Civil unions took another hit today. Two months after a New Jersey commission found them flawed, a similar group in Vermont released a report that “stopped short” of endorsing marriage. The move’s particularly important because Vermont started the civil union craze back in 2000, when it became the first state in the nation to pass the pseudo-nuptial laws.

The report, released yesterday, makes it pretty clear that Vermont needs some matrimonial reforms: “It is the role of Vermont’s policy-makers and elected officials to read and reflect on this report and in their best judgment determine what steps to take in their role as public servants of the people of Vermont,” it said.

But … Continued…

America’s contrived civil unions can be so taxing!

Just ask Jason Smith and Settimo Pisu, a civil unionized couple from Hartford, Connecticut.

The boys tried to file their taxes on H&R Block’s TaxCut Online website, but received quite a rude message: “We don’t support Connecticut civil union returns.” When will the internet learn manners?

Connecticut passed civil union laws over three years ago, but the national tax company has yet to update their online system. Instead, it directed them to a local H&R Block office or an “online professional,” which apparently costs a pretty pink penny.

The perfectly suburban Smith and Pisu are incensed. As they should be…
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Despite the state’s Defense of Marriage Act, Pennsylvania Senate’s Judiciary Committee decided to pass yet another ban on gay marriage and civil unions today. The superfluous measure passed 10-4 and will now head to the Senate. [Philly]

We all know that civil unions aren’t the same as marriages, but that doesn’t mean the story’s going away. In fact, it’s getting bigger than ever. [NY Times]

Rio State Governor Sergio Cabral asked Brazil’s Supreme Court to grant state employees civil unions. A denial will violate the nation’s fundamental principles, he said. [Xinhua]

Chelsea Clinton’s non-whorish campaigning took her to Texas last week, where journo Daniel A. Kusner found himself underwhelmed by the former first daughter’s “soft” gay talk. My question came next: “I noticed during the gay rights question, you kept using the word ‘civil’ throughout your answer. Why can’t your mother stoop low enough to grant full, equal marriage rights for same-sex couples? Or is the word ‘marriage’ too sacred for the Clintons?”

“Civil unions is what my mother has supported for as long as I can remember. I’m 27, ” Chelsea said.

“But the word ‘marriage’ is off the table, right?” I asked.

“Well, sir … She’s always supported civil unions,” Chelsea said.

Chelsea Clinton is 27 … Continued…

Jon Corzine kinda sorta came out against civil unions yesterday. The New Jersey governor told reporters that he has “significant concerns” about the legislation, which a commission just found to be flawed.

Said Corzine: “The report does raise significant concerns about whether the law has effectively granted same-sex couples the same rights and benefits of every other family in the state.”

Despite his hesitancy, however, ally Corzine will not push for gay marriage until after this November’s election. While on the surface it may seem like Corzine’s skirting the issue, but he’s most probably trying to keep wedge issues off the table lest he fuck up the Democratic game.

Today’s the day! The New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission will release its official report this afternoon. Non-profit Garden State Equality got its gay hands on the complete document and posted it at Civil Unions Don’t Work. They’ve also provided some videos of men and women testifying before the Commission that civil unions are flawed. We’ve included one such testimony above. It’s the most exciting thing we’ve seen since we woke up.

In addition, GSE started airing a new 60-second radio ad this morning on - you guessed it - how civil unions don’t work. Listen to it here.

Some American dreams are unraveling in New Jersey. Over two thousands gay men and women have registered for civil unions since the Garden State legalized them last year, but a commemorative study show that civil unions aren’t as protective as some would like to believe: A state commission report to be released Tuesday — the first anniversary of New Jersey’s civil union law — concludes it falls far short of a state Supreme Court order to give “same-sex couples … the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples who choose to marry.”

“Civil union status is not clear to the general public, which creates a second-class status,” the Civil Union Review Commission says in its report.

Others give harsher assessments.

“The law is just a complete and utter failure,” said Tom Prol, a trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. “It’s a failed experiment in discrimination.” We wonder what Democratic presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, both of whom toot their civil union supporting horn, will have to say about this one…
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• President Bill Clinton be tired of MLK.

• Cuban commies considering queer unions.

• You need new shoes. Let Refinery29 influence your decision.

• Christian school didn’t break law with lesbian student boot, says California judge.

• Resurrected GOP icon and gay porn star Matt Sanchez may have lost his mind. Jeremy Hooper had an email exchange with him and it’s pretty nonsensical. Sanchez seems to think “horndog” is a gay term of endearment. Because being horny’s a good thing or because we all talk like overgrown boys?
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Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama released a statement celebrating New Hampshire’s civil unions: Today, New Hampshire has started a New Year by taking an important step forward that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many gay and lesbian couples.

As President, I’ll work for the day when all gay and lesbian couples in America can enjoy the same legal rights and privileges as straight couples. It’s time to stop using these issues to divide us; it’s time to embrace a future of tolerance, equality, and hope. We’re sure Obama’s support will give him a boost during New Hampshire’s primary next week.

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Hordes of New Hampshire homos started their new year by taking advantage of New Hampshire’s new civil union laws: Dozens of gay and lesbian couples entered into civil unions in New Hampshire in the early moments of New Year’s Day as a new state law legalized the partnerships after midnight.

Organizers said they checked in 37 couples for an outdoor ceremony on the plaza of the New Hampshire Statehouse - the building where the law was adopted and signed in 2007. Participants bundled up against below-freezing temperatures.
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In a matter of hours New Hampshire will allow legal civil unions for their queer citizens. It’s a jump the left, so you know some folk are going to wish for a step to the right. That’s why The Civic Christian League of Maine took this historic development to release the following statement: With New Hampshire’s enactment of its homosexual civil unions law, Maine becomes one of only two remaining New England states to not formally allow this deviant behavior.

The Christian Civic League of Maine supports the Biblical precept that all sex outside of traditional marriage, including homosexual behavior, is sin. The celebration of this sin as seen in the events of January … Continued…

January 1st marks a new day for New Hampshire. The Granite State will start offering $45 civil unions: a legislative evolution that will certainly come up on the campaign trail ahead of the January 8th primary.

Social conservatives may criticize the unions as too similar to marriage and they’d be right: the unions are equivalent to marriage. Well, almost: civil unions don’t generate quite as much revenue as marriages, but they still definitely help the economy: …Even conservative estimates are that civil unions will add millions to New Hampshire’s economy.

A 2005 study predicted that legalizing same-sex marriage in New Hampshire would bring in an additional $630,000 a year in rooms and meals … Continued…

Republican Mike Huckabee has once again had to clarify queer comments…
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