marry was somehow going to destroy marriage. During the 6 months that Homosexual marriages were legal in California I can't remember seeing one Heterosexual marriage destroyed. I also didn't see plagues of locusts or the state bursting into flames because two people of legal age could get married if they (Homosexuals) wanted to start a family and commit to living their lives in the open with the support of the state and the legal benefits of marriage obtainable to all Californians





I and other LGBT people in California are just as secure in my lifestyle as you are in yours and I don't need you to allow me to be just as good as you, apparently however I do need to win an election to have the same rights as you. My marriage was just as valid as yours, until after the election. I wonder how you would feel if the people in California could vote to see if you (am I am assuming that you are married) could stay married to your partner. What would your reaction be if you went to sleep one night and had your marriage annulled in the morning by the 'will of the majority'.





It may or may not be true that the LGBT community has more emotional/psychological problems than the straight community. But I wonder how well the straight community would do if they were constantly harassed both physically and emotionally at every turn and that the people doing it would say that it was their duty as a good Citizen to break up your marriages. How would you cope with people trying to take your children away from you or saying that you shouldn't be able to adopt because we don鈥檛 approve of your lifestyle. How well could you take it when people that have known you your entire life say that it should be legal to turn you down for a job, an apartment or not do business with you, because we don't like what you do in your bedroom? Then have the same people that you have known for years look at you, realize what they鈥檝e said and say, ';Oh, I don't mean you of course, your one of the good ones';.





The only REAL problem I see is people that think like you Smokehillfarm.



I gave the answer below when this question was ask yesterday and I think it's a good idea but obviously It's just my opinion....





America needs to get civil ceremonies or unions recognised as equal to ';straight'; marriages in every state, then go for the word ';marriage'; at a later date. That's what we have done in the U.K. It gives us the exact same rights as a straight married couple and we all think of it as marriage anyway. You will not be able to change a country the size of America in one go and you might not see the word ';marriage'; used in your lifetime but if you get the civil ceremonies / unions in every state, that's got to be a good start surely?
Perhaps marriages should be defunct and we all enter into Civil Unions, and those of us who choose to be 'blessed' in a faith based ceremony can do so. It is straight people who need to be reminded of the seriousness of joining in such a partnership! I get tired of hearing straight anti-gay marriage exponents bang on about sanctity of marriage between them, then go and tie the knot on the wings of a bi-plane and get divorced as soon as the ink on the register dries! Hypocrites...make it a legally binding civil ceremony for all I say!


I had my civil partnership in the UK last year, best thing I did after 17 years together..she is my next of kin and legal partner in all things...now I strive for cultural/political equality as a woman and as a lesbian!
The landmark Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education declared that separate is NEVER equal and in fact said that seperate is unconstitutional.





Separate schools and drinking fountains for black and white was wrong and separate institutions of marriage and civil unions wrong too.





Coretta Scott King (Martin Luther King Jr's wife) said that gay marraige is a civil rights issue.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004鈥?/a>






marriage because just because you are married to someone of the same gender, you have the same rights as a straight couple, and should be treated equally... i don't get why it needs to be called a ';civil union'; you never hear straight couples say ';hey we were just civilally unitied!!!'; LOL and ya i agree with the person who said they are upset about the passing of prop. 8! so am i! furious!
marriage.i am straight and the thought of holding hands and kissing a guy makes me sick.that's my problem because i have seen gays in long term relationships that were so loving and involved with each other that the only thing i felt was that much love cant be wrong.life is to short and fragile to care about things so trivial
I think that eventually gay's will be legalized and we will look back at discriminating against gay marriage like we now look back at discriminating black people. Kids will learn about it in school and they will say ';Omg I can't believe people were so mean to gay people!';
Who cares...it's like the saying ';just because you call a dog a cat doesn't mean it is'; only in reverse.





No matter what you call it, as long as gays are given every right the straights have, then it's fine.
Marriage.


A marriage is different from a Civil Union.





There are a thousand websites, but I would recommend http://www.eqca.org
As long as we have equal rights who cares.








That is my opinion, on it, I dp not care what they call it as long as we have the equal rights.
marriage.


she's not my ';civil partner';


i failed civics!


she's my wife! she wil be my wife!
Marriage!!!!!!!!
Marriage.





...Equality for ALL!
It can be called ho ho ho merry Christmas for all I care as long as long as we have equal rights.
marriage sounds better
Call it marriage. That is what it is after all.
marriage i suppose
personally i don't care
I don't care what it's called. Its just words.
marrage!


i think that marrage does not have to be man and woman.


love is love no matter what form
They can call it whatever they like in Antarctica..