Alfred Doblin in The Record reminds us that the civil union legislation that was adopted by the state and went into effect at midnight remains, at best, a work in progress. Plenty of gay couples will be able to “unionize” (and I don’t mean join the Teamsters), but they will remain outside the mainstream because they cannot be married like the rest of us.
Discriminatory legislation codifies discrimination. Civil unions that give all the rights of marriage without using the word “marriage” do not give all the rights of marriage. It’s that simple.
On a side note, Doblin makes mincemeat of one of the great canards in this debate — that civil unions and gay marriages will increase health care costs.
(Bogota Mayor Steve) Lonegan says if a municipal employee were to become civil unionized, that could increase his local budget because of the partner’s benefits. If a municipal employee gets married it has the same effect. What’s the alternative? Hiring only celibate, single people? That sounds like the Roman Catholic Church. And they’ve had a few problems with that employment policy of late.
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Hank Kalet 