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Civil union is less than marriage. Marriage is a sacred and valued institution and ought to be afforded equal protection.

If the rights of civil partners are met differently in law to those of married couples, there is no discrimination in law, and if civil partnerships are seen as somehow 'second class' that is a social attitude which will change and cannot, in any case, be turned around by redefining the law of marriage.

Civil marriage, like all civil rights provided by the government, must be provided equally to all Americans.

It is absolutely right for the state to define the rights and status of people cohabiting in different forms of relationships, including civil partnerships.

Marriage, in its truest sense, is a partnership of equals, with neither exercising dominion over the other, but, rather, with each encouraging and assisting the other in whatever responsibilities and aspirations he or she might have.

I don't think marriage is a civil right, but I think that being able to transfer property is a civil right.

However saying that I totally support the concept of civil partnerships in the eyes of the law, and think it a disgrace that same sex couples have had to wait so long for legal rights, protection and recognition.

I have no difficulty with the recognition of civil unions for non-traditional relationships but I believe in law we should protect the traditional definition of marriage.

The virtue of the civil partnerships scheme lay in the attempt to treat the needs of gay and lesbian couples as what they are, not to bundle them into some other category.

Marriage is sacred and protected and has nothing to do with violating our civil rights.