A patchwork of partner rights.A few states have made moves in recent months and years to grant varying degrees of equality equality Generally, an ideal of uniformity in treatment or status by those in a position to affect either. Acknowledgment of the right to equality often must be coerced from the advantaged by the disadvantaged. Equality of opportunity was the founding creed of U.S. to same-sex couples A same-sex couple is a pair of people of the same gender who pursue a romantic or sexual relationship together. The term "same-sex relationship" may be used when the sexual orientation of participants in a same-sex relationship is not known. and their families. Here's when some of them stand on key issues, as of May 2005:
VT CA CT ME
domestic [check] [check]
partnerships
civil unions [check] [check] (6)
visitation with no (3) no (3) [check] [check]
children having no
legal guardianship
recognition
of marriages
performed elsewhere
medical decision [check] [check] [check]
making
automatic [check] [check] [check] (6) [check]
inheritance
second-parent [check] [check] [check] unclear
adoption
joint state [check]
taxes
wrongful death [check] [check] [check] (6)
suits
family leave [check] [check] [check] (6)
for partner
joint federal
taxes
Social Security
partner benefits
OR WA NJ
domestic [check]
partnerships
civil unions
visitation with unclear [check] [check]
children having no
legal guardianship
recognition
of marriages
performed elsewhere
medical decision [check]
making
automatic no (4) no (2)
inheritance
second-parent [check] (1) [check] (1) [check]
adoption
joint state
taxes
wrongful death [check]
suits
family leave [check]
for partner
joint federal
taxes
Social Security
partner benefits
NY HI MD
domestic [check] no (5)
partnerships
civil unions
visitation with unclear [check]
children having no
legal guardianship
recognition [check]
of marriages
performed elsewhere
medical decision [check] [check]
making
automatic [check]
inheritance
second-parent [check] [check] (1) [check] (1)
adoption
joint state
taxes
wrongful death [check]
suits
family leave
for partner
joint federal
taxes
Social Security
partner benefits
1 Second-parent adoptions have been granted in some jurisdictions.
2 Inheritance is not automatic, but partners will not pay inheritance
taxes if they have an inheritance.
3 Both partners have equal visitation rights to any children born
during a civil union in Vermont or a registered domestic partnership
in California. The issue of visitation is currently pending before the
California supreme court.
4 While inheritance is not automatic for gay couples, in a 2004 case
the courts in Oregon recognized a gay man's right to his partner's
estate without a will.
5 Lawmakers passed a domestic-partner registry for medical decision
making that was vetoed by the governor in May.
6 The civil union law in Connecticut becomes effective on October 1.
Sources: Carrie Evans state legislative director, Human Rights
Campaign: Lambda Legal
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