Reply #25: Nope

[torrentprime]

The state can call it whatever it wants, it has no bearing on federal law, regardless. Whether the legislature calls it marriage or CU or happy fun time, the feds don't recognize it, and so federal benefits such as social security don't come along with the piece of paper.

Getting the feds to recognize state unions will require reversal of DOMA, and I don't see a Democratic majority and/or a Democratic president tackling this for quite a long time, especially given that examples such as a) Barak opposes same-sex marriage, and b) who knows what Hillary might do, to name a few possible Democratic presidential candidates.