I don't understand what the problem many gays have with civil unions. As long as they provide the same legal benefits marriage does, I think they're great. It seems some in this fight are in it just to piss off more conservative, religious people. I think this attitude is working against the cause, not helpful at all.
Civil unions do NOT provide the same legal benefits as marriage.
Civil unions are state-based arrangements which have ZERO relevance at a FEDERAL level.
Many laws/benefits/rights of marriage are provided at the federal level and gay civil unions have zero access to these.
So not only are civil unions placing gay/lesbian couples in a separate class, which is a discrimination, they do not provide anywhere near the same rights/benefits/protections that marriages do.
It's not about trying to piss off anyone - it's about equality.
Do you think when black people asked for equal rights in this country their intention was purely to piss people off? No. I bet, however, many entitled and racist white people weren't very happy at having to share some of their power with black people. Shame on those black people for wanting to be treated as equals! See how ridiculous that sounds? The same applies to gay rights. Many straight people are so entitled and selfish when it comes to matters of marriage and gay rights that they cannot even see how absurd & discriminatory their views are.
Overall, it's about expecting and wanting to be treated as an equal, not some sub-standard form of human being. It is, seemingly, a difficult concept for many to grasp. Fortunately attitudes are improving slowly and hopefully at some point the USA will catch up with many other countries around the world in realizing the importance of treating LGBT people with dignity and
equal protection under the law.