[antiRepublicrat]

Marriage is a public institution and it always has been. The public perception of your marriage will change and it simply won't be as important or significant. ... When your marriage becomes a "civil union" overnight, then can you say it wasn't effected?

I don't care what other people think, as it changes our bond not one bit. I actually prefer the "civil union" route. The government has no business in marriage except as it applies to taxes and inheritance, which could be covered by civil union. To me it implies they have some say in or sanction of our union. Let marriages be a private, non-governmental affair performed by churches or other institutions -- institutions that can exclude whomever they want.

[DameAutour]

Then you want your marriage to be impacted, you want it to become a civil union. As I said, it is not right to say there will be no impact on your marriage. It is just an impact that you "don't mind".