Maryland's Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

Although The Post is to be lauded for its stand in support of equal marriage rights for same-sex couples ["A Defeat for Gay Marriage," editorial, Sept. 22], its criticism of the American Civil Liberties Union for opposing a compromise involving civil unions was misguided.

Many see civil unions as "separate but equal" -- the same rights, just with a different name. Even if you consider that "separate but equal" has been out of vogue since, oh, 1954, civil unions are certainly not marriage, nor do they provide the same benefits as marriage.

Are those members of The Post's editorial board who are married willing to exchange their marriage licenses for civil union certificates? Or do they know that civil unions are not only separate but also unequal and therefore inadequate?

And can we please stop referring to "gay marriage" as if this is some kind of alternative to "regular marriage?" We're not talking Coke and Diet Coke here.

Just as couples today do not get either a same-race or interracial marriage license, same-sex couples don't want a kind of marriage license that is different from heterosexual couples'. We just want access to the same marriage licenses as everyone else.

BOB DARDANO

Washington