I saw Howard Dean this morning as well, Willie.

I have no problem with a gay union that is clear and distinctive from marriage.

I WOULD have a problem with a legal standard that forces Christians to hire and provide benefits to gay individuals, whose lifestyle Christians clearly don't agree with.

The problem is that any legal approval of gay marriage, or an equivalent by another name, is a beach-head that gays will use to push for these other things.
That is what was attempted with legally recognizing gays in the military, back in 1993 under Clinton. Giving gays recognition as a minority under federal military law, recognizing gays as a minority group, would have been exactly the legal precedent that gays are attempting now, through gay marriage legislation.

I think the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy is a good compromise, that dodges state recognition of gays.
And thus allows gays to practice their lifestyle, without legally stepping on Christian toes.

It's a legal standard that has a balance between rights for both groups(gays and Christians).