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Saturday, November 10, 2007

A Majority of Americans Support Civil Unions

posted by on November 10 at 10:33 AM

A new ABC News poll puts support for same-sex civil unions—marriage in everything but name—at 55%. That sound your hear is a stanky load sliding down Gary Bauer’s trouser leg.

RSS icon Comments

1

Respectfully, this isn't news. ~55% +/- 5% have supported civil unions for a long time:

http://www.pollingreport.com/civil.htm

Posted by Big Sven | November 10, 2007 11:09 AM
2

The fact-within-a-fact on general public opinion is that so many view marriage as different from civil union, and seek to withhold marriage rights from same sex couples.

Posted by Big Sven | November 10, 2007 11:11 AM
3

I just cracked open the new issue of Reason that arrived in the mail, and who do I see on page 12 but Dan Savage! Talking surreptitious sex by public officials, of course.

Good to see you in such an august publication, Dan.

Posted by JMR | November 10, 2007 11:25 AM
4

I'm in favor of civil unions for opposite-sex couples. Uncle Sam can't "marry" anybody.

Posted by Cat in Chicago | November 10, 2007 4:20 PM
5

How encouraging that 55% of the country believes I am eligible for equal protections and due process and full faith and credit.

How kind of them to think me a citizen worthy of constitutional rights.

I wonder if any of them will lift a fucking finger to make it happen, or if this will just be more ENDA-like incremental bullshit.

They have theirs - marriage and divorce and remarriage rights no matter what any religious organizations think of it - so eventually I can have mine if I can figure out how to make them give it to me.

What do you think I am - some kind of transgendered person? I have rights!! It's my turn!!

Posted by patrick | November 10, 2007 5:58 PM
6

Word to Cat in Chicago.

Posted by David Wright | November 11, 2007 4:55 AM
7

"I wonder if any of them will lift a fucking finger to make it happen..."

I guess David and Cat answered my question. It doesn't matter that they can get married or not and disdain the idea of it in between divorces...they can have ideological purity and still maintain a worldly hipness by looking the other way.

In other words: ENDA.

Just like, "who put the T in LGBT? you can say, "why would gays want to be married anyway? you have it better just the way you are."

followed by the sound of hands being washed...

Posted by patrick | November 11, 2007 10:29 AM
8

Actually, civil unions aren't exactly the same as a marriage. In a marriage, you get federal and state benefits. In a civil union, you'd only get state benefits. But you've got to start somewhere, right?

Posted by Anna | November 11, 2007 12:48 PM
9

"But you've got to start somewhere, right?"

Where did you start?

Were Civil Unions the path followed by different sex couples until marriage was created, or is that path reserved for the class of people that have to prove themselves first?

Kinda like ENDA...LGB people have to start with employment protections until T persons have suffered enough.

nice.

Posted by patrick | November 11, 2007 1:52 PM
10

"Where did you start?"
All I meant was that having some rights is better than having no rights at all. It's a step in the right direction. I never said it was fair, or that same-sex couples should be grateful that some states legalize civil unions, and settle for just that. If you settle for civil unions, then you'll never be allowed to legally marry.
It used to be that women weren't allowed to work outside the home because they "weren't smart enough". Eventually, they were allowed to get jobs, but they weren't allowed equal pay, and they were only allowed to work in certain fields. But at least it was better than before. However, those women didn't settle for just that. They kept fighting for more rights, and now women can work wherever they want, and they get paid just as much as a guy would in that position. "Starting somewhere" doesn't mean you stop there and wait for other people to change things. It just means that progress is being made.

Posted by Anna | November 11, 2007 6:52 PM
11

Disappointing as civil unions are, it is a less inequitable system than what we have now.

Posted by Greg | November 12, 2007 9:25 AM
12

People like Patrick come back in the next life as fly-covered starving Somali children.

Posted by Ron | November 12, 2007 11:48 AM

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