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Wikipedia

Civil union

A civil union (also known as a civil partnership) is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage (with child adoption being a common exception, and the title itself).

Male couple in Croatia, which allows civil partnerships but not same-sex marriage.

Civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in several, mostly developed, countries in order to provide legal recognition of relationships formed by unmarried same-sex couples and to afford them rights, benefits, tax breaks, and responsibilities similar or identical to those of legally married couples. In 1989, Denmark was the first country to legalise civil unions, for same-sex couples; however most other developed democracies did not begin establishing civil unions until the 1990s or early 2000s, often developing them from less formal domestic partnerships. While civil unions are often established for both opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples, in a number of countries they are available to same-sex couples only. In Brazil, civil unions were first created for opposite-sex couples in 2002, and then expanded to include same-sex couples through a supreme court ruling in 2011. In the majority of countries that established same-sex civil unions, they have since been either supplemented or replaced by same-sex marriage. Civil unions are viewed by LGBT rights campaigners as a "first step" towards establishing same-sex marriage, as civil unions are viewed by supporters of LGBT rights as a "separate but equal" or "second class" status.

Many jurisdictions with civil unions recognize foreign unions if those are essentially equivalent to their own; for example, the United Kingdom lists equivalent unions in the Civil Partnership Act 2004 Schedule 20. The marriages of same-sex couples performed abroad may be recognized as civil unions in jurisdictions that only have the latter.

Overview and terminology

 
The notion of civil unions is rejected by some, such as this protester at a large demonstration in New York City against California Proposition 8.[1]

The terms used to designate civil unions are not standardized, and vary widely from country to country. Government-sanctioned relationships that may be similar or equivalent to civil unions include civil partnerships, registered partnerships, domestic partnerships, significant relationships, reciprocal beneficiary relationships, common-law marriage, adult interdependent relationships, life partnerships, stable unions, civil solidarity pacts, and so on. The exact level of rights, benefits, obligations, and responsibilities also varies, depending on the laws of a particular country. Some jurisdictions allow same-sex couples to adopt, while others forbid them to do so, or allow adoption only in specified circumstances.

In the United States, the term civil union was introduced in the state of Vermont in 2000 to connote a status equivalent to marriage for same-sex couples; it was chosen by the state's legislators in preference to phrases such as "domestic partner relationship" or "civil accord".[2]

Domestic partnership, offered by some states, counties, cities, and employers since as early as 1985,[3] has generally connoted a lesser status with fewer benefits.[4] However, the legislatures of the West Coast states of California, Oregon and Washington have preferred the term domestic partnership for enactments similar or equivalent to civil union laws in East Coast states.

Civil unions are not seen as a replacement for marriage by many in the LGBT community. "Marriage in the United States is a civil union; but a civil union, as it has come to be called, is not marriage", said Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry.[5] "It is a proposed hypothetical legal mechanism, since it doesn't exist in most places, to give some of the protections but also withhold something precious from gay people. There's no good reason to do that." However, some opponents of same-sex marriage claim that civil unions rob marriage of its unique status; Randy Thomasson, executive director of the Campaign for California Families, calls civil unions "homosexual marriage by another name" and contends that civil unions provide same-sex couples "all the rights of marriage available under state law".[6] The California Supreme Court, in the In Re Marriage Cases decision, noted nine differences[7] in state law.

Civil unions are commonly criticised as being 'separate but equal'; critics such as former New Zealand MP and feminist Marilyn Waring note that same-sex couples remain excluded from the right to marry and are forced to use a separate institution.[8] Supporters of same-sex marriage contend that treating same-sex couples differently from other couples under the law allows for inferior treatment and that if civil unions were the same as marriage there would be no reason for two separate laws. A New Jersey commission which reviewed the state's civil union law reported that the law "invites and encourages unequal treatment of same-sex couples and their children".[9] Some have suggested that creating civil unions which are open to opposite-sex couples would avoid the accusations of apartheid.[10]

Proponents of civil unions say that they provide practical equality for same-sex couples and solve the problems over areas such as hospital visitation rights and transfer of property caused by lack of legal recognition.[11] Proponents also say that creating civil unions is a more pragmatic way to ensure that same-sex couples have legal rights as it avoids the more controversial issues surrounding marriage and the claim that the term has a religious source.

Many supporters of same-sex marriage state that the word 'marriage' matters and that the term 'civil union' (and its equivalents) do not convey the emotional meaning or bring the respect that comes with marriage.[9][12] Former US Solicitor General and attorney in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case Theodore Olsen said that recognizing same-sex couples under the term 'domestic partnership' stigmatizes gay people's relationships, treating them as if they were "something akin to a commercial venture, not a loving union".[13] Many also contend that the fact that civil unions are often not understood can cause difficulty for same-sex couples in emergency situations.[14]

List of jurisdictions recognizing same-sex unions but not same-sex marriage

As of July 13, 2023, the states that provide civil unions but not marriage for same-sex couples are:

List of jurisdictions recognizing same-sex unions

 
  Civil unions for same-sex couples.
  Civil unions in some counties.
  Civil unions not performed.

The following is a list of countries and other jurisdictions which have established civil unions for same-sex couples or opposite-sex couples, categorized by continent, with the year in which the law establishing civil unions in the listed country or other jurisdiction came into effect in brackets:

Africa

Americas

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Countries with former civil unions

 
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions for opposite-sex couples only.
  Civil unions for same-sex couples only.
  Former civil unions for same-sex couples, replaced by marriage.
  Civil unions not performed.

Several countries used to offer civil unions only for same-sex couples. The laws that allowed civil unions were repealed when same-sex marriage was legalized. The following is a list of countries and other jurisdictions that used to offer civil unions for same-sex couples with the years in which they were available in brackets:

Europe

Americas

Asia

Oceania

Case studies

Argentina

Since 2003, the Argentine province of Río Negro and the city of Buenos Aires allow domestic partnerships. The City of Villa Carlos Paz (Córdoba) allowed it from 2007. Since 2009, the city of Río Cuarto (Córdoba) allows Civil Unions.

Australia

All levels of Australian Governments under nearly all Australian statutes do recognise same-sex couples as de facto couples as unregistered co-habitation or de facto status since 2009.[117] From 1 July 2009 Centrelink recognised same-sex couples equally regarding social security – under the common-law marriage, de facto status or unregistered cohabitation.[118]

Registered relationship recognition in state Governments:

State or territory Official relationship status Year of enactment
Australian Capital Territory   Civil partnership 2008
New South Wales   Registered relationship 2010
Queensland   Civil partnership 2012
Tasmania   Significant relationship 2004
Victoria   Registered domestic relationship 2008
South Australia   Registered relationship 2017

Registered relationship recognition in 5 local government areas within Australia:

Brazil

 
Countries performing civil unions in South America
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions for opposite-sex couples only.
  Civil unions never performed.

Cohabitation grants 112 benefits as family entities in Brazil since 2002. It is known as união estável when both parts are legally authorized to marry, and as concubinato when at least one party is legally prohibited from doing so.[124] Cohabitation grants all rights marriage confers, with the exception of automatic opt-in for one of four systems of property share married couples have access to, and automatic right to inheritance. Potential confusion might arise regarding terminology, given how when Brazilian Portuguese refers to the term união civil, it tends to be short for casamento civil, or civil marriage.

Couples that have at least one child registered as a descendant of both parties might also have access to união estável or concubinato rights.

Same-sex stable cohabitation in Brazil is legally recognized nationwide since May 5, 2011. Brazil's Supreme Court voted 10–0 with one abstention to allow same-sex couples the same legal rights as married couples, following pointed recognition of such relationships that dates as far back as 2004. The ruling gave same-sex couples in such relationships the same financial and social rights enjoyed by those in mixed-sex ones.[125]

A union between two women and one man was reported in August 2012, though its legality was doubted.[126]

Canada

 
States performing civil unions in North America
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Former civil unions for same-sex couples, replaced by marriage.
  Civil unions never performed.

In Canada:

were extended to same-sex couples before the enactment (2005) nationwide of same-sex marriage in Canada.

Another notable attempt to extend civil union rights, the Equality Rights Statute Amendment Act in Ontario, was defeated in 1994.

Colombia

In 2007, Colombia came close to passing a law granting legal recognition to same-sex couples, but the bill failed on final passage in one house of the national legislature. However, a court decision in October 2007 extended social security and health insurance rights to same-sex couples.[127] On January 29, 2009, the Constitutional Court ruled that cohabitating same-sex couples must be given all rights offered to unmarried heterosexual couples,[128] making Colombia the first Latin American country to fully grant this right to all its citizens. Couples can claim these rights after living together for two years. Colombia has since approved same-sex marriage.

Costa Rica

The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica passed a bill in early July 2013 that "confers social rights and benefits of a civil union, free from discrimination", language inserted by lawmaker José María Villalta Florez-Estrada of the Broad Front party. After the bill passed, several media outlets reported that conservative lawmakers realized the bill's implications for same-sex unions and urged President Laura Chinchilla, who is set to face Villalta in the 2014 presidential election, to use her veto power to stop the bill from becoming law. Chinchilla, who has suggested the courts should determine the legality of same-sex unions in Costa Rica, refused and signed the bill into law on 4 July. A gay couple has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica asking that their union be recognized under the new law.[129] Gay rights activists reacting to the law said it needs to survive a constitutional challenge in court.[130][131] Some constitutional lawyers stated that same-sex couples will "still lack legal capacity" to formalize their unions, despite passage of the bill.[132]

Ecuador

The 2008 Constitution of Ecuador enacted civil unions between two people without regard to gender, giving same-sex couples the same rights as legally married heterosexual couples except for the right to adopt.[133]

Europe

 
Countries performing civil unions in Europe
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions for same-sex couples only.
  Former civil unions for same-sex couples, replaced by marriage.
  Civil unions never performed.

In Europe:

Andorra

Austria

In 2018, Minister of Justice Josef Moser announced that both marriage and registered partnership would be open to homosexuals and heterosexuals. This occurred because Helga Ratzenböck and Martin Seydl have been appealing for years[timeframe?] in court for a registered civil partnership in Austria. At the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg they attempted to sue Austria for discrimination against their sexuality,[when?] because they were a heterosexual couple and were excluded from the benefits of registered partnership, but this failed.[134][135]

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Civil unions were introduced in Denmark by law on 7 June 1989, the world's first such law, and came into effect on 1 October 1989. On 7 June 2012, the law was replaced by a new same-sex marriage law, which came into effect on 15 June 2012.[136]

Registered partnership was by civil ceremony only, but the Church of Denmark allowed priests to perform blessings of same-sex couples, as it stated that the church blesses people, not institutions. The new law makes same-sex marriages in churches possible, but allows vicars to decline marriages of same-sex couples in their church.[136]

On 17 March 2009, the Folketing introduced a bill that gave same-sex couples in registered partnerships the right to adopt jointly.[137] This bill was approved on 4 May 2010 and took effect on 1 July 2010.[138]

Estonia

France

 
PACS (blue) and marriage (red) in France (INSEE)

The French law providing benefits to same-sex couples also applies to opposite-sex couples who choose this form of partnership over marriage. Known as the "Pacte civil de solidarité" (PACS), it is more easily dissolved than the divorce process applying to marriage. Tax benefits accrue immediately (only from 2007 on[citation needed]), while immigration benefits accrue only after the contract has been in effect for one year. The partners are required to have a common address, making it difficult for foreigners to use this law as a means to a residence permit, and difficult for French citizens to gain the right to live with a foreign partner – especially since the contract does not automatically give immigration rights, as marriage does.[139]

Between 2000 and 2010, the number of marriages decreased while the number of PACS strongly increased. In 2010, there were 3 PACS for every 4 marriages celebrated in France.[140] Especially amongst heterosexual couples PACS is very popular, with 96 out of 100 PACS couples being heterosexual in the year 2019.[141]

 
Countries performing civil unions in Central America and the Caribbean Islands
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions for opposite-sex couples only.
  Civil unions never performed.

Germany

Civil unions in Germany began in 2001.[citation needed]

In 2017, registered civil partnership was replaced with marriage, with any couple regardless of sex allowed to marry.[142]

Greece

Greek parliament voted in favor of a Cohabitation Pact (Greek: Σύμφωνο Συμβίωσης) giving almost the same rights as marriage to couples regardless of their sex. The draft was approved in the relevant Greek parliament committee[when?] and during voting on 22 December 2015, the law was passed with 194 positive votes (out of 300).[143]

Hungary

Civil unions in Hungary began in 2009.[citation needed]

Iceland

Iceland does not have a comprehensive legal act on civil unions (Icelandic: óvígð sambúð). Instead, various laws deal with civil unions and their meaning. When Iceland legalised same-sex marriages in 2010, the Act on Registered Partnerships (87/1996) was abolished. Registered partnerships (Icelandic: staðfest samvist) had been the principal legal unions for same-sex partners since the law was passed in 1996.[144]

Ireland

In 2010, the lower house of the Irish Parliament Dáil Éireann passed the bill on Civil Partnerships unanimously. This bill allows civil partnerships of same-sex couples, and establishes an extensive package of rights, obligations and protections for same-sex couples who register as civil partners.[145] The bill passed all stages of in both Houses of the Oireachtas,[146] and came into effect on 1 January 2011. The first partnership between two men was registered on 7 February 2011.[147]

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since 2015 following a referendum.[citation needed]

Italy

Civil unions in Italy began in 2016.[citation needed]

Liechtenstein

Civil unions in Liechtenstein began in 2011.[148]

Monaco

Civil unions in Monaco began in 2020.[citation needed]

Montenegro

Civil unions in Montenegro began in 2020.[citation needed]

Netherlands

In 2001, the Netherlands passed a law allowing same-sex couples to marry, in addition to its 1998 "registered partnership" law (civil union) for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.[149][150]

Poland

In 2004, Senator Maria Szyszkowska proposed a bill which would legalize same-sex civil unions in Poland. The project was approved by the Senate but was never voted upon by the Sejm, as Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (then the Marshal of the Sejm) did not bring it for the deliberation.[This paragraph needs citation(s)]

In 2008, when asked about same-sex civil unions, First Cabinet of Donald Tusk spokeswoman Agnieszka Liszka answered: "Council of Ministers did not and would not take care of that matter."[151]

On January 25, 2013, Sejm voted upon three separate bills regarding same-sex civil unions in Poland: by the centre-left Democratic Left Alliance, liberal Palikot's Movement and centre-right Civic Platform. The first bill had 283 against, 137 for, 30 abstaining. The second had 276 against, 150 for, 23 abstaining. The third had 228 against, 211 for, 10 abstaining. All three were rejected, mainly with the votes of centre-right, right-wing and conservative parties: Polish People's Party, Law and Justice and United Poland. A majority of deputies from the ruling centre-right Civic Platform also voted against the first two bills.[152][153][154] The Roman Catholic Church in Poland, Polish Orthodox Church and Polish Muslims opposed all three bills.

In March 2013, Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially stated that a new project of civil unions bill would be presented to the parliament "in two months time" (in May 2013), but as of April 2014[needs update] no such initiatives took place.

In a 2013 opinion poll conducted by CBOS, 68% of Poles were against gays and lesbians publicly showing their way of life, 65% of Poles were against same-sex civil unions, 72% were against same-sex marriage and 88% were against adoption by same-sex couples.[155]

In December 2014, the Sejm refused to deal with a civil partnership bill proposed by Your Movement, with 235 MPs voting against debating the bill, and 185 MPs voting for.[156]

In May 2015, the Sejm again refused to deal with the topic, with 215 MPs voting against and only 146 for. The Prime Minister, Ewa Kopacz, said that civil partnerships are an issue for the next parliament to deal with.[157]

San Marino

Slovenia

Switzerland

The Canton of Geneva has a law on the cantonal level, the Partenariat cantonal (the Cantonal Domestic Partnership), since 2001. It grants unmarried couples, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, many of the rights, responsibilities and protections that married couples have. However, it does not allow benefits in taxation, social security, or health insurance premiums (unlike the federal law). Geneva was the first Canton to recognise same-sex couples through this law.

On September 22, 2002, voters in the Swiss canton of Zurich voted to extend a number of marriage rights to same-sex partners, including tax, inheritance, and social security benefits.[158] The law is limited to same-sex couples, and both partners must have lived in the canton for six months and formally commit to running a household together and supporting and aiding each another.

On November 12, 2003, the Constituent assembly of the Canton of Fribourg granted Registered Partnership as a constitutional right under the Article 14.

On January 27, 2004, the Canton of Neuchâtel voted for a law on the cantonal level, the Partenariat enregistré (the Cantonal Registered Partnership). It grants unmarried couples, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, the same rights as married couple for cantonal matters such as responsibilities and protections, benefits in taxation, social security, or health insurance premiums.

On June 5, 2005, voters extended this right to the whole of Switzerland through a federal referendum. This was the first time that the civil union laws were affirmed in a nationwide referendum in any country. The Federal Domestic Partnership Law, reserved for same-sex couples, came into force on January 1, 2007. It grants the same rights as marriage, but full joint adoption rights, facilitated naturalization and medically assisted procreation are explicitly forbidden for same-sex domestic partners.[159]

In 2017, the Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga addressed the issue that civil union is not open yet for heterosexual couples, in collaboration with experts at the University of Bern. In Geneva and Neuchâtel a type of civil union called cantonal PACS is available to opposite-sex and same-sex couples.[160]

On September 26, 2021, the people of Switzerland approved on national referendum the initiative "Marriage for all", which would grant marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples. This initiative would be made effective on July 1, 2022.

United Kingdom

In 2003, the British government announced plans to introduce civil partnerships which would allow same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities resulting from marriage. The Civil Partnership Bill was introduced into the House of Lords on 30 March 2004. After considering amendments made by the House of Commons, it was passed by the House of Lords, its final legislative hurdle,[colloquialism] on 17 November 2004, and received royal assent on 18 November. The Act came into force on 5 December 2005, and same-sex, but not opposite-sex, couples were able to form the civil partnerships from 19 December 2005 in Northern Ireland, 20 December 2005 in Scotland and 21 December 2005 in England and Wales.[161] Separate provisions were included in the first Finance Act 2005 to allow regulations to be made to amend tax laws to give the same tax advantages and disadvantages to couples in civil partnerships as apply to married couples. At that time, the Church of England, the state church in England, permitted clergy to enter into same-sex civil partnerships.[162]

Aside from the manner in which couples register and the non-use of the word "marriage", civil partnerships grant most of the same legal rights as marriage and generally operate under the same constrictions (one difference being that marriage requires dissolution by divorce while a civil union does not). It is not legal to be in both a civil partnership and a marriage at the same time. Nevertheless, some of those in favour of legal same-sex marriage object that civil partnerships do not grant full equality.

Both same-sex marriages and civil unions of other nations will be automatically considered civil partnerships under UK law providing they came within Section 20 of the Act. This means, in some cases, non-Britons from nations with civil unions will have greater rights in the UK than in their native countries. For example, a Vermont civil union would have legal standing in the UK; however, in cases where one partner was American and the other British, the Vermont civil union would not provide the Briton with right of abode in Vermont (or any other US state or territory), whereas it would provide the American with right of abode in the UK.

In September 2011, the succeeding coalition government announced its intention to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales by 2015 at the latest.[163] The future status of civil partnerships is unclear. The Scottish Government, which has devolved responsibility for such legislation, held a consultation concerning both civil and religious same sex marriage in the autumn of 2011.[when?] Legislation to allow same-sex marriage in England and Wales was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in July 2013 and came into force on 13 March 2014, and the first same-sex marriages took place on 29 March 2014. The first same-sex marriages in Scotland took place in December 2014.

In June 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that restricting civil partnerships to same-sex couples was discriminatory.[164] In response, the Prime Minister announced in October 2018 that civil partnerships would be opened to heterosexual couples.[165]

Mexico

 
States performing civil unions in Mexico
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Former civil unions for same-sex couples, replaced by marriage.
  Civil unions never performed.

On 9 November 2006, Mexico City's unicameral Legislative Assembly passed and approved (43–17) a bill legalizing same-sex civil unions, under the name Ley de Sociedades de Convivencia (Law for Co-existence Partnerships), which became effective on 16 March 2007.[166] The law gives property and inheritance rights to same-sex couples. On 11 January 2007, the northern state of Coahuila, which borders Texas, passed a similar bill (20–13), under the name Pacto Civil de Solidaridad (Civil Pact of Solidarity).[167] Unlike Mexico City's law, once same-sex couples have registered in Coahuila, the state protects their rights no matter where they live in the country.[167] Twenty days after the law had passed,[when?] the country's first same-sex civil union took place in Saltillo, Coahuila.[168] Civil unions have been proposed in at least six states since 2006.[169]

In Colima, governor Mario Anguiano Moreno has agreed to discuss the legalization of civil unions and adoption by same-sex couples.[170][when?] In Jalisco, local congress approved on 31 October 2013 the Free Coexistence Act, which allows the performance of civil unions in the state.[171]

New Zealand

 
Countries performing civil unions in Oceania
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions never performed.

On 9 December 2004 the New Zealand Parliament passed the Civil Union Bill, establishing civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The debate over Civil Unions was highly divisive in New Zealand, inspiring great public emotion both for and against the passing. A companion bill, the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill was passed shortly thereafter to remove discriminatory provisions on the basis of relationship status from a range of statutes and regulations. As a result of these bills, all couples in New Zealand, whether married, in a civil union, or in a de facto partnership, now generally enjoy the same rights and undertake the same obligations. These rights extend to immigration, next-of-kin status, social welfare, matrimonial property and other areas.

The Civil Union Act 2004 came into effect on 26 April 2005 with the first unions able to occur from Friday 29 April 2005.

South Africa

 
Countries performing civil unions in Africa
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions never performed.

In South Africa, a "civil union" is either a marriage or a civil partnership, although confusingly[according to whom?] the term "civil union" is commonly used when "civil partnership" is meant. Same-sex and opposite-sex couples may register their unions either as marriages or as civil partnerships. In laws where "marriage" is mentioned, its definition now retroactively includes civil partnerships.[This paragraph needs citation(s)]

United States

 
States performing civil unions
  Civil union
  Civil union with limited rights
  Civil unions not performed
  Civil unions forbidden

The first civil unions in the United States were offered by the state of Vermont in 2000. The federal government does not recognize these unions. By the end of 2006, Connecticut and New Jersey had also enacted civil union laws; New Hampshire followed in 2007. Furthermore, California's domestic partnership law had been expanded to the point that it became practically a civil union law as well. The same might be said[by whom?] for domestic partnership in the District of Columbia, domestic partnership in Washington, and domestic partnership in Oregon.

Jurisdictions in the U.S. that offer civil unions or domestic partnerships granting nearly all of the state-recognized rights of marriage to same-sex couples include:

States in the U.S. with domestic partnerships or similar status granting some of the rights of marriage include:

Since October 2014, all states that provide for civil unions, domestic partnerships, or similar arrangements between same-sex partners also allow same-sex partners to legally wed.

Arizona

In 2013, Bisbee became the first city in Arizona to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples.[172] After its passage, the state's Attorney General, Tom Horne, threatened to challenge the law in court, arguing that it violated the state's constitution.[173] However, the Attorney General agreed to withdraw the challenge after Bisbee amended the law, and the civil union ordinance was approved.[174]

Following Bisbee, also in 2013, Tucson became the second municipality to legalize civil unions.[175] Jerome followed in the same year.[176] Also in 2013, Clarkdale and Cottonwood were the next cities in the Verde Valley to pass civil unions.[177][178] A measure to allow civil unions failed in Camp Verde by a split 3–3 vote in the city council making it the only city in the Verde Valley to not have passed the bill.[179]

Sedona passed civil unions in September 2013.[180] The city of Tempe considered legal advice about a civil union ordinance, but it did not pass a bill.[181] After the legalization of same-sex marriage in Arizona, civil unions may continue to be registered in the cities that had legalized the ordinances.[182]

California

In California, where domestic partnership (DP) has been available to same-sex and certain opposite-sex couples since 2000, a wholesale revision of the law in 2005 made it substantially equivalent to marriage at the state level. In 2007, the Legislature took a further step when it required same-sex DP couples to file state income taxes jointly. (Couples must continue to file federal taxes as individuals.) In the May 2008 In re Marriage Cases decision, the state supreme court noted nine differences between Domestic Partnerships and same-sex marriage in state law, including a cohabitation requirement for domestic partners, access to CalPERS long-term care insurance (but not CalPERS in general), and the lack of an equivalent to California's "confidential marriage" institution.[7] The cohabitation requirement was dropped on January 1, 2012, and a "confidential option" for domestic partners became available the same day.

Colorado

A bill to establish civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples passed both chambers of the Colorado legislature and was signed into law by Governor John Hickenlooper. Civil unions began on May 1, 2013.

Connecticut

In 2005, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a bill to adopt civil unions in Connecticut. Connecticut's civil unions were identical to marriage and provided all of the same rights and responsibilities except for the title. Connecticut was the first state in the U.S. to voluntarily pass a same-sex civil unions law through the legislature without any immediate court intervention.[183] The law was repealed on October 1, 2010, and replaced with a law making marriage gender-neutral.

Delaware

Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed a civil union bill on May 12, 2011, that establishes civil unions in the state effective January 1, 2012.[184] The law was repealed on July 1, 2014, and replaced with a law making marriage gender-neutral.

District of Columbia

Same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia was legalized on December 18, 2009. Marriage licenses became available on March 3, 2010, and marriages began on March 9, 2010. Domestic Partnerships in the District of Columbia (1992 law implemented, 2002 law came into effect – expanded over time to 2009)

Hawaii

Hawaii legalized civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples on January 1, 2012. Same-sex marriage became legal on December 2, 2013.

Illinois

On December 1, 2010, the Illinois state senate passed SB1716 – the "Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act" – in a 32–24–1 vote, just one day after the Illinois House of Representatives did the same in a 61–52–2 vote. On January 31, 2011, Illinois state Governor Pat Quinn signed SB1716 into law, establishing civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The new law came into effect on June 1, 2011. The provision allowing opposite-sex couples to establish a civil union effectively doubles as a tool for widowed seniors to keep survivor's benefits from a marriage while gaining marital rights at the state level with another partner.[185]

Maine

Maine legalized domestic partnership for same-sex and opposite-sex couples in 2004. Maine's domestic partnership registry only provides limited rights, most of which are geared toward[colloquialism] protecting couples' security in emergency situations.

New Hampshire

On April 26, 2007, the New Hampshire General Court (state legislature) passed a civil union bill, and Governor John Lynch signed the bill into law on May 31, 2007.[186] At the time, New Hampshire was "... the first state to embrace same-sex unions without a court order or the threat of one".[187] The New Hampshire civil union legislation became effective on January 1, 2008.[188] The law was replaced by the same-sex marriage law on January 1, 2010.

New Jersey

On October 25, 2006, the Supreme Court of New Jersey gave New Jersey lawmakers 180 days to rewrite the state's marriage laws, either including same-sex couples or creating a new system of civil unions for them. On December 14 the Legislature passed a bill establishing civil unions in New Jersey, which was signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine on December 21, 2006. The first civil unions took place on February 19, 2007.[189]

There are differences between civil unions and domestic partnerships. In 2004, the state of New Jersey enacted a domestic partnership law, offering certain limited rights and benefits to same-sex and different-sex couples. In 2006, however, after a state Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples must be extended all the rights and benefits of marriage, the Legislature passed a civil unions law, effective in 2007, which is an attempt to satisfy the court's ruling.

Nevada

On May 31, 2009, the Nevada legislature overrode Governor Jim Gibbons' veto of a domestic partnership bill. The bill allows registered domestic partners, whether they are a same-sex or opposite-sex couple, to have most of the state level rights and responsibilities afforded to married couples. It does not require any other entity to provide rights or benefits afforded to married individuals. This has left the partnership bill ineffective compared to those of other states. The law took effect on 1 October 2009.

Oregon

Since 4 February 2008, Oregon offers domestic partnerships which grant nearly all of the state-recognized rights of marriage to same-sex couples.

Rhode Island

Civil unions were permitted in Rhode Island since July 1, 2011 until July 1, 2013.

Vermont

The controversial[citation needed] civil unions law[190] that was passed in the Vermont General Assembly in 2000 was a response to the Vermont Supreme Court ruling in Baker v. Vermont, requiring that the state grant same-sex couples the same rights and privileges accorded to married couples under the law.

A Vermont civil union is nearly identical to a legal marriage, as far as the rights and responsibilities for which state law, not federal law, is responsible are concerned.[190] It grants partners next-of-kin rights and other protections that heterosexual married couples also receive. However, despite the "full faith and credit" clause of the United States Constitution, civil unions are generally not recognized outside Vermont in the absence of specific legislation. Opponents of the law have supported the Defense of Marriage Act and the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment in order to prevent obligatory recognition of same-sex couples in other jurisdictions. This means that many of the advantages of marriage, which fall in the federal jurisdiction (over 1,100 federal laws, such as joint federal income tax returns, visas and work permits for the foreign partner of a U.S. citizen, etc.), are not extended to the partners of a Vermont civil union.

Regarding voluntary recognition of the civil union in other jurisdictions, New York City's Domestic Partnership Law, passed in 2002, recognizes civil unions formalized in other jurisdictions. Germany's international civil law (EGBGB) also accords to Vermont civil unions the same benefits and responsibilities that apply in Vermont, as long as they do not exceed the standard accorded by German law to a German civil union. The law was replaced by the same-sex marriage law on September 1, 2009.

Washington

Washington offers domestic partnerships which grant nearly all of the state-recognized rights of marriage to same-sex couples. Washington is the first state to have passed a same-sex civil union bill by a popular vote.

Washington legalized same-sex marriage early in 2012, which provided that a couple in a civil union would have two years to convert their civil union to a marriage. The law was upheld by popular referendum in November 2012.[191]

Uruguay

Civil unions in Uruguay were allowed nationwide from January 1, 2008.

National debates

International standards

To date, only two countries, Spain and Portugal, have signed onto the Convention on the Recognition of Registered Partnerships, a draft multilateral agreement on the status of civil, unmarried partnerships. The document is inclusive of rights for both same and opposite sex partnerships.

See also

References

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civil, union, also, domestic, partnership, which, legal, recognition, relationships, without, wider, rights, benefits, civil, unions, civil, union, also, known, civil, partnership, legally, recognized, arrangement, similar, marriage, created, primarily, means,. See also Domestic partnership which is legal recognition of relationships without the wider rights or benefits of civil unions A civil union also known as a civil partnership is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same sex couples Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage with child adoption being a common exception and the title itself Male couple in Croatia which allows civil partnerships but not same sex marriage Civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in several mostly developed countries in order to provide legal recognition of relationships formed by unmarried same sex couples and to afford them rights benefits tax breaks and responsibilities similar or identical to those of legally married couples In 1989 Denmark was the first country to legalise civil unions for same sex couples however most other developed democracies did not begin establishing civil unions until the 1990s or early 2000s often developing them from less formal domestic partnerships While civil unions are often established for both opposite sex couples and same sex couples in a number of countries they are available to same sex couples only In Brazil civil unions were first created for opposite sex couples in 2002 and then expanded to include same sex couples through a supreme court ruling in 2011 In the majority of countries that established same sex civil unions they have since been either supplemented or replaced by same sex marriage Civil unions are viewed by LGBT rights campaigners as a first step towards establishing same sex marriage as civil unions are viewed by supporters of LGBT rights as a separate but equal or second class status Many jurisdictions with civil unions recognize foreign unions if those are essentially equivalent to their own for example the United Kingdom lists equivalent unions in the Civil Partnership Act 2004 Schedule 20 The marriages of same sex couples performed abroad may be recognized as civil unions in jurisdictions that only have the latter Contents 1 Overview and terminology 2 List of jurisdictions recognizing same sex unions but not same sex marriage 3 List of jurisdictions recognizing same sex unions 3 1 Africa 3 2 Americas 3 3 Asia 3 4 Europe 3 5 Oceania 3 6 Countries with former civil unions 3 6 1 Europe 3 6 2 Americas 3 6 3 Asia 3 6 4 Oceania 4 Case studies 4 1 Argentina 4 2 Australia 4 3 Brazil 4 4 Canada 4 5 Colombia 4 6 Costa Rica 4 7 Ecuador 4 8 Europe 4 8 1 Andorra 4 8 2 Austria 4 8 3 Croatia 4 8 4 Cyprus 4 8 5 Czech Republic 4 8 6 Denmark 4 8 7 Estonia 4 8 8 France 4 8 9 Germany 4 8 10 Greece 4 8 11 Hungary 4 8 12 Iceland 4 8 13 Ireland 4 8 14 Italy 4 8 15 Liechtenstein 4 8 16 Monaco 4 8 17 Montenegro 4 8 18 Netherlands 4 8 19 Poland 4 8 20 San Marino 4 8 21 Slovenia 4 8 22 Switzerland 4 8 23 United Kingdom 4 9 Mexico 4 10 New Zealand 4 11 South Africa 4 12 United States 4 12 1 Arizona 4 12 2 California 4 12 3 Colorado 4 12 4 Connecticut 4 12 5 Delaware 4 12 6 District of Columbia 4 12 7 Hawaii 4 12 8 Illinois 4 12 9 Maine 4 12 10 New Hampshire 4 12 11 New Jersey 4 12 12 Nevada 4 12 13 Oregon 4 12 14 Rhode Island 4 12 15 Vermont 4 12 16 Washington 4 13 Uruguay 5 National debates 6 International standards 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksOverview and terminology Edit The notion of civil unions is rejected by some such as this protester at a large demonstration in New York City against California Proposition 8 1 The terms used to designate civil unions are not standardized and vary widely from country to country Government sanctioned relationships that may be similar or equivalent to civil unions include civil partnerships registered partnerships domestic partnerships significant relationships reciprocal beneficiary relationships common law marriage adult interdependent relationships life partnerships stable unions civil solidarity pacts and so on The exact level of rights benefits obligations and responsibilities also varies depending on the laws of a particular country Some jurisdictions allow same sex couples to adopt while others forbid them to do so or allow adoption only in specified circumstances In the United States the term civil union was introduced in the state of Vermont in 2000 to connote a status equivalent to marriage for same sex couples it was chosen by the state s legislators in preference to phrases such as domestic partner relationship or civil accord 2 Domestic partnership offered by some states counties cities and employers since as early as 1985 3 has generally connoted a lesser status with fewer benefits 4 However the legislatures of the West Coast states of California Oregon and Washington have preferred the term domestic partnership for enactments similar or equivalent to civil union laws in East Coast states Civil unions are not seen as a replacement for marriage by many in the LGBT community Marriage in the United States is a civil union but a civil union as it has come to be called is not marriage said Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry 5 It is a proposed hypothetical legal mechanism since it doesn t exist in most places to give some of the protections but also withhold something precious from gay people There s no good reason to do that However some opponents of same sex marriage claim that civil unions rob marriage of its unique status Randy Thomasson executive director of the Campaign for California Families calls civil unions homosexual marriage by another name and contends that civil unions provide same sex couples all the rights of marriage available under state law 6 The California Supreme Court in the In Re Marriage Cases decision noted nine differences 7 in state law Civil unions are commonly criticised as being separate but equal critics such as former New Zealand MP and feminist Marilyn Waring note that same sex couples remain excluded from the right to marry and are forced to use a separate institution 8 Supporters of same sex marriage contend that treating same sex couples differently from other couples under the law allows for inferior treatment and that if civil unions were the same as marriage there would be no reason for two separate laws A New Jersey commission which reviewed the state s civil union law reported that the law invites and encourages unequal treatment of same sex couples and their children 9 Some have suggested that creating civil unions which are open to opposite sex couples would avoid the accusations of apartheid 10 Proponents of civil unions say that they provide practical equality for same sex couples and solve the problems over areas such as hospital visitation rights and transfer of property caused by lack of legal recognition 11 Proponents also say that creating civil unions is a more pragmatic way to ensure that same sex couples have legal rights as it avoids the more controversial issues surrounding marriage and the claim that the term has a religious source Many supporters of same sex marriage state that the word marriage matters and that the term civil union and its equivalents do not convey the emotional meaning or bring the respect that comes with marriage 9 12 Former US Solicitor General and attorney in the Perry v Schwarzenegger case Theodore Olsen said that recognizing same sex couples under the term domestic partnership stigmatizes gay people s relationships treating them as if they were something akin to a commercial venture not a loving union 13 Many also contend that the fact that civil unions are often not understood can cause difficulty for same sex couples in emergency situations 14 List of jurisdictions recognizing same sex unions but not same sex marriage EditAs of July 13 2023 the states that provide civil unions but not marriage for same sex couples are Bolivia Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Greece Hungary Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Monaco Montenegro the Netherlands state of Aruba San Marino the British territories of Bermuda and Cayman IslandsList of jurisdictions recognizing same sex unions EditMain article Same sex union legislation Civil unions for same sex couples Civil unions in some counties Civil unions not performed The following is a list of countries and other jurisdictions which have established civil unions for same sex couples or opposite sex couples categorized by continent with the year in which the law establishing civil unions in the listed country or other jurisdiction came into effect in brackets Africa Edit Spain Ceuta 1998 Spanish union de hecho 15 Canary Islands 2003 Spanish pareja de hecho 16 Melilla 2008 Spanish pareja de hecho 17 France French pacte civil de solidarite 18 Reunion 1999 19 Mayotte 2007 19 South Africa 2006 civil partnership Afrikaans burgerlike verbintenis 20 Americas Edit Costa Rica 1995 Spanish union de hecho 21 United States Hawaii reciprocal beneficiary relationship since 1997 civil union since 2012 New York City 1998 domestic partnership 22 California 1999 domestic partnership 23 District of Columbia 2002 domestic partnership 24 Maine 2004 domestic partnership 25 New Jersey domestic partnership since 2004 civil union since 2006 26 Washington 2007 domestic partnership 27 Maryland 2008 domestic partnership Oregon 2008 domestic partnership Colorado designated beneficiary agreement since 2009 civil union since 2013 28 Nevada 2009 domestic partnership 29 Illinois 2011 civil union Several counties citation needed ambiguous France French pacte civil de solidarite French Guiana 1999 Guadeloupe 1999 Martinique 1999 Saint Barthelemy 1999 Saint Martin 1999 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1999 Canada Nova Scotia 2001 domestic partnership 30 Quebec 2002 French union civile 31 Alberta 2003 adult interdependent relationship 32 Manitoba 2004 common law relationship 33 Mexico Coahuila 2007 Spanish pacto civil de solidaridad 34 Mexico City 2007 sociedad de convivencia Campeche 2013 sociedad civil de convivencia 35 Michoacan 2015 sociedad de convivencia Tlaxcala 2017 sociedad de convivencia solidaria Veracruz 2020 concubinato Sinaloa 2021 concubinato Uruguay 2008 Spanish union concubinaria 36 Ecuador 2008 Spanish union de hecho 37 Colombia 2009 Spanish union marital de hecho 38 Brazil 2011 opposite sex since 2003 Portuguese uniao estavel 39 Netherlands Dutch geregistreerd partnerschap Caribbean Netherlands 2012 Aruba 2021 Papiamento union civil Dutch geregistreerd partnerschap 40 Argentina 2015 Spanish union convivencial 41 Buenos Aires 2003 Spanish union civil 42 Rio Negro 2003 pareja convivencial homosexual 43 City of Villa Carlos Paz 2007 union civil 44 City of Rio Cuarto 2009 union civil 45 Chile 2015 Spanish acuerdo de union civil 46 United Kingdom Falkland Islands 2017 civil partnership 47 Bermuda 2018 domestic partnership 48 Cayman Islands 2020 civil partnership 49 Bolivia free unions starting in 2020 nationwide since 2023 Spanish union libre Asia Edit Japan Japanese パートナーシップ宣誓制度 or パートナーシップ証明制度 Ibaraki 2019 Osaka 2020 Gunma 2020 Saga 2021 Mie 2021 Aomori 2022 Akita 2022 Fukuoka 2022 Tochigi 2022 Tokyo 2022 Shizuoka 2023 Toyama 2023 316 municipalities Europe Edit Netherlands 1998 Dutch geregistreerd partnerschap 50 Spain Catalonia 1998 Catalan parella estable Spanish pareja estable Occitan coble estable 51 Aragon 1999 Spanish pareja estable 52 53 Castile La Mancha 2000 pareja de hecho 54 Navarra 2000 Spanish pareja estable Basque bikote egonkorra 55 Valencia 2001 Spanish union de hecho Valencian unio de fet 56 Balearic Islands 2002 Catalan parella estable Spanish pareja estable 57 Andalusia 2002 pareja de hecho 58 Asturias 2002 Spanish pareja estable Asturian pareya estable 59 Madrid 2002 union de hecho 60 61 Castile and Leon 2002 union de hecho 62 Extremadura 2003 pareja de hecho 63 Basque Country 2003 Basque izatezko bikote Spanish pareja de hecho 64 Cantabria 2005 Spanish pareja de hecho 65 Galicia 2008 Galician parella de feito Spanish pareja de hecho 66 67 La Rioja 2010 pareja de hecho 68 Murcia 2018 pareja de hecho 69 France 1999 French pacte civil de solidarite 18 Belgium 2000 Dutch wettelijke samenwoning French cohabitation legale German gesetzliches Zusammenwohnen 70 Portugal 2001 Portuguese uniao de facto 71 opposite sex since 1999 Luxembourg 2004 French partenariat Luxembourgish and German Partnerschaft 72 Andorra 2005 Catalan unio estable de parella 73 United Kingdom 2005 civil partnership Welsh partneriaeth sifil 74 Isle of Man 2011 civil partnership 75 Jersey 2012 civil partnership 76 Gibraltar 2014 civil partnership 77 Czechia 2006 Czech registrovane partnerstvi 78 Hungary 2009 Hungarian bejegyzett elettarsi kapcsolat 79 Austria 2010 German eingetragene Partnerschaft 80 Liechtenstein 2011 German eingetragene Partnerschaft 81 Malta 2014 Maltese unjoni ċivili 82 Croatia 2014 Croatian zivotno partnerstvo 83 Cyprus 2015 Greek politikh symbiwsh Turkish sivil birlikte yasama Greece 2015 Greek symfwno symbiwshs 84 85 opposite sex since 2008 Estonia 2016 Estonian kooseluleping 86 Italy 2016 Italian unione civile 87 San Marino 2018 Italian unione civile 88 Monaco 2020 French contrat de vie commune Monegasque contratto de vitta comune 89 Montenegro 2021 Montenegrin zhivotno partnerstvo zivotno partnertsvo 90 Latvia 2022 accessible through courts only Latvian civila savieniba 91 Oceania Edit Australia Tasmania 2004 significant relationship and caring relationship 92 South Australia domestic partnership since 2007 registered relationship since 2017 93 Australian Capital Territory domestic relationship since 1994 94 Victoria 2008 domestic relationship 95 New South Wales de facto couple since 1999 registered relationship since 2010 96 Queensland de facto recognition since 1999 civil partnership since 2012 97 New Zealand 2005 civil union Maori hononga a ture 98 France French pacte civil de solidarite New Caledonia 2009 99 Wallis and Futuna 2009 99 Countries with former civil unions Edit Gender neutral civil unions Civil unions for opposite sex couples only Civil unions for same sex couples only Former civil unions for same sex couples replaced by marriage Civil unions not performed Several countries used to offer civil unions only for same sex couples The laws that allowed civil unions were repealed when same sex marriage was legalized The following is a list of countries and other jurisdictions that used to offer civil unions for same sex couples with the years in which they were available in brackets Europe Edit Denmark 1989 2012 Danish registreret partnerskab Greenland 1996 2016 Greenlandic nalunaarsukkamik inooqatigiinneq Norway 1993 2008 Norwegian registrert partnerskap Northern Sami registrerejuvvon parragaskavuohta Lule Sami registardum guojmmevuohta Southern Sami tjaalasovveme guejmievoete Sweden 1995 2009 Swedish registrerat partnerskap Iceland 1996 2010 Icelandic stadfesta samvist Germany 2001 2017 German eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft 100 Finland 2002 2017 Finnish rekisteroity parisuhde Swedish registrerat partnerskap Slovenia 2006 2016 as partnerska skupnost 2016 2022 as partnerska zveza 101 Switzerland 2007 2022 German eingetragene Partnerschaft French partenariat enregistre Italian unione domestica registrata Romansh partenadi registra 102 Geneva 2001 2022 Zurich 2002 2022 Neuchatel 2004 2022 Fribourg 2005 2022 Ireland 2010 2015 civil partnership Irish pairtneireacht shibhialta Andorra 2014 2023 Catalan unio civil Americas Edit United States Vermont 2000 2009 civil union Connecticut 2005 2010 civil union New Hampshire 2008 2010 civil union Wisconsin 2009 2018 domestic partnership Rhode Island 2011 2013 civil union Delaware 2011 2013 civil union Mexico Colima 2013 2016 Spanish enlace conyugal Jalisco 2014 2018 Spanish libre convivencia 103 Asia Edit Taiwan Chinese 同性伴侶註記 Special municipalities 6 6 Kaohsiung 2015 2019 104 Taipei 2015 2019 105 Taichung 2015 2019 106 Tainan 2016 2019 107 New Taipei 2016 2019 108 Taoyuan 2016 2019 109 Provincial cities 3 3 Chiayi 2016 2019 110 Hsinchu 2017 2019 111 Keelung 2017 2019 112 Counties 9 13 Changhua County 2016 2019 113 Hsinchu County 2016 2019 114 Yilan County 2016 2019 115 Chiayi County 2016 2019 116 Kinmen County 2017 2019 111 Lienchiang County 2017 2019 111 Miaoli County 2017 2019 111 Nantou County 2017 2019 111 Pingtung County 2017 2019 111 Oceania Edit Australia Australian Capital Territory civil partnership between 2008 and 2012 civil union between 2012 and 2017 Case studies EditArgentina Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Argentina Since 2003 the Argentine province of Rio Negro and the city of Buenos Aires allow domestic partnerships The City of Villa Carlos Paz Cordoba allowed it from 2007 Since 2009 the city of Rio Cuarto Cordoba allows Civil Unions Australia Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Australia All levels of Australian Governments under nearly all Australian statutes do recognise same sex couples as de facto couples as unregistered co habitation or de facto status since 2009 117 From 1 July 2009 Centrelink recognised same sex couples equally regarding social security under the common law marriage de facto status or unregistered cohabitation 118 Registered relationship recognition in state Governments State or territory Official relationship status Year of enactmentAustralian Capital Territory Civil partnership 2008New South Wales Registered relationship 2010Queensland Civil partnership 2012Tasmania Significant relationship 2004Victoria Registered domestic relationship 2008South Australia Registered relationship 2017Registered relationship recognition in 5 local government areas within Australia City of Sydney New South Wales Registered relationships since 2004 119 Municipality of Woollahra New South Wales Registered relationships since 2008 120 City of the Blue Mountains New South Wales Registered relationships since 2010 121 City of Vincent Western Australia Registered relationships since 2012 122 Town of Port Hedland Western Australia Registered relationships since 2015 123 Brazil Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Brazil Countries performing civil unions in South America Gender neutral civil unions Civil unions for opposite sex couples only Civil unions never performed Cohabitation grants 112 benefits as family entities in Brazil since 2002 It is known as uniao estavel when both parts are legally authorized to marry and as concubinato when at least one party is legally prohibited from doing so 124 Cohabitation grants all rights marriage confers with the exception of automatic opt in for one of four systems of property share married couples have access to and automatic right to inheritance Potential confusion might arise regarding terminology given how when Brazilian Portuguese refers to the term uniao civil it tends to be short for casamento civil or civil marriage Couples that have at least one child registered as a descendant of both parties might also have access to uniao estavel or concubinato rights Same sex stable cohabitation in Brazil is legally recognized nationwide since May 5 2011 Brazil s Supreme Court voted 10 0 with one abstention to allow same sex couples the same legal rights as married couples following pointed recognition of such relationships that dates as far back as 2004 The ruling gave same sex couples in such relationships the same financial and social rights enjoyed by those in mixed sex ones 125 A union between two women and one man was reported in August 2012 though its legality was doubted 126 Canada Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Canada States performing civil unions in North America Gender neutral civil unions Former civil unions for same sex couples replaced by marriage Civil unions never performed In Canada Domestic partnerships in Nova Scotia 2001 Civil unions in Quebec 2002 Common law relationships in Manitoba 2002 and Adult interdependent relationships in Alberta 2003 were extended to same sex couples before the enactment 2005 nationwide of same sex marriage in Canada Another notable attempt to extend civil union rights the Equality Rights Statute Amendment Act in Ontario was defeated in 1994 Colombia Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Colombia In 2007 Colombia came close to passing a law granting legal recognition to same sex couples but the bill failed on final passage in one house of the national legislature However a court decision in October 2007 extended social security and health insurance rights to same sex couples 127 On January 29 2009 the Constitutional Court ruled that cohabitating same sex couples must be given all rights offered to unmarried heterosexual couples 128 making Colombia the first Latin American country to fully grant this right to all its citizens Couples can claim these rights after living together for two years Colombia has since approved same sex marriage Costa Rica Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Costa Rica The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica passed a bill in early July 2013 that confers social rights and benefits of a civil union free from discrimination language inserted by lawmaker Jose Maria Villalta Florez Estrada of the Broad Front party After the bill passed several media outlets reported that conservative lawmakers realized the bill s implications for same sex unions and urged President Laura Chinchilla who is set to face Villalta in the 2014 presidential election to use her veto power to stop the bill from becoming law Chinchilla who has suggested the courts should determine the legality of same sex unions in Costa Rica refused and signed the bill into law on 4 July A gay couple has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica asking that their union be recognized under the new law 129 Gay rights activists reacting to the law said it needs to survive a constitutional challenge in court 130 131 Some constitutional lawyers stated that same sex couples will still lack legal capacity to formalize their unions despite passage of the bill 132 Ecuador Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Ecuador The 2008 Constitution of Ecuador enacted civil unions between two people without regard to gender giving same sex couples the same rights as legally married heterosexual couples except for the right to adopt 133 Europe Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Europe Countries performing civil unions in Europe Gender neutral civil unions Civil unions for same sex couples only Former civil unions for same sex couples replaced by marriage Civil unions never performed In Europe Denmark 1989 2012 same sex only Norway 1993 2009 same sex only Sweden 1995 2009 same sex only Iceland 1996 2010 same sex only Greenland 1996 2016 same sex only Netherlands 1998 gender neutral France 1999 gender neutral Belgium 2000 gender neutral Germany 2001 2017 same sex only Finland 2002 2017 same sex only Luxembourg 2004 gender neutral Andorra 2005 gender neutral United Kingdom 2005 same sex only gender neutral in England and Wales since 2019 in Northern Ireland since 2020 in Scotland since 202 Czechia 2006 same sex only Slovenia 2006 2022 same sex only Switzerland 2007 2022 same sex only Greece 2008 initially opposite sex only gender neutral since 2015 Hungary 2009 same sex only Austria 2010 same sex only gender neutral since 2019 Ireland 2011 2015 same sex only Isle of Man 2011 same sex only gender neutral since 2016 Liechtenstein 2011 same sex only Jersey 2012 same sex only gender neutral since 2023 Gibraltar 2014 gender neutral Malta 2014 gender neutral Croatia 2014 same sex only Andorra 2014 2023 same sex only Cyprus 2015 gender neutral Estonia 2016 gender neutral Italy 2016 same sex only San Marino 2018 gender neutral Monaco 2020 gender neutral Montenegro 2021 same sex only Andorra Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Andorra Austria Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Austria In 2018 Minister of Justice Josef Moser announced that both marriage and registered partnership would be open to homosexuals and heterosexuals This occurred because Helga Ratzenbock and Martin Seydl have been appealing for years timeframe in court for a registered civil partnership in Austria At the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg they attempted to sue Austria for discrimination against their sexuality when because they were a heterosexual couple and were excluded from the benefits of registered partnership but this failed 134 135 Croatia Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Croatia Cyprus Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Cyprus Czech Republic Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in the Czech Republic Denmark Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Denmark Civil unions were introduced in Denmark by law on 7 June 1989 the world s first such law and came into effect on 1 October 1989 On 7 June 2012 the law was replaced by a new same sex marriage law which came into effect on 15 June 2012 136 Registered partnership was by civil ceremony only but the Church of Denmark allowed priests to perform blessings of same sex couples as it stated that the church blesses people not institutions The new law makes same sex marriages in churches possible but allows vicars to decline marriages of same sex couples in their church 136 On 17 March 2009 the Folketing introduced a bill that gave same sex couples in registered partnerships the right to adopt jointly 137 This bill was approved on 4 May 2010 and took effect on 1 July 2010 138 Estonia Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Estonia France Edit PACS blue and marriage red in France INSEE Main article Civil solidarity pact The French law providing benefits to same sex couples also applies to opposite sex couples who choose this form of partnership over marriage Known as the Pacte civil de solidarite PACS it is more easily dissolved than the divorce process applying to marriage Tax benefits accrue immediately only from 2007 on citation needed while immigration benefits accrue only after the contract has been in effect for one year The partners are required to have a common address making it difficult for foreigners to use this law as a means to a residence permit and difficult for French citizens to gain the right to live with a foreign partner especially since the contract does not automatically give immigration rights as marriage does 139 Between 2000 and 2010 the number of marriages decreased while the number of PACS strongly increased In 2010 there were 3 PACS for every 4 marriages celebrated in France 140 Especially amongst heterosexual couples PACS is very popular with 96 out of 100 PACS couples being heterosexual in the year 2019 141 Countries performing civil unions in Central America and the Caribbean Islands Gender neutral civil unions Civil unions for opposite sex couples only Civil unions never performed Germany Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Germany Civil unions in Germany began in 2001 citation needed In 2017 registered civil partnership was replaced with marriage with any couple regardless of sex allowed to marry 142 Greece Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Greece Greek parliament voted in favor of a Cohabitation Pact Greek Symfwno Symbiwshs giving almost the same rights as marriage to couples regardless of their sex The draft was approved in the relevant Greek parliament committee when and during voting on 22 December 2015 the law was passed with 194 positive votes out of 300 143 Hungary Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in HungaryCivil unions in Hungary began in 2009 citation needed Iceland Edit Iceland does not have a comprehensive legal act on civil unions Icelandic ovigd sambud Instead various laws deal with civil unions and their meaning When Iceland legalised same sex marriages in 2010 the Act on Registered Partnerships 87 1996 was abolished Registered partnerships Icelandic stadfest samvist had been the principal legal unions for same sex partners since the law was passed in 1996 144 Ireland Edit In 2010 the lower house of the Irish Parliament Dail Eireann passed the bill on Civil Partnerships unanimously This bill allows civil partnerships of same sex couples and establishes an extensive package of rights obligations and protections for same sex couples who register as civil partners 145 The bill passed all stages of in both Houses of the Oireachtas 146 and came into effect on 1 January 2011 The first partnership between two men was registered on 7 February 2011 147 Same sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since 2015 following a referendum citation needed Italy Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in ItalyCivil unions in Italy began in 2016 citation needed Liechtenstein Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in LiechtensteinCivil unions in Liechtenstein began in 2011 148 Monaco Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in MonacoCivil unions in Monaco began in 2020 citation needed Montenegro Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in MontenegroCivil unions in Montenegro began in 2020 citation needed Netherlands Edit In 2001 the Netherlands passed a law allowing same sex couples to marry in addition to its 1998 registered partnership law civil union for both same sex and opposite sex couples 149 150 Poland Edit In 2004 Senator Maria Szyszkowska proposed a bill which would legalize same sex civil unions in Poland The project was approved by the Senate but was never voted upon by the Sejm as Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz then the Marshal of the Sejm did not bring it for the deliberation This paragraph needs citation s In 2008 when asked about same sex civil unions First Cabinet of Donald Tusk spokeswoman Agnieszka Liszka answered Council of Ministers did not and would not take care of that matter 151 On January 25 2013 Sejm voted upon three separate bills regarding same sex civil unions in Poland by the centre left Democratic Left Alliance liberal Palikot s Movement and centre right Civic Platform The first bill had 283 against 137 for 30 abstaining The second had 276 against 150 for 23 abstaining The third had 228 against 211 for 10 abstaining All three were rejected mainly with the votes of centre right right wing and conservative parties Polish People s Party Law and Justice and United Poland A majority of deputies from the ruling centre right Civic Platform also voted against the first two bills 152 153 154 The Roman Catholic Church in Poland Polish Orthodox Church and Polish Muslims opposed all three bills In March 2013 Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially stated that a new project of civil unions bill would be presented to the parliament in two months time in May 2013 but as of April 2014 update needs update no such initiatives took place In a 2013 opinion poll conducted by CBOS 68 of Poles were against gays and lesbians publicly showing their way of life 65 of Poles were against same sex civil unions 72 were against same sex marriage and 88 were against adoption by same sex couples 155 In December 2014 the Sejm refused to deal with a civil partnership bill proposed by Your Movement with 235 MPs voting against debating the bill and 185 MPs voting for 156 In May 2015 the Sejm again refused to deal with the topic with 215 MPs voting against and only 146 for The Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said that civil partnerships are an issue for the next parliament to deal with 157 San Marino Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in San Marino Slovenia Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Slovenia Switzerland Edit Main article Recognition of same sex unions in Switzerland The Canton of Geneva has a law on the cantonal level the Partenariat cantonal the Cantonal Domestic Partnership since 2001 It grants unmarried couples whether same sex or opposite sex many of the rights responsibilities and protections that married couples have However it does not allow benefits in taxation social security or health insurance premiums unlike the federal law Geneva was the first Canton to recognise same sex couples through this law On September 22 2002 voters in the Swiss canton of Zurich voted to extend a number of marriage rights to same sex partners including tax inheritance and social security benefits 158 The law is limited to same sex couples and both partners must have lived in the canton for six months and formally commit to running a household together and supporting and aiding each another On November 12 2003 the Constituent assembly of the Canton of Fribourg granted Registered Partnership as a constitutional right under the Article 14 On January 27 2004 the Canton of Neuchatel voted for a law on the cantonal level the Partenariat enregistre the Cantonal Registered Partnership It grants unmarried couples whether same sex or opposite sex the same rights as married couple for cantonal matters such as responsibilities and protections benefits in taxation social security or health insurance premiums On June 5 2005 voters extended this right to the whole of Switzerland through a federal referendum This was the first time that the civil union laws were affirmed in a nationwide referendum in any country The Federal Domestic Partnership Law reserved for same sex couples came into force on January 1 2007 It grants the same rights as marriage but full joint adoption rights facilitated naturalization and medically assisted procreation are explicitly forbidden for same sex domestic partners 159 In 2017 the Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga addressed the issue that civil union is not open yet for heterosexual couples in collaboration with experts at the University of Bern In Geneva and Neuchatel a type of civil union called cantonal PACS is available to opposite sex and same sex couples 160 On September 26 2021 the people of Switzerland approved on national referendum the initiative Marriage for all which would grant marriage and adoption rights for same sex couples This initiative would be made effective on July 1 2022 United Kingdom Edit Main article Civil partnership in the United Kingdom In 2003 the British government announced plans to introduce civil partnerships which would allow same sex couples the rights and responsibilities resulting from marriage The Civil Partnership Bill was introduced into the House of Lords on 30 March 2004 After considering amendments made by the House of Commons it was passed by the House of Lords its final legislative hurdle colloquialism on 17 November 2004 and received royal assent on 18 November The Act came into force on 5 December 2005 and same sex but not opposite sex couples were able to form the civil partnerships from 19 December 2005 in Northern Ireland 20 December 2005 in Scotland and 21 December 2005 in England and Wales 161 Separate provisions were included in the first Finance Act 2005 to allow regulations to be made to amend tax laws to give the same tax advantages and disadvantages to couples in civil partnerships as apply to married couples At that time the Church of England the state church in England permitted clergy to enter into same sex civil partnerships 162 Aside from the manner in which couples register and the non use of the word marriage civil partnerships grant most of the same legal rights as marriage and generally operate under the same constrictions one difference being that marriage requires dissolution by divorce while a civil union does not It is not legal to be in both a civil partnership and a marriage at the same time Nevertheless some of those in favour of legal same sex marriage object that civil partnerships do not grant full equality Both same sex marriages and civil unions of other nations will be automatically considered civil partnerships under UK law providing they came within Section 20 of the Act This means in some cases non Britons from nations with civil unions will have greater rights in the UK than in their native countries For example a Vermont civil union would have legal standing in the UK however in cases where one partner was American and the other British the Vermont civil union would not provide the Briton with right of abode in Vermont or any other US state or territory whereas it would provide the American with right of abode in the UK In September 2011 the succeeding coalition government announced its intention to legalise same sex marriage in England and Wales by 2015 at the latest 163 The future status of civil partnerships is unclear The Scottish Government which has devolved responsibility for such legislation held a consultation concerning both civil and religious same sex marriage in the autumn of 2011 when Legislation to allow same sex marriage in England and Wales was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in July 2013 and came into force on 13 March 2014 and the first same sex marriages took place on 29 March 2014 The first same sex marriages in Scotland took place in December 2014 In June 2018 the Supreme Court ruled that restricting civil partnerships to same sex couples was discriminatory 164 In response the Prime Minister announced in October 2018 that civil partnerships would be opened to heterosexual couples 165 Mexico Edit Main articles Recognition of same sex unions in Mexico and Same sex marriage in Mexico City States performing civil unions in Mexico Gender neutral civil unions Former civil unions for same sex couples replaced by marriage Civil unions never performed On 9 November 2006 Mexico City s unicameral Legislative Assembly passed and approved 43 17 a bill legalizing same sex civil unions under the name Ley de Sociedades de Convivencia Law for Co existence Partnerships which became effective on 16 March 2007 166 The law gives property and inheritance rights to same sex couples On 11 January 2007 the northern state of Coahuila which borders Texas passed a similar bill 20 13 under the name Pacto Civil de Solidaridad Civil Pact of Solidarity 167 Unlike Mexico City s law once same sex couples have registered in Coahuila the state protects their rights no matter where they live in the country 167 Twenty days after the law had passed when the country s first same sex civil union took place in Saltillo Coahuila 168 Civil unions have been proposed in at least six states since 2006 169 In Colima governor Mario Anguiano Moreno has agreed to discuss the legalization of civil unions and adoption by same sex couples 170 when In Jalisco local congress approved on 31 October 2013 the Free Coexistence Act which allows the performance of civil unions in the state 171 New Zealand Edit Main article Civil union in New ZealandThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Countries performing civil unions in Oceania Gender neutral civil unions Civil unions never performed On 9 December 2004 the New Zealand Parliament passed the Civil Union Bill establishing civil unions for same sex and opposite sex couples The debate over Civil Unions was highly divisive in New Zealand inspiring great public emotion both for and against the passing A companion bill the Relationships Statutory References Bill was passed shortly thereafter to remove discriminatory provisions on the basis of relationship status from a range of statutes and regulations As a result of these bills all couples in New Zealand whether married in a civil union or in a de facto partnership now generally enjoy the same rights and undertake the same obligations These rights extend to immigration next of kin status social welfare matrimonial property and other areas The Civil Union Act 2004 came into effect on 26 April 2005 with the first unions able to occur from Friday 29 April 2005 South Africa Edit Main article Civil partnership in South Africa Countries performing civil unions in Africa Gender neutral civil unions Civil unions never performed In South Africa a civil union is either a marriage or a civil partnership although confusingly according to whom the term civil union is commonly used when civil partnership is meant Same sex and opposite sex couples may register their unions either as marriages or as civil partnerships In laws where marriage is mentioned its definition now retroactively includes civil partnerships This paragraph needs citation s United States Edit Main articles Same sex unions in the United States and Domestic partnership in the United StatesThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message States performing civil unions Civil union Civil union with limited rights Civil unions not performed Civil unions forbiddenThe first civil unions in the United States were offered by the state of Vermont in 2000 The federal government does not recognize these unions By the end of 2006 Connecticut and New Jersey had also enacted civil union laws New Hampshire followed in 2007 Furthermore California s domestic partnership law had been expanded to the point that it became practically a civil union law as well The same might be said by whom for domestic partnership in the District of Columbia domestic partnership in Washington and domestic partnership in Oregon Jurisdictions in the U S that offer civil unions or domestic partnerships granting nearly all of the state recognized rights of marriage to same sex couples include Domestic partnership in California 2000 expanded over time Domestic partnership in the District of Columbia 1992 law implemented 2002 became effective expanded over time Civil union in Hawaii 2012 Civil union in Illinois 2011 Domestic partnership in Nevada 2009 Civil union in New Jersey 2007 Domestic partnership in Oregon 2008 Civil union in Rhode Island 2011 Domestic partnership in Washington State 2007 expanded over time States in the U S with domestic partnerships or similar status granting some of the rights of marriage include Designated beneficiary agreement in Colorado 2009 Reciprocal beneficiary relationship in Hawaii 1997 Domestic partnership in Maine 2004 Since October 2014 all states that provide for civil unions domestic partnerships or similar arrangements between same sex partners also allow same sex partners to legally wed Arizona Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Arizona In 2013 Bisbee became the first city in Arizona to legalize civil unions for same sex couples 172 After its passage the state s Attorney General Tom Horne threatened to challenge the law in court arguing that it violated the state s constitution 173 However the Attorney General agreed to withdraw the challenge after Bisbee amended the law and the civil union ordinance was approved 174 Following Bisbee also in 2013 Tucson became the second municipality to legalize civil unions 175 Jerome followed in the same year 176 Also in 2013 Clarkdale and Cottonwood were the next cities in the Verde Valley to pass civil unions 177 178 A measure to allow civil unions failed in Camp Verde by a split 3 3 vote in the city council making it the only city in the Verde Valley to not have passed the bill 179 Sedona passed civil unions in September 2013 180 The city of Tempe considered legal advice about a civil union ordinance but it did not pass a bill 181 After the legalization of same sex marriage in Arizona civil unions may continue to be registered in the cities that had legalized the ordinances 182 California Edit Main article Domestic partnership in California In California where domestic partnership DP has been available to same sex and certain opposite sex couples since 2000 a wholesale revision of the law in 2005 made it substantially equivalent to marriage at the state level In 2007 the Legislature took a further step when it required same sex DP couples to file state income taxes jointly Couples must continue to file federal taxes as individuals In the May 2008 In re Marriage Cases decision the state supreme court noted nine differences between Domestic Partnerships and same sex marriage in state law including a cohabitation requirement for domestic partners access to CalPERS long term care insurance but not CalPERS in general and the lack of an equivalent to California s confidential marriage institution 7 The cohabitation requirement was dropped on January 1 2012 and a confidential option for domestic partners became available the same day Colorado Edit A bill to establish civil unions for same sex and opposite sex couples passed both chambers of the Colorado legislature and was signed into law by Governor John Hickenlooper Civil unions began on May 1 2013 Connecticut Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Connecticut In 2005 the Connecticut General Assembly passed a bill to adopt civil unions in Connecticut Connecticut s civil unions were identical to marriage and provided all of the same rights and responsibilities except for the title Connecticut was the first state in the U S to voluntarily pass a same sex civil unions law through the legislature without any immediate court intervention 183 The law was repealed on October 1 2010 and replaced with a law making marriage gender neutral Delaware Edit Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed a civil union bill on May 12 2011 that establishes civil unions in the state effective January 1 2012 184 The law was repealed on July 1 2014 and replaced with a law making marriage gender neutral District of Columbia Edit Main article Same sex marriage in the District of Columbia Same sex marriage in the District of Columbia was legalized on December 18 2009 Marriage licenses became available on March 3 2010 and marriages began on March 9 2010 Domestic Partnerships in the District of Columbia 1992 law implemented 2002 law came into effect expanded over time to 2009 Hawaii Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Hawaii Hawaii legalized civil unions for same sex and opposite sex couples on January 1 2012 Same sex marriage became legal on December 2 2013 Illinois Edit On December 1 2010 the Illinois state senate passed SB1716 the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act in a 32 24 1 vote just one day after the Illinois House of Representatives did the same in a 61 52 2 vote On January 31 2011 Illinois state Governor Pat Quinn signed SB1716 into law establishing civil unions for same sex and opposite sex couples The new law came into effect on June 1 2011 The provision allowing opposite sex couples to establish a civil union effectively doubles as a tool for widowed seniors to keep survivor s benefits from a marriage while gaining marital rights at the state level with another partner 185 Maine Edit Main article Domestic partnership in Maine Maine legalized domestic partnership for same sex and opposite sex couples in 2004 Maine s domestic partnership registry only provides limited rights most of which are geared toward colloquialism protecting couples security in emergency situations New Hampshire Edit Main article Same sex marriage in New Hampshire On April 26 2007 the New Hampshire General Court state legislature passed a civil union bill and Governor John Lynch signed the bill into law on May 31 2007 186 At the time New Hampshire was the first state to embrace same sex unions without a court order or the threat of one 187 The New Hampshire civil union legislation became effective on January 1 2008 188 The law was replaced by the same sex marriage law on January 1 2010 New Jersey Edit Main article Same sex marriage in New Jersey On October 25 2006 the Supreme Court of New Jersey gave New Jersey lawmakers 180 days to rewrite the state s marriage laws either including same sex couples or creating a new system of civil unions for them On December 14 the Legislature passed a bill establishing civil unions in New Jersey which was signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine on December 21 2006 The first civil unions took place on February 19 2007 189 There are differences between civil unions and domestic partnerships In 2004 the state of New Jersey enacted a domestic partnership law offering certain limited rights and benefits to same sex and different sex couples In 2006 however after a state Supreme Court ruling that same sex couples must be extended all the rights and benefits of marriage the Legislature passed a civil unions law effective in 2007 which is an attempt to satisfy the court s ruling Nevada Edit On May 31 2009 the Nevada legislature overrode Governor Jim Gibbons veto of a domestic partnership bill The bill allows registered domestic partners whether they are a same sex or opposite sex couple to have most of the state level rights and responsibilities afforded to married couples It does not require any other entity to provide rights or benefits afforded to married individuals This has left the partnership bill ineffective compared to those of other states The law took effect on 1 October 2009 Oregon Edit Main article Domestic partnership in Oregon Since 4 February 2008 Oregon offers domestic partnerships which grant nearly all of the state recognized rights of marriage to same sex couples Rhode Island Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Rhode Island Civil unions were permitted in Rhode Island since July 1 2011 until July 1 2013 Vermont Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Vermont The controversial citation needed civil unions law 190 that was passed in the Vermont General Assembly in 2000 was a response to the Vermont Supreme Court ruling in Baker v Vermont requiring that the state grant same sex couples the same rights and privileges accorded to married couples under the law A Vermont civil union is nearly identical to a legal marriage as far as the rights and responsibilities for which state law not federal law is responsible are concerned 190 It grants partners next of kin rights and other protections that heterosexual married couples also receive However despite the full faith and credit clause of the United States Constitution civil unions are generally not recognized outside Vermont in the absence of specific legislation Opponents of the law have supported the Defense of Marriage Act and the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment in order to prevent obligatory recognition of same sex couples in other jurisdictions This means that many of the advantages of marriage which fall in the federal jurisdiction over 1 100 federal laws such as joint federal income tax returns visas and work permits for the foreign partner of a U S citizen etc are not extended to the partners of a Vermont civil union Regarding voluntary recognition of the civil union in other jurisdictions New York City s Domestic Partnership Law passed in 2002 recognizes civil unions formalized in other jurisdictions Germany s international civil law EGBGB also accords to Vermont civil unions the same benefits and responsibilities that apply in Vermont as long as they do not exceed the standard accorded by German law to a German civil union The law was replaced by the same sex marriage law on September 1 2009 Washington Edit Main article Domestic partnership in Washington state Washington offers domestic partnerships which grant nearly all of the state recognized rights of marriage to same sex couples Washington is the first state to have passed a same sex civil union bill by a popular vote Washington legalized same sex marriage early in 2012 which provided that a couple in a civil union would have two years to convert their civil union to a marriage The law was upheld by popular referendum in November 2012 191 Uruguay Edit Main article Same sex marriage in Uruguay Civil unions in Uruguay were allowed nationwide from January 1 2008 National debates Edit China Hong Kong 192 Israel 193 Japan 194 Latvia 195 Lithuania 196 Panama 197 Peru 198 Philippines 199 Romania 200 Serbia 201 202 Slovakia 203 Thailand 204 Venezuela 205 International standards EditTo date only two countries Spain and Portugal have signed onto the Convention on the Recognition of Registered Partnerships a draft multilateral agreement on the status of civil unmarried partnerships The document is inclusive of rights for both same and opposite sex partnerships See also EditCivil marriage Cohabitation agreement Common law marriage Convention on the recognition of registered partnerships Domestic partnership Free union LGBT rights Marriage privatization Nyumba ntobhuReferences Edit NYC Protest and Civil Rights March Opposing Proposition 8 Andy Towle Towelroad com November 13 2008 accessed November 14 2008 Halloran Liz March 23 2013 How Vermont s Civil War Fueled The Gay Marriage Movement NPR org National Public Radio Retrieved July 6 2021 Governments Offering Benefits Partners Task Force for Gay amp Lesbian Couples 2007 06 29 Retrieved 2007 07 31 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