Gay Marriage vs. Civil Union

http://gaylife.about.com/b/2009/04/01/sweden-clicks-from-civil-unions-to-gay-marriage.htm

Basically this article talks about Sweden approving same sex-marriage, and how countries around the world have been working to convert civil unions to actual same sex-marriage, and making same-sex legal everywhere!

A civil union is a legally recognized union similar to marriage that provides some of the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities to the opposite sex...but do not represent a status equal to marriage.

Those who are gay, bisexual, transgender, etc. who wish to marry see the title of 'civil union' and think of it as the "marriage apartied"! They are "seperate but not equal". Which is causing many problems for the gay community. All people should be treated equal. Not just a man and woman who want to get married.

The first country to legalize same-sex marriage was the Netherlands in 2001.
Then came Belguim, Norway, Spain, and South Africa.
(The first civil union was granted in 1989)

Other countries such as Canada offer civil unions, but not same sex-marriage.

In the United States, only Massachusettes, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania allows same-sex marriage. California did from May to November 2008, ut it was then band because of Proposition 8. New Jersey allows civil unions, and New York has neither, but will recoginze gay marriages for couples married outside of the state. The remaining 45 states BAND gay marriage.

This is important to me because...
I believe everyone has the right to have a choice. Marriage is a way of expressing true love. If you truely love someone, then you should be able to marry them, no matter the sex.

Questions...
1) Do you think that it is fair that civil unions have been created instead of just allowing same-sex marriage? Shouldn't we give them the same rights as a married man and women?

2) Do you think that gay marriage should be legal in the US and/or the rest of the world?