I've been Meaning To Post something Like this

Federal civil unions: so simple

I realize that the screams from our own left will say "marriage or nothing." Here's a counter argument. By setting up such a clearly "separate but equal system" (there is no debate on this, right?), that separate but equal system, as a half step, will...become full marriage equality sooner, than the purer route of going from nothing at the federal level to full marriage equality in one step. Anyone who thinks that going from nothing to full marriage equality at the federal level all in one step is coming soon is fooling themselves. That is a much harder, bigger, and more time consuming route.

I wish I could say my thinking is original on this, but it is based on my discussions with a prominent LGBT Obama campaign official and a prominent ACLU attorney neither of whom wishes to go on record at this time.

Within three years of 'civil unions' becoming law every person in the country will have moved to abbreviating 'civil union' to, simply, 'marriage'.

The change will have occurred organically, never to be challenged again.

Saul Alinsky would never have held out for the 'whole pie'. He understood that change is best accomplished in increments achieved methodically and unyieldingly.

Rule 8: Keep the pressure on. Use different tactics and actions and use all events of the period for your purpose. “The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. It is this that will cause the opposition to react to your advantage.”