A type of quasi-marriage some places (in the US) offer for gays and lesbians. Its marriage, but not quite marriage. It is like 'seperate but equal' in that it is inherently discriminatory.
One drinking fountain was for whites, the other was for blacks, but the one for blacks rarely worked right.
In most places in the United States only straight people can marry. For gay people, civil unions are the 'seperate but equal' answer.
In most places in the United States only straight people can marry. For gay people, civil unions are the 'seperate but equal' answer.
by Ryan Thompson August 2, 2004
The consolation prize of human rights.
While some people think gays should settle for civil unions, others think they should have the right to marrige.
by Jake February 10, 2005
Get the Civil Unioned mug.
by Danny P October 31, 2003
a diverse organization of American Patriots better known as simply the aclu that works to protect the basic freedoms gauranteed by the U.S. Constitution
The American Civil Liberties Union believes in:
Free speech,Free press; this applies to everyone even those with radical or unpopular beliefs, defending a persons right to speak is not the same as an endorsement of that speech
Freedom of religion/Seperation of Church and State;There can be no freedom of religion without a seperation of church and state if government favors one particular religion it infringes on the those who believe in other faiths. The religious right claims inaccurately that not allowing government to force people to practice Christianity is somehow being anti-Christian which of course is ridiculous, many Christians are ACLU members
Protections against unwarranted search and seizure (privacy) protected by the fourth amendment the ACLU opposed the Patriot Act and other abuses by the Bush Administration
Opposition to "Cruel" and "Unusual" punishment which is prohibited by the eighth amendment, this includes the death penalty
The ninth amendment states that our rights are not limited to those specifically mentioned in the Constitution, basically America is a free society and the government needs to show a compelling state interest before criminalizing any private personal behavior
The fourteenth amendment gaurantees equal protection under the law, this includes gays and people of all races and religions
Free speech,Free press; this applies to everyone even those with radical or unpopular beliefs, defending a persons right to speak is not the same as an endorsement of that speech
Freedom of religion/Seperation of Church and State;There can be no freedom of religion without a seperation of church and state if government favors one particular religion it infringes on the those who believe in other faiths. The religious right claims inaccurately that not allowing government to force people to practice Christianity is somehow being anti-Christian which of course is ridiculous, many Christians are ACLU members
Protections against unwarranted search and seizure (privacy) protected by the fourth amendment the ACLU opposed the Patriot Act and other abuses by the Bush Administration
Opposition to "Cruel" and "Unusual" punishment which is prohibited by the eighth amendment, this includes the death penalty
The ninth amendment states that our rights are not limited to those specifically mentioned in the Constitution, basically America is a free society and the government needs to show a compelling state interest before criminalizing any private personal behavior
The fourteenth amendment gaurantees equal protection under the law, this includes gays and people of all races and religions
by Mr.Juan-derful May 28, 2010