Originally Posted by SoSick
Civil unions are available in places to contend with certain legal issues. and in places where that is not avialable, homosexuals are as free as anyone else to use a lawyer to give anyone they want power of attorney over their affairs, just as marriage does for a heterosexual couple. Spouses are considered immune in a court of law because of conflicts of interest. Likewise it's probably fine to assume that the conflict of interest for homosexual couples will also be recognized by a judge or jury and an attorney can plead the same in that case.
There are over 1000 federal statutes that apply to married people. The federal government does not recognize federal unions. In the states where there are civil unions the couple in a civil union is afforded less privileges than a couple that is "married". Can you say "separate but equal"? Apparently those states cant.

There are restrictions on powers of attorney that prevent access to all the privileges obtained by a spouse by merely saying "I do".

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No, what they actually seem to want is the title Mr and Mrs. and to force the entire world to close their eyes to the fact that are actually Mr and Mr. What they actually want is the entire world to pretend that they believe their union is holy and blessed by God when in fact the whole world does not believe that.
Is a Hindu marriage "holy and blessed by God". In what way would the legalization of same-sex marriage change your belief that it is wrong?

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They are trying to change beliefs, not laws, and that really is the issue.

Would allowing same-sex marriage change your beliefs?

A faith that connot survive collision with the truth is not worth many regrets. -- Arthur C. Clarke