Why civil recognition matters

Dispatches from the Culture Wars linked me to this article from Pam's House Blend. Warning there is more profanity than I'd use, but.... it's a good illustration of why civil recognition matters. There are too many examples of having their legal documents and wishes ignored for gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered people to be comfortable until there is civil recognition of the marriages and lifetime commitments that are already happening and have happened since the beginning of, well...., marriage.