I was reading about the French Socialist candidate for President, Segolene Royal, and noticed that she’s in a civil union - but with a guy. Now, apparently the French version of civil unions (pacte civil de solidarité) is open to both same-sex couples and straight couples, but I’ve never heard of straight couples in the US getting a civil union. Is this because a) our civil union structure just assumes that the couple getting the union is gay or b) the straight couples that DO get this in the US aren’t as high profile as some of the ones in France?
i like the word bojangles.
The OP passed the thread title through the Bojizzinator.
Some countries allow straight couples to have a civil union instead of a marriage, while others restrict it to gay couples. In addition to France, I believe Mexico allows straight civil unions.
Stupid song.
Now stuck, probably for the rest of the day. Thanks, duhcow.
In the US, if you get legally joined at the courthouse, you are still “married.” It is possible that the same exact action, in France, is called a “Civil union” and only the thing that takes place in a church is called a “marriage.”
Just a WAG
(ps I almost wrote “cecil union” – is that where two Dopers get joined? har har.)
Actually no. Every French marriage is solemized at city hall by the local mayor or his deputy, church is optional.
If two Dopers got married, could Cecil officiate? Would he?
Well, if we could somehow legally define the SDMB as a ship, Cecil would logically fit the role of Captain…
I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you…
There’s also a Santa Claus thread somewhere around here you might want to avoid. 