civil unions are legally the same as marriage it is a legalistic sham. The left wing lawyers came up with it so that they can fool the ignorant.
Putting aside whether the symbolism of capturing the word has any import for many (and I think it does, and probably should be considered as such in an objective sense), not when it comes to federal benefits, and I strongly suspect, the benefits and duties in many states.
Rudy should probably be asked this precise question, as to whether to make federal benefits nuetral as to one status vis a vis another, as all candidates should. I beleive in transparency.