--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no difficulty with the recognition…" description: "\"I have no difficulty with the recognition of civil unions for non-traditional relationships but I believe in law we should protect the traditional defi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a12/stephen-harper-3432_believe_i-have-no-difficulty-with-the-recognitio_748455.png" --- # I have no difficulty with the recognition of civil unions… ![“I have no difficulty with the recognition of civil unions for non-traditional relationships but I believe in law we should protect the traditional definition of marriage.” quote by Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a12/stephen-harper-3432_believe_i-have-no-difficulty-with-the-recognitio_748455.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a12/stephen-harper-3432_believe_i-have-no-difficulty-with-the-recognitio_748455.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a12/stephen-harper-3432_believe_i-have-no-difficulty-with-the-recognitio_748455.png) > “I have no difficulty with the recognition of civil unions for non-traditional relationships but I believe in law we should protect the traditional definition of marriage.” [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates protecting traditional marriage while accepting civil unions for non‑traditional couples. **In simple terms:** Balance tradition with inclusion. Key Takeaway Support traditional marriage, accept civil unions. Themes law marriage civil rights Mood thoughtful balanced Type political ethical When to use this quote - legislative debates - court cases - public forums Key Concepts tradition inclusion policy balance Questions to Reflect On - How can law respect tradition and equality? - What defines a “traditional” marriage? A Different Perspective Potential conflict with equal rights movements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think 50-50 relationships exist. Men have an incredibly variety of options. It's much harder for a woman to do both things. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-don-t-think-50-50-relationships-exist-men-have-an-incredibly/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I've always been clear, I support the traditional definition of marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-ve-always-been-clear-i-support-the-traditional-definition-of/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [It will come as no surprise to anybody to know that I support the traditional definition of marriage as a union of one man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/it-will-come-as-no-surprise-to-anybody-to-know-that-i-support-the/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [If I were a Catholic, I'd be asking what's going on here. I really would. "The pope also broke with his predecessors by suggesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-i-were-a-catholic-i-d-be-asking-what-s-going-on-here-i-really/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I was for civil unions and believed strongly that the flow of benefits and protections that would be provided in a civil union for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/i-was-for-civil-unions-and-believed-strongly-that-the-flow-of/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [The government has to treat all citizens equally. I am a strong supporter not of a weak version of civil unions, but of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-government-has-to-treat-all-citizens-equally-i-am-a-strong/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [It's ridiculous to insinuate that the social recognition of homosexual civil unions damages families or the institution of marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-spahn/it-s-ridiculous-to-insinuate-that-the-social-recognition-of/) [Jens Spahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-spahn/) > [I propose that the government should get out of the business of marrying people and, instead, only give legal status to civil unions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/i-propose-that-the-government-should-get-out-of-the-business-of/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [Well, I think the way to go is civil unions. But I do think when you talk about the Republican Party and the debates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/well-i-think-the-way-to-go-is-civil-unions-but-i-do-think-when-you/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [The compelling argument is on the side of homosexuals. We're Americans. We just want to be treated like everybody else. That is a compelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-compelling-argument-is-on-the-side-of-homosexuals-we-re-americans/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Public-opinion polls show that Americans split about evenly on civil unions. But when the words 'gay marriage' are presented, they break 3-to-1 against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/public-opinion-polls-show-that-americans-split-about-evenly-on-civil/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [“I support same-sex civil unions and I believe no should be denied their rights”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-support-same-sex-civil-unions-and-i-believe-no-should-be-denied/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“I oppose same-sex marriage and civil unions but I support domestic partnership between gay and lesbian couples. I have no problem with gay and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-oppose-same-sex-marriage-and-civil-unions-but-i-support-domestic/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [In 2011, when the General Assembly passed the law allowing civil unions, Illinois took an important step forward to recognize that gay and lesbian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-madigan/in-2011-when-the-general-assembly-passed-the-law-allowing-civil/) [Lisa Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-madigan/) > [I support gay unions. I think the government should get out of the marriage business completely - leave marriages to the churches. And grant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-support-gay-unions-i-think-the-government-should-get-out-of-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## More by Stephen Harper > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/in-terms-of-the-unemployed-of-which-we-have-over-a-million-and-a-half/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The media is tremendously important for all governments that are able to communicate through the it. It doesn't mean there is a balance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/the-media-is-tremendously-important-for-all-governments-that-are-able/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [But I'm very libertarian in the sense that I believe in small government and, as a general rule, I don't believe in imposing values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/but-i-m-very-libertarian-in-the-sense-that-i-believe-in-small/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see a gala of a bunch of people at, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-think-when-ordinary-working-people-come-home-turn-on-the-tv-and-see/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The world is now unipolar and contains o-nly o-ne superpower. 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We've had more jobs created now than were lost during the recession. We're seeing that the creation, we're seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/the-job-numbers-are-positive-we-ve-had-more-jobs-created-now-than/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn't mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It's a dogma which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/after-all-enforced-national-bilingualism-in-this-country-isn-t-mere/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [We've got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-ve-got-to-see-a-state-where-the-afghan-government-can-handle-its/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [It is imperative to take the initiative, to build firewalls around Alberta, to limit the extent to which an aggressive and hostile federal government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/it-is-imperative-to-take-the-initiative-to-build-firewalls-around/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Whether Canada ends up with one national government or two governments or 10 governments, the Canadian people will require less government no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/whether-canada-ends-up-with-one-national-government-or-two/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) [Explore all 131 Stephen Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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