Marriage is an actual contract (sort of ... depends on the state apparently), where as a civil union is just a recognition of certain criteria. I could be completely wrong here, but that is my understanding.

The REALLY interesting [censored] has yet to hit the fan... What Newsom is doing is pretty blatently illegal... but when it comes down to State's rights versus what Bush wants to do... that's when it's gonna get good.

Gavin Newsom is simply trying to start something. He's being a catalyst, but blatently going against a state prop. law.