I believe that companies have special rules such as putting a partner on policy after 6 months etc., exactly because gay union is not recognized by the state/law. Do gays/lesbians want special rights? I don't know, I kind of saw the whole thing as them wanting the same rights as everyone else. Because it is hard to get this from the state right now, they are going for alternatives, such as these policies.
I suppose many gay couples would like to get married in church, but I think this fight is simply about the state accepting their union, with same benefits such as insurance, tax etc. etc. For them to be accepted by church as a couple would be asking too much, IMO.
i already stated before that I don't like the way this issue is put in our face, (even though I am for gay marriage accepted by state, not church), and people attacking/labeling non-supporters as homophobic etc is just wrong. Not agreeing with something doesn't mean you hate it, but you also don't have to support it. I guess at this point it is more about tolerance. From both sides.
I also don't like this whole *normal/not normal* wording. I guess i prefer something being the norm. It's like saying the English drive on the *wrong* side of the road. it is not the *wrong* side, it is a different side. (and vice versa) People believe what's right/*normal* because that's how they grew up, that's all they know. (many immigrants from different countries have gotten in trouble because some behaviour is *normal* in their country, but not here). This is were many people question the *family* as we know it. In other countries, husbands can have many wives (wrong in our eyes, not in theirs). And now the family image is being changed here too because we are having so many divorces, single parents etc. If this image is being changed by the state (what is a family), a countries views WILL eventually change. Not now, possibly not even our children, but the next generation may be different. (amazing how the government has the power to change a society. scary, really)
And actually, the thing about some animals being gay is true. It doesn't say that only one kind of animals are gay etc., but rather that in every species this behaviour can be found. It is not the norm, but it can be found. Just like asexuals can be found (not feeling sexual attraction to anybody). This can be found in humans too. Again, not many, just few.
Geez, with all the fuss about gay/lesbians, divorce etc., it almost seemes as the whole world is gay, and every other family is one-parent, divorced, and abusing. There are still some that are in love like the first time they met and loving, i swear!