Reply #19: Myself, i don't believe the state should have any say in ANY [View All]

[RaleighNCDUer]

marriage. Everyone should have civil unions. If someone want 'marriage' they can go to a rabbi or a priest AFTER they have gotten the legal civil union. Furthermore, it should not be predicated on them having sex, of any kind. Two elderly sisters sharing a home and all living expenses should be able to file joint tax returns. A guy who is a live-in caretaker to his invalid mother should be able to file joint returns with her - or, for that matter, a person who is a live-in caretaker to someone completely non-related, but who is not there as an employee, should have the same rights.

I don't understand what the hang up on the word 'marriage' is - if, as I predicated above, civil unions are defined in law as being fully equal, with NO discrepancies in rights afforded to the participants, what's the difference?

BTW, my sister and her partner were married last year. They ARE married, but denied their equal rights because NC does not recognise their UNION.

The key is equal RIGHTS, not a fucking word.