Not exactly sure myself, darth, but, as befits our federalist system, it is left up to the states whether or not to have civil unions. Vermont was the first state to enact civil unions, during the early '90s, and many other states thereafter followed suit. A civil union for homosexuals would entail all the benefits you'd expect from a hetero marriage -- only it's simply not called "marriage." And then there's some states, like my home state of Massachusetts, which have gone all the way and legalized gay marriage. Gay marriages are officially recognized by the state of Massachusetts but are not in other states, even those with civil union statutes.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-08-05 09:08 pm (UTC)