The matter of civil unions (the new civil right : same sexual orientation equality)

Baltimore Sun ^ | January 27, 2008 | Sun Editorials

[sickoflibs]

The Maryland General Assembly will soon consider legislation to remove the state's ban on same-sex marriage. We wholeheartedly support the effort. Numerous are the rewards - to the individuals involved and society as a whole - that spring from this vital social institution. The broad range of benefits (and obligations) that come with marriage should not be denied certain people because of sexual preference. That's why we believe the time may be right for Maryland to authorize civil unions for same-sex couples. Admittedly, it is not the same thing as marriage. It would require creation of a separate legal structure - perhaps even an unwieldy one - that is unlikely to offer all the benefits of marriage. It is for this reason that same-sex marriage advocates are often among the proposal's most ardent foes. They see it as an effort to thwart the case for genuine equality.

But without a civil union law, the difficult task of trying to string together piecemeal rights denied same-sex couples issue by issue is all the more challenging. Even more important, civil union should be seen as a bridge to the ultimate goal of ending discrimination by sexual orientation. As others have noted, civil rights are usually secured by incremental steps. And an overwhelming majority of Marylanders favor civil unions, according to the Sun poll. None of this would be necessary if the Maryland Court of Appeals hadn't reversed a Baltimore Circuit Court judge and upheld the ban on same-sex marriage last September. But that decision is unlikely to be altered anytime soon. Gov. Martin O'Malley has promised to support a civil union bill. If such a law would help offset, if only partially, the injustice done same-sex couples, it ought to be approved this session.

[sickoflibs]

"As others have noted, civil rights are usually secured by incremental steps. And an overwhelming majority of Marylanders favor civil unions, according to the Sun poll. "

Monday is not the same with a Baltimore Sun editorial. last week one praised O'Malley for the biggest tax increase in Maryland history.

Of course this is not a freedom but a new cherry picked benefit. So the liberal practice is to take away our freedoms but give out new cherry picked benefits to some and call them fundamental freedoms.

[NRA1995]

I would expect nothing less from the staff of buttheads at the Sun....

[sr4402]

Numerous are the rewards -

Oh Yes. Let's list some of the rewards Maryland might get:

Increased Divorce
Increased Single Parenthood
Increased Abuse

Oh and I almost forgot - Reaping the Whirlwind.

[sr4402]

Oh, and just so you know. I am a former resident of the Commune of Gaithersburg is the very, aformuch said, Socialist State of unMaryland.

[sickoflibs]

Baltimore Sun editorial ping

[Albion Wilde]

"And an overwhelming majority of Marylanders favor civil unions, according to the Sun poll."

Where did they do this poll, in a downtown leather bar? What question did they ask, "If you had no other choice but gay marriage or gay civil unions, which law would you prefer to have forced on you as a citizen of the Socialist State of Maryland?"

[Albion Wilde]

ping

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Dear Baltimore Sun: do not expect me to support your legitimization of Same Sex Attraction Disorder in such a manner.

Maryland “Freak State” PING!