Recognition of same-sex relationships in the United States

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 32. Chapters: Domestic partnership in California, Same-sex unions in the United States, Hawaii House Bill 444, Recognition of same-sex unions in Maryland, Domestic partnership in the United States, Cities and counties in the United States offering a domestic partnership registry, Same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia, Domestic partnership in Washington, Recognition of same-sex unions in Hawaii, Domestic partnership in Oregon, Domestic partnership in Maine, Civil union in the United States, Recognition of same-sex unions in Colorado, Same-sex marriage in Vermont, Recognition of same-sex unions in Guam, Reciprocal beneficiary relationships in Hawaii, Recognition of same-sex unions in Indiana. Excerpt: A California domestic partnership is a legal relationship available to same-sex couples, and to certain opposite-sex couples in which at least one party is at least 62 years of age. It affords the couple most but not all of "the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law..." as married spouses. Enacted in 1999, the domestic partnership registry was the first of its kind in the United States created by a legislature without court intervention. Initially, domestic partnerships enjoyed very few privileges-principally just hospital-visitation rights and the right to be claimed as a next of kin of the estate of a deceased partner. The legislature has since expanded the scope of California domestic partnerships, though these still do not provide all of the rights and responsibilities common to marriage. As such, it is now difficult to distinguish California domestic partnerships from civil unions offered in a handful of other states. Although the program enjoys broad support in California, it has been the source of some controversy. Groups opposed to the recognition of same-sex families have challenged the expansion of domestic partnerships in court. Conversely, advocates of same-sex marriage contend that anything less than full marriage rights extended to same-sex partners is analogous to the "separate but equal" racial laws of the Jim Crow era. California has expanded the scope or modified some of the processes in domestic partnerships in every legislative session since the legislature first created the registry. Consult the California Secretary of State for the most current information. As of 2007, California affords domestic partnerships most of the same rights and responsibilities as marriages under state law (Cal. Fam. Code §297.5). Among these: While domestic partners receive most of the benefits of marriage, several differences remain. These differences include, in part: In addition