10 years ago when the gay marriage issue just started to get traction in national politics the religious right were adamantly opposed to legalizing "civil unions" for gay couples.

Now that gay "marriage" is becoming a reality I've noticed that the religious right are all of a sudden championing the idea of civil unions for gay couples. Too funny and so ironic and hypocritical. Civil unions, all of a sudden, "makes sense" to them now that their "precious institution" of marriage is being legally granted to the gays.

They won't remember it that way of course. How quickly memories change...

What's the point of making the distinction? Okay, let them be "kind-of" married, with the rights afforded to married couples, but don't let them think that they're "MARRIED, married"? I can't believe how obsessed with this issue some people are. My TBM FIL is one of them. He makes a point of bringing it up every time we talk. Not sure what he gets out of it.

The way things stand, overall straight couples in common law relationships have more rights than legally married gay couples. This needs to change, but it will still take some time.