Not marriage, but a good step

California's new Domestic partnership laws come into affect tomorrow.

"California's new law will require courts to treat domestic partnerships just as they would marriages in settling disputes over dissolution, financial support, community property, inheritance, child custody, debt assumption and other matters.

"Unlike marriages, however, domestic partners will not be able to file joint tax returns, and their unions will not be recognized by the federal government in qualifying for Medicare, Social Security, veterans, food stamp, housing, immigration or other national programs and subsidies.

"Other states are not obligated to honor California's domestic partnerships."

And from the opposition:

"The reality is, homosexual couples know they're not having real sex, deep down they know it's not real marriage, and no amount of social engineering from Democrats at the state Capitol will change that," added Randy Thomasson, a spokesman for Campaign for California Families.