We Should Encourage Same Sex Unions

Now that a judge has enjoined the enforcement of "Don't ask, don't tell" it is a good time to take a look at same sex unions.

Anti-homosexual bias dates from a time when tribes wanted to increase their numbers so that they would be advantaged against their enemies, a time when people led short lives, a time when many hands were needed to help grow crops. In short, the bias stems from conditions very different from today.

Laws and tax codes were written to encourage families to stay together for the protection of children. That is still a laudable goal but society has other needs as well.

As our population ages there is a need for committed relationships for the protection of the elderly. Who hasn't seen an aging couple supporting one another enabling them to live independently? Even young people need the support of another, someone to help them when times are hard or when they are sick. It is not society's business what goes on in the bedroom, it is only the welfare of its citizens that should concern the rest of society. Let people designate any one as their life partner, have them make a civil commitment (the only thing government can grant is a "civil" right) and give that couple all of the rights and obligations we now reserve for marriage.

Get the conservative right out of other peoples bedrooms and take sex out of the discussion.

The Case for Civil Unions

There has, for many years, been a heated debate over Gay Marriage. California's anti-marriage "proposition 8" has recently turned up the heat on the issue.
The supporters of "prop 8" insist that marriage is for the rearing and protection of children. While this may have been a factor in promoting marriage it is hardly the only reason for getting married. Many people beyond childbearing age or otherwise unable to have children are allowed to marry. Many same sex couples raise families.
Some say states that wish can give same sex couples "civil unions" and that should be good enough. It is not good enough under our current system. Only marriage gives the rights to federal tax, social security and other benefits. These however are "civil rights" granted by the government. If marriage is a religious right, the government has no business sanctioning it and giving benefits exclusively to those engaged in a religious rite.
Let's get government out of the marriage business and have them grant only "civil unions". If couples want to get married in a religious ceremony they can do that.
This is a civil rights issue, government should give the same benifits to all couples or to no couples.