State of (Legal) Unions

It pisses me off when politicians and activists go on about “gay marriage.”
My view: people who make a lifelong commitment deserve recognition as partners whether they have the blessing of a god, the signature of a judge, or simply publicly pronounce their commitment. No matter what the method, the results are the same. A stable and committed relationship.
Maintaining a stable relationship is hard work, regardless of the sexes involved or the method used to create it. It should be treated with respect and given legal status.
People on both sides of the issue freak out over the wording. But it’s just a label. A lifelong commitment is not an easy thing–the label is a throwaway.
Call all committed relationships “unions.”
If “marriage” is reserved for religious unions, then Tod & I have a union, not a marriage. Does it matter? No. We mark our 15th anniversary this year and a label doesn’t convey anything at all about our experience together.
My message to the politicians and activists: Ignore the labels and support all committed relationships.