Same Sex Marriage/Civil Union

{ x-posted to my LJ }

So, the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage failed to pass (linky).

My thoughts on the issue?

We need to separate the church from the state here. Marriage should be something left solely to religious institutions, and the government should essentially ignore "marriage" (be blind to religion, as it should be) but only care about "civil union". Civil union should be pretty much what marriage is now legally -- one per person at any given time, and all the legal rights of a couple. And IMHO, same-sex couples and such should not be prohibited from joining in civil union.

Civil union is the joining of two people as a pair, and the only problem Bush and our Bible Belters are having is purely religious. I'm not gay, and I don't see how a man can like another man in such a way (or a woman a woman, although most men generally recognize that as much "hotter," but the male-v-female sensuality thing is a whole 'nother topic), but just because I can't doesn't mean that same-sex couples should be barred from enjoying the same rights as heterosexual couples. Are these people any less human than you or I? I think not. Homosexuals have a place in the world just like you, I, some poor guy living on the streets in Philly, some rich guy with his trophy wife, etc..

And yet so much of Modern America seems to be severely homophobic. A Ron White joke comes to mind: if you've heard it you know which one I'm talking about. And yet still people belive that homosexuals are less-than-human, and almost fear them as though they're going to start hitting on you and infect you with "gay."

I think it's time we put those archaic (was going to say antiquated, but in the past homosexuality was accepted more than it is now... example: samurai) beliefs behind us and make a change for the better.

Oh, but wait. Darn, we still have a Dumb, Square Peg (Bush) in the Round Whole (Oval Office), but at least even his own party is not even supporting him fully anymore.

But soon. Soon the Dems will have Congress, and heres to hoping that in 08 we'll see a president thats not an idiot. Note that I didn't say democratic or republican. ATM both have been kinda sucking. But heres to hoping.