Changes

Civil marriage is a legal [[contract]].  In the state constitutions of almost all states, this contract must be between one man and one woman.  It gives each member certain rights and obligations.  Most commonly, these include power of attorney, [[inheritance]] rights, sharing finances, and rights in relation to any children they may have. With the advent of no-fault divorce, most of these rights and obligations can be terminated by either party at any time for any reason.

Civil marriage is a legal [[contract]].  In the state constitutions of almost all states, this contract must be between one man and one woman.  It gives each member certain rights and obligations.  Most commonly, these include power of attorney, [[inheritance]] rights, sharing finances, and rights in relation to any children they may have. With the advent of no-fault divorce, most of these rights and obligations can be terminated by either party at any time for any reason.

Although not going as far as Holland and Belgium in making same-sex marriage legal, the Scandinavian nations and the [[United Kingdom]] allow same-sex couples to gain benefits by registering a legal commitment, although they acquire fewer advantages than opposite-gender couples receive automatically upon marriage. [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Andorra]], [[New Zealand]]and several parts of [[Australia]]. Different names are given to civil unions in different legal jurisdictions. This include civil pacts, civil partnerships, life partnerships, registered partnerships, domestic partnerships, significant relationships, reciprocal beneficiary relationships, and stable unions.  

Although not going as far as Holland and Belgium in making same-sex marriage legal, the Scandinavian nations and the [[United Kingdom]] allow same-sex couples to gain benefits by registering a legal commitment, although they acquire fewer advantages than opposite-gender couples receive automatically upon marriage. [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Andorra]], [[New Zealand]] and several parts of [[Australia]] have different forms of civil union. Different names are given to civil unions in different legal jurisdictions. This include civil pacts, civil partnerships, life partnerships, registered partnerships, domestic partnerships, significant relationships, reciprocal beneficiary relationships, and stable unions.  

In the U.S. there are over a thousand federal benefits to marriage but none to same-sex civil partnerships. Couples registering same-sex relationships receive some state benefits in [[California]], [[Connecticut]], [[Massachusetts]], [[New Jersey]] and [[Vermont]]. Rights accruing from same-sex marriages contracted in other states are respected in [[Rhode Island]], and some restricted benefits are available to same-sex partners in [[Hawaii]] and [[Maine]].<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm]</ref>

In the U.S. there are over a thousand federal benefits to marriage but none to same-sex civil partnerships. Couples registering same-sex relationships receive some state benefits in [[California]], [[Connecticut]], [[Massachusetts]], [[New Jersey]] and [[Vermont]]. Rights accruing from same-sex marriages contracted in other states are respected in [[Rhode Island]], and some restricted benefits are available to same-sex partners in [[Hawaii]] and [[Maine]].<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm]</ref>