What is the difference between sanctity of marriage and a civil union?

orchidmg: What is the difference between sanctity of marriage and a civil union?
Do gay couples want either/or? Does marriage give you the same rights as a civil union?

My thinking is that marriage is done in churches by ministers, pastors, priests. And a civil union is done by a judge in a court house or at the couples home or else where. Am I right?

Please tell me the differences and what gay couples want?

Answers and Views:

Answer by frostfire_i
Equality, separate is not equal.

Answer by Black Rose Is a Homo Thug
Marriage doesn’t have to be done in a church, some people have it in a park. I am sure the ceremony can be done anyway you please. I think people have the have the option of having secular state officials if the aren’t religiously affiliated.

Though marriages a form of civil union, a general civil union is not the same as marriage. With a civil union you don’t get all the right and protections that a marriage

And a domestic partnership only exist on a state level, minus access to social security benifits.