Reply #53: Civil unions don't really work. New Jersey has already ruled on this. Besides, they're unequal.

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Companies, hospitals, etc. are simply telling people that they don't have any legal provisions for "civil unions" and that their corporate policy says "marriage", etc. It's subjecting people to total tax confusion (I'm as good as married on my state taxes, but single on my federal return) and it's also completely and totally unequal in substantial ways: you can't have your foreign partner live with you in the US, you don't get their social security when they die, you have to claim your partner's coverage as extra income on your taxes if they are on your insurance, you don't get military benefits if they die in Iraq, you don't get conjugal visits, you can be forced to testify against your spouse, etc. And kids make it an even grayer area much of the time.

It's a lot more practical to just say marriage.