South Carolina Amendment 1 (2006)

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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)

Austria1 (2003) | Luxembourg (2004)

New Zealand (2005) | United Kingdom (2005)

Andorra (2005) | Czech Republic (2006)

Slovenia (2006) | Switzerland (2007)

Colombia (2007)

Was recognized before legalization of same-sex marriage in:

Netherlands (nationwide) (1998)

Spain (12 of 17 communities) (1998)

South Africa2 (1999)

Belgium (nationwide) (2000)

Canada (QC, NS and MB)3 (2001)

Recognized in some regions in:

United States (6 states+DC) (1997) : CA, CT, HI, ME, NJ, VT

Argentina (Buenos Aires, Rio Negro) (2003)

Australia (Tasmania) (2004)

Italy (Some municipallies) (2004)

Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) (2004)

Mexico (Mexico City and Coahuila) (2007)

Recognition debated in:

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Brazil

Chile

Costa Rica

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Liechtenstein

Mexico

Poland

Taiwan

United States

Uruguay

Notes:

1 - In form of unregistered cohabitation.

2 - Explicitly referred to as the "civil unions Act" in South Africa.

3 - Explicitly referred to as "civil unions" in Quebec (2002), and called "domestic partnership" in Nova Scotia (2001). In Manitoba (2002) and marriage extended to same-sex partners nationwide (2005).

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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South Carolina Amendment 1 of 2006 is a so-called "defense of marriage amendment" that amended the South Carolina Constitution to make it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perfom same-sex marriages or civil unions. The referendum was approved by 78% of voters.^[1] Unlike the other sixteen such state amendments, South Carolina's explicitly disavows any effort to prevent private contracts between same-sex partners from being recognized,^[2] Virginia being the only state to do so.^[3][4]

The text of South Carolina Amendment 1 states:

A marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This State and its political subdivisions shall not create a legal status, right, or claim respecting any other domestic union, however denominated. This State and its political subdivisions shall not recognize or give effect to a legal status, right, or claim created by another jurisdiction respecting any other domestic union, however denominated. Nothing in this section shall impair any right or benefit extended by the State or its political subdivisions other than a right or benefit arising from a domestic union that is not valid or recognized in this State. This section shall not prohibit or limit parties, other than the State or its political subdivisions, from entering into contracts or other legal instruments.^[2]

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