4 ms·

Honestly, I don't really know much of anything about civil unions so maybe your right. If that's the case, I have no idea what the actual distinction is betwee

Honestly, I don't really know much of anything about civil unions so maybe your right. If that's the case, I have no idea what the actual distinction is between a civil union and marriage would be then if they both confer the same benefits/rights/protections. Sounds like civil unions were just created to fill that same-sex marriage gap without pissing off the people who didn't want same-sex marriages. That way the people who are against it can still feel like marriage is just one man and one woman while gay couples can still get the legal perks. Seems like a typical political cop-out. But I could be wrong on this assumption as I don't know enough about it. That's my gut impression, though.

edblarney 10y ago
A civil union is the civic definition of partnership. It confers the 'legal rights'. 'Marriage' is something cultural and religious. People can call themselves married, or not, it's not legally relevant. You go to City Hall to register your partnership. You go to Church (or whatever) to get married.
- maxerickson 10y ago
  What jurisdiction are you describing? In the United States, they are legally different concepts, with marriage conferring more rights to the couple. Since Obergefell v. Hodges, civil unions are not really used.
  - edblarney 10y ago
    Sorry, I'm not describing a jurisdiction, rather explaining how I think it should be done. I guess I didn't make that clear as it was an appendage to my earlier comment. :)
rsynnott 10y ago
> Sounds like civil unions were just created to fill that same-sex marriage gap without pissing off the people who didn't want same-sex marriages. In most countries which implemented them, that's broadly correct, yeah. In some countries there were also constitutional issues; in Ireland we had to change our constitution to permit same-sex marriage, for instance, so we had civil unions in the mean time. In practice, though, there were lots of small unintended legal differences. Marriage has been around since before any modern society, and it weaves itself into laws and regulations. The campaign for equal marriage in Ireland found something like a thousand legal differences between civil unions and marriages, mostly essentially accidental. They're a mess and should be avoided if possible.

edblarney 10y ago

A civil union is the civic definition of partnership. It confers the 'legal rights'. 'Marriage' is something cultural and religious. People can call themselves married, or not, it's not legally relevant. You go to City Hall to register your partnership. You go to Church (or whatever) to get married.

maxerickson 10y ago
What jurisdiction are you describing? In the United States, they are legally different concepts, with marriage conferring more rights to the couple. Since Obergefell v. Hodges, civil unions are not really used.
- edblarney 10y ago
  Sorry, I'm not describing a jurisdiction, rather explaining how I think it should be done. I guess I didn't make that clear as it was an appendage to my earlier comment. :)

rsynnott 10y ago

> Sounds like civil unions were just created to fill that same-sex marriage gap without pissing off the people who didn't want same-sex marriages. In most countries which implemented them, that's broadly correct, yeah. In some countries there were also constitutional issues; in Ireland we had to change our constitution to permit same-sex marriage, for instance, so we had civil unions in the mean time. In practice, though, there were lots of small unintended legal differences. Marriage has been around since before any modern society, and it weaves itself into laws and regulations. The campaign for equal marriage in Ireland found something like a thousand legal differences between civil unions and marriages, mostly essentially accidental. They're a mess and should be avoided if possible.