Civil unions in Connecticut

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Same-sex civil unions

Recognized nationwide in:

Denmark (1989) | Norway (1993)

Israel1 (1994) | Sweden (1995)

Greenland (1996) | Hungary1 (1996)

Iceland (1996) | France (1999)

Germany (2001) | Portugal (2001)

Finland (2002) | Croatia1 (2003)

Luxembourg (2004) | New Zealand (2005)

United Kingdom (2005) | Andorra (2005)

Czech Republic1 (2006) | Slovenia (2006)

Switzerland (starting 2007)

Was recognized before legalization of same-sex marriage in:

Netherlands (nationwide) (1998)

Spain (12 of 14 communities) (1998)

South Africa (1999)

Belgium (nationwide) (2000)

Canada (QC, NS and MB)2 (2000)

Recognized in some regions in:

United States (6 states) (1997)

Argentina (Buenos Aires, Rio Negro) (2003)

Australia (Tasmania, ACT) (2004)

Italy (Some municipallies) (2004)

Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) (2004)

Mexico (Mexico City) (2006)

Recognition debated in:

Australia

Austria

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Liechtenstein

Mexico (Coahuila)

Mexico (Colima)

Poland

United States

Uruguay

Notes:

1 - In form of common-law marriage.

2 - Explicitly referred to as "civil unions" in Quebec (2002), and called "domestic partnership" in Nova Scotia (2001). In Manitoba (2002), common-law marriage extended to same-sex partners nationwide (2000).

See also

Same-sex marriage

Registered partnership

Domestic partnership

Common-law marriage

Marriage, unions and partnerships by country

Homosexuality laws of the world

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The Connecticut General Assembly passed a bill to adopt civil unions in Connecticut, ensuring that same-sex couples get the same civil rights as heterosexual couples. It was signed into law by the Governor on April 20, 2005. (Civil unions provide same sex couples with many of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, including a voice in medical-care issues and legal standing to inherit money and property.). Connecticut became the fifth state in the United States (following Vermont, Maine, California, and New Jersey) to adopt civil unions or domestic partnership, and the first to do so without judicial intervention.

A bill was passed by the Connecticut Senate on April 6, 2005 in a 27-9 vote. Six of the Senate's 12 Republicans and 21 of the 24 Democrats voted for the bill. Six Republicans and three Democrats voted against it.

The approval of the Senate came after the bill cleared the powerful Judiciary Committee in a 25-13 vote, and after Governor Jodi Rell (a moderate Republican) gave her support for the measure. A Quinnipiac University poll released the day after the Senate approved civil unions showed that 56 percent of registered voters in support. The bill was later passed by the Connecticut House of Representatives.

The 2000 U.S. Census found 7,400 same-sex couples living in Connecticut.

[edit] External links

• Photos of Connecticut's First Civil Unions

[edit] See also

• Same-sex marriage in the United States
• Same-sex marriage legislation in the United States
• Same-sex marriage in the United States by state
• Same-sex marriage in the United States public opinion
• Same-sex marriage status in the United States by state
• List of benefits of marriage in the United States
• Defense of Marriage Act
• Marriage Protection Act
• Defense of marriage amendment
• Federal Marriage Amendment
• Domestic partnerships in the United States
• Marriage Under Fire
• Freedom to Marry Coalition
• History of civil marriage in the U.S.

Same-sex marriage in the United States

Legalized: Massachusetts Law proposed: Maine - New Jersey - New York - Rhode Island Domestic partnerships permitted: California - Connecticut - District of Columbia - Hawaii - New Jersey - Maine - Vermont Prohibited by constitutional amendment: Alabama - Alaska - Arkansas - Colorado - Georgia - Hawaii - Idaho - Kansas - Kentucky - Louisiana - Michigan - Mississippi - Missouri - Montana - Nebraska - Nevada - North Dakota - Ohio - Oklahoma - Oregon - South Carolina - South Dakota - Tennessee - Texas - Utah - Virginia - Wisconsin Prohibited by statute: Arizona - Connecticut - Delaware - Florida - Illinois - Indiana - Iowa - Maryland - Minnesota - New Hampshire - New York - North Carolina - Pennsylvania - Puerto Rico - Washington - West Virginia - Wyoming Marriage undefined: New Mexico - Rhode Island