Yes.
A legal civil marriage bestows all the state benefits, responsibilities and obligations for every legally married couple regardless of their sex. Civil unions vary from state to state and offer a watered down version of legal rights that generally do not mirror the rights associated with a civil marriage. One exception is Illinois which, so far, offers the widest array of benefits.
Illinois law prohibits marriage between same sex couples. Beginning on June 1, 2011 same sex couples in Illinois can obtain a civil union license. So far the new law is described as providing "many of" or "nearly all" the rights that accompany marriage. The confusion seems to lie in two areas: tenancy by the entirety and taxation of property in a divorce settlement. Tenancy by the entirety is an arrangement by which only legally married spouses can own real property and it has special protections. Many attorneys have said they plan to utilize that tenancy for same sex couples joined in a civil union until and unless they find it is not legal.
Tenancy by the entirety is generally unavailable under civil unions or domestic partnerships. The federal government does not recognize any form of same sex unions.
You can check the status of civil unions in your state at the related link.
In places where same-sex marriage has been legalized, same-sex married couples have identical rights (except for federal issues in the US) as any other married couple. In places where access to marriage is limited to opposite-sex couples only, then same-sex couples may be able to obtain the same rights by civil union, civil partnership or domestic partnership. Otherwise, they do not have the same rights.
A civil partnership in the United Kingdom offers the same rights as a mixed sex marriage such as inheritence, life assurance, child maintenance and immigration rights.
Yes, mainly because I am married to a person of the same sex. In places where same-sex marriage has been legalized, same-sex married couples have identical rights (except for federal issues in the US) as any other married couple. In places where access to marriage is limited to opposite-sex couples only, then same-sex couples may be able to obtain the same rights by civil union, civil partnership or domestic partnership. Otherwise, they do not have the same rights.
President Obama supports civil unions, but also supports full marriage rights, including use of the word "marriage," for same-sex couples.
Marriage Equality Bill (or Equal Marriage Bill) - proposes to eliminate the barriers preventing same-sex couples from marrying; and,Civil Union Bill (or Civil Partnership Bill) - proposes to grant same-sex couples the same same rights and responsibilities as married persons by creating a new status and still restricting access to marriage to heterosexual couples only.
A civil marriage license.
Civil unions are the legal partnership that provides the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. Also, it is known as a marriage and, in Europe, a civil partnership. Let's not forget marriage, which also provides the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples.
It would give same-sex couples recognition and relationship rights which are equal to those that are granted through a traditional marriage.
"Civil partnership" is a term used in other countries to describe what in the United States would be called a civil union. It is basically either all or most of the rights and obligations of marriage, except that it is not called a marriage. It is usually for same-sex couples.
Yes, the government has no legitimate or compelling interest in denying marriage rights to same-sex couples, nor to discriminate against some citizens because of their sexual orientation, nor to codify some people's religious belief into civil law.
They deny civil rights.
Mr. Colbert is a strong support of civil rights, including the right of same-sex couples to marry.