A lot of gay people work in my industry (PR and advertising), so I've been lucky enough to know many gay people. After reading all these posts, I just don't understand how some of you could think the GLBT community is trying to make this issue political. This is a legal definition battle for them - it's the christian conservatives that are making it a political issue. I believe there are only seven states that allow civil unions. Many of you probably have no idea of the lack of rights gay people, and gay couples, have in many states - they don't qualify for their partner's insurance, they aren't entitled to death benefits or the tax benefits, and even if their partner is sick and dying in the hospital, the hospital does not have to release any information on their condition. In fact, if a gay person is in a terrible car accident that puts them in a vegetative state, the hospital would actually look to any relative, no matter how far removed, to make decisions regarding the patient's care over a partner of 20 years even.
In many states gay people are not a protected class for some of our most basic rights, including employment. Did you know that in the majority of our states, a person could be fired from their job just for being gay? No cause needed - being gay is the cause. What gay people are looking for is the same legal rights straight Americans have, and the same protections other minorities in America have.
ETA: this clip from the Ellen show yesterday made me smile =)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G-nGsN1_fM8
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