What's the difference between ';marriage'; and ';civil unions';?

The general response of Democrats for the idea of allowing gay marriage has been to allow civil unions, but not marriage.





I am wondering what the difference is between these two? And for those of you who are gay, would what the Democrats are saying an acceptable compromise to you; or do you want specifically marriage?What's the difference between ';marriage'; and ';civil unions';?
A civil union if for people of the same sex who want to be married. That's the only difference. In the eyes of the law, they're married, but it isn't called that. It's called a civil union.