Replies

One big difference is the issue of federal benefits. How would these couples file tax returns - as married or single? I believe, if I'm reading this right, they would still file as single. If so, that would be somewhat of a victory for marriage. Although I'm opposed to civil unions as well they will happen in certain liberal areas.

It is actually VERY relevant because it keeps this a state issue and specifically has the sate of mass telling the other states their civil union is ONLY valid in their state.

It is not transportable.

This also means immigration laws are unaffected. Conversly it also may mean civil unions from out of state are NOT valid in mass.

This is an effort to de-federalize homosexual marriages. The next step of the homosexuals is to try and get civil unioned in Mass and then try and get "divorced" in another state like vermont or california. Thus backdoring into FFC. (this failed in CT, GA, and TX with vermonts civil unions.)