CTlawyer,
1. The point is not what the law is but what it should be. regarding the brokers, IMHO if they were only acting on their own opinions even in the absence of anti-discrimination laws they would have been liable for violating their obligation to obtain the best deals. If they were representing the feelings of the community I would have been glad to discover this and looked elsewhere.
2. The question whether regarding civil unions are acceptable halachically involves whether or not an intimate relationship is implied. For example, no one objects to nominating a friend as one’s beneficiary on an insurance policy as there is no implication beyond a desire to help him financially.