While President Bush and some members of Congress are considering restricting the definition of marriage to male-female unions, some Augustans say gay couples deserve the legal recognition afforded to married couples.
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Pending state court cases in Massachusetts and New Jersey could make those unions legal.
The issue is not only attracting national attention. The controversy garnered global attention Thursday when the Vatican launched a campaign against same-sex unions. It issued a 12-page set of guidelines to stem the increase in laws granting legal rights to homosexual unions.
"The church sees that there obviously is a cultural shift taking place in the context of same-sex unions in societies and wants to come out and reiterate what is divinely revealed," said the Rev. Alan McDonald, the pastor of Church of the Most Holy Trinity.
Not all churches agree with the Vatican's position. Some, including the Unitarian Universalist Church, offer commitment ceremonies in which gay couples can exchange vows in front of friends and relatives. The government, however, does not recognize these ceremonies.
"We find it more important to affirm healthy relationships and families than to condemn anyone because of their sexual identity," said the Rev. Dan King, of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Augusta.
Augusta couple Carol and MaLea Breland said they aren't looking for special rights; they just want equal rights. They had a commitment ceremony last year and would get married if same-sex unions were allowed.
They have been together for six years, and MaLea Breland is pregnant. They plan to raise the child together.
"A lot of gay organizations say this is the last fight for the gay community," said MaLea, who legally changed her last name to Breland.
Historically, some marriages have been forbidden. Blacks couldn't marry whites. In Nazi Germany, Jews couldn't marry Christians. Now, people look back and say those rules were absurd, MaLea Breland said.
"I hope in 10 years, we can look back and say how absurd (that gay marriages weren't allowed)," she said.
Because gay couples can't be legally married, they aren't given the same rights as married couples when it comes to inheritance, insurance, child custody and tax benefits.
If one partner dies without a will, the other partner inherits nothing, said Augusta lawyer Judy Becker. If someone dies without a will, spouse or child, everything is given to the next-of-kin, usually parents or siblings, Ms. Becker said.
Likewise, insurance benefits for state employees are only for family members, married couples and their dependents, said Deborah William, the communications director for the Georgia State Merit Office.
In remarks made Wednesday, President Bush said marriage was defined strictly as a union between a man and a woman.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Evans, has co-sponsored legislation to pass an a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only heterosexual. Other lawmakers had similar opinions on the issue.
"I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman," said U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
His Democratic colleague, Sen. Zell Miller, said that he thought marriage should be between a man and a woman but that he was against a constitutional amendment.
"It is premature to discuss constitutional amendments, because no court has challenged the traditional definition of marriage." he said.
Associated Press reports were used in this article.
Reach MaryAnne Pysson at (706) 823-3332.
