Make Civil Unions the legal partnership for all couples and allow marriage to remain the institution of religion.

In order to provide for all couples equal rights, while also allowing religious institutions to freely exercise their beliefs, President Obama should put forth legislation that replaces the government institution of marriage with Civil Unions. Legally removing the government from the religious institution of marriage would address the contradictory positions of same-sex marriage between the federal government and religious institutions that has created division inside the country. Simultaneously, this will provide a common set of rights to all people who wish to join in a legal partnership without fear of discrimination or refusal of rights. While changing the vocabulary will not solve the disagreement regarding acceptance of same-sex couples, it will address legal vs. religious debate.