What US states offer both domestic partnerships and same-sex marriage?

Answer 1

Civil Unions are available in 5 U.S. states: Delaware (beginning January 1, 2012), Hawaii (beginning January 1, 2012), Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

According to Equality Matters, Civil Unions in Hawaii, Illinois and New Jersey afford rights that are either equal or "near equal" to marriage on same-sex couples.

I believe the situation is the same in Delaware and Rhode Island, but have not been able to find confirmation.

AnswerAlmostor nearly is not equal. When we speak of rights we are speaking of legal rights. Two legal statuses are not equal if they are nearly the same. There are not different degrees of sameness. That is the overriding issue for activists in the United States that lobby for same sex marriage.

Legal rights associated with marriage are already well established under the law. Most civil union statutes and domestic partnership statutes enumerate the various rights that enure to those legal designations. Any state law that benefits parties who are legally married would not automatically transfer to the parties in civil same sex arrangements apart from marriage unless the law creating the status states that specifically the parties will enjoy all the benefits of marriage. In most cases civil unions and domestic partnerships (actually two names for the same concept) provide limited rights in the united States.

You can read more about both civil unions and domestic partnerships and their respective state laws at the related links.

Answer 2

Statewide Domestic Partner Registries are available in 4 states. Of those, three states provide domestic partners with rights that Equality Matters calls either equal or "near equal" to marriage and one state provides only partial rights.

1. California (equal or near equal to marriage)
2. Nevada (equal or near equal to marriage)
3. Oregon (equal or near equal to marriage)
4. Wisconsin (partial rights)

Answer

Almost or nearly is not equal. When we speak of rights we are speaking of legal rights. Two legal statuses are not equal if they are nearly the same. There are not different degrees of sameness. That is the overriding issue for activists in the United States that lobby for same sex marriage.

Legal rights associated with marriage are already well established under the law. Most civil union statutes and domestic partnership statutes enumerate the various rights that enure to those legal designations. Any state law that benefits parties who are legally married would not automatically transfer to the parties in civil same sex arrangements apart from marriage unless the law creating the status states that specifically the parties will enjoy all the benefits of marriage. In most cases civil unions and domestic partnerships (actually two names for the same concept) provide limited rights in the United States.

This area of law is evolving. It is important to check the laws in your state and consult with an attorney who specializes in this area of law to determine what your legal rights are and whether you need to take steps to expand them. See the entry on the discussion page for examples of states that do not grant legal rights that inure to marriage to domestic partnerships, provided to help settle the confusion that legal rights under every domestic partnerships are universally identical to marriage.

Some states that do provide civil unions with benefits equal to marriage are New Jersey, Illinois, Hawaii and delaware.

You can read more about both civil unions and domestic partnerships and their respective state laws at the related links.

Answer 3

1. Hawaii;
2. Illinois;
3. Rhode Island;
4. Delaware;
5. New Jersey;
6. Colorado (as of May 1, 2013)

Above are the states where you can obtain a civil union currently.

Below are states that will not give you a civil union, but will recognize it if you already have one:

1. New York;
2. Massachusetts;
3. Connecticut;
4. Vermont;
5. Maine;
6. Maryland;
7. Washington;
8. New Hampshire; and,
9. California.

Answer 4

No US state offers both domestic partnerships and same-sex marriage. However, the District of Columbia (Washington, DC), which is not a state, offers both domestic partnerships and same-sex marriages.