It's important for a humane government to act humanely toward all of its citizens, and to offer equal protections and rights to those citizens must take priority over any individual faction's social agenda. If it is fair to offer health coverage to spouses of state employees, then it is already wrong to not allow civil unions that would have the legality of marriage to same-gender partners. With this inequity already in place, to then further curtail the rights of some of our citizens based solely on the fact that they have made a home and a life with a person of the same gender is completely unconscionable. Homosexuality cannot be legislated out of someone, and it isn't as if there would be lots of straight people deciding to become gay because the state offers everone equal rights under the law regardless of sexual orientation. In fact, to encourage monogamous relationships of either heterosexual or homosexual partners seems to be in everyone's interest. Fostering better citizens, stable homes, and so much more just makes this a pragmatic choice that will pay off with a stronger community in the long run.