Despite what well-meaning politicians may say, civil unions are not the same as marriage. Not convinced? Just look at New Jersey, which has been officially recognizing civil unions for the past eight months.

New Jersey's 8-month-old civil union law has failed to live up to its promise of giving same-sex couples all the protections of marriage by another name, the state's top official for enforcing civil rights said yesterday.

Civil Rights Director Frank Vespa-Papaleo, who chairs a commission that recently concluded three hearings on how the new law is working, said, "To me as a commissioner, the testimony revealed overwhelmingly that the civil union law has been a failure. It is not working as effectively as if the word 'marriage' were used… That could be controversial. I could lose my job for saying that."

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New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine must have talked some sense into United Parcel Service.

The mail giant came under fire after denying Garden State employees the same benefits as their straight colleagues. Now Allen Hill, UPS human resources VP, backtracked via press release:

Based on an initial legal review when New Jersey's law was enacted, it did not appear that a 'civil union' and 'marriage' were equivalent. Over the past week, however, we have received clear guidance that at least in New Jersey, the state truly views civil union partners as married. We've heard that loud and clear from state officials and we're happy to make this change.

And, we're sure, avoid even more scandal.

New Jersey governor Jon Corzine penned a letter to United Parcel Service CEO Michael Eskew asking the courier to abide by his state's civil union laws.

UPS made headlines when they refused to grant gay couples the same benefits as their straight counterparts. Federal law allows, but does not require, interstate businesses to eschew inherently unequal civil union laws.

Now Corzine's trying to get them in line.

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Steve Goldstein warned of this moment.

The New Jersey gay activist knew that The Garden State's civil union laws left too many loopholes, loopholes United Parcel Service (UPS) has used to withhold health benefits from same-sex couples.

One couple had to learn about New Jersey's legislative glitch the hard way. Gabriael "Nickie" Brazier and her partner Heather Aurand had hoped for coverage, which would save them a few hundred dollars a month. They didn't get it.

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