[M. Bison]

I know many homosexual couples whom simply desire the same economic benefits as married couples receive because they have an adopted child and that sorta thing....that does not mean it wouldn't improve their overall condition as well as the biggest problems facing homosexuals: coming out of the closet in the environment that is public US high schools.

All of which can work in the frame work of "civil union"

they've told me that they know even if some law passed that gay people had the same exact rights as heterosexuals, there will always be oppression against homosexuals because of history and social stigma

That's very much true, however, pushing for the title "marriage" is in no way going to remedy this problem. I speculate it'll simply add wood to the growing fire and make even more people bitter and reluctant to accept homosexual couples. A great deal of people don't even really care about the whole issue except for it treading on their traditions and religious beliefs which they hold dearly. If you don't leave them the option to accept homosexual couples on their own terms and instead aggressively force it onto their beliefs, then they'll be all the more spiteful and reluctant to do so in the long run. This is something which will in some cases be passed onto their kids as well. I see the whole issue as an unnecessary head on confrontation or attack on tradition and religion. When simply using the term "civil union" gets rid of a great deal of the opposition and secures them with basically the same legal rights. The sooner they realize that, the better. Alternatively, for years to come, they'll be fighting a great deal of people who feel they have been wronged by them.