I know I can't speak for everyone, but why can't we keep marriage in the church, and civil unions in the law books, everyone gets the same rights/benefits/misery and we call it good, and move on?
Right? If I want to be married, I'll go to a church. If I want a civil union, I'll fill out the damn paper work and I personally don't care what other people call my promise to someone else.
One does not bear arms against a rabbit. -- Garry Wills