So, what exactly is a domestic partnership?
The term "domestic partnership" comes up in the news with some regularity, especially whenever the issue of homosexual marriage is brought up. So what exactly is a domestic partnership? The answer varies from state to state and country to country.
In its most general form, a domestic partnership is an alternative to traditional marriage. It differs from marriage and from civil unions. That is, to be in a domestic partnership, you do not need to sign a marriage contract or a civil ceremony.
Domestic partnerships are similar to marriages and civil unions in that they offer certain legal rights to the couple involved that they would not have as two separate people living together. Originally, in California, the term domestic partnership was used to describe a relationship that fits the criteria of marriage except involving same-sex couples.
The most common uses of domestic partnerships involve either same-sex couples or dealing with property as a single unit. Another important use is employment benefits for same-sex couples. Where married couples of heterosexual persuasion would share employment benefits, same-sex couples cannot. In some states, a domestic partnership is recognized as granting these benefits to the second party.
In some states, such as Washington, Oregon, Nevada and California, a domestic partnership has almost the same status and rights as a married couple. This is the same whether the two people in the partnership are of the same or differing sexes. While a domestic partnership is not identical to marriage, it offers many of the same rights to couples that would otherwise fall to families instead.
In other states, such as Maine and Wisconsin, domestic partnerships are somewhere between roommates and civil unions in terms of rights — notably less than marriage. Fortunately, as time passes, domestic partnerships are being recognized in more and more states. This makes them easier to obtain.
The exact definition of a domestic partnership, and the legal rights that it grants, are different in almost every state. To find out exactly what rights your state has, a visit to a county clerk's office may be in order.
How do you go about getting a domestic partnership officially recognized? Unfortunately, the steps to take to make a domestic partnership official are as varied as the rights granted by said partnership. First, you will have to check with a city or county clerk to see if your state even grants or recognizes domestic partnerships. If they do, then you can go ahead and ask that same clerk how to get one. In most cases, it will result in some paperwork and possibly a small ceremony. California, and some other states, requires that those in domestic partnerships sign in to a registry.
For states that do not recognize domestic partnerships, couples may consult an attorney and draw up a series of contracts to grant rights to each other simulating such a partnership, but the process is significantly more complicated. Moreover, without the legal backing of a domestic partnership, these contracts can be ignored.
Sachia
It seems to me that this website would have far more validity to the people who pull it up if you would update it. You say that there are eleven states, but you have not updated Minnesota.
It is appropriate, not to mention, necessary that you do so.
I’d love to know how many of the straight “human rights” posters here actually cared about gay marriage right 10 – 15 years ago… I’m willing to bet that everyone started having the same conjuncture at about the same time. Think about it and really consider how important any of that was to you 15 years ago. I’m willing to bet that you didn’t think about it then; you probably didn’t care back then. It seems to me that you can take jabs at religious groups who’ve always held their stance on this issue, but the second you first changed your FB profile pic, you thought you were some kind of infallible freedom fighter. The truth is the media gets us all on board around the same time for things. Don’t believe me? Do some research and look how “involved” television, movies, and music were in propagating philanthropist mores and trends. You sit in judgement of Christians for believing that homosexuality is sin because of what the bible says as you soak in your set of “values” from the boob tube & celebritards. What a joke! I really hope you at least do a little research on how a government can control it’s people with media influence instead of typing up another incredulous rebuttal about how individualistic and open minded you are because noone is buying it
Everyone keeps to the “well it’s natural and therefore should legal” argument. But what about psychopaths? Their natural inclinations include killing and hurting people…. It’s natural to them so then it must be alright to let them do it. How about kleptomaniacs? Stealing is something that’s a part of them and they can’t help it – ergo we should legalize theft so they can spread their wings and have rights.
The point is is that just because something seems natural to someone, it doesn’t mean it is benefitional or right. On the subject, there is nothing natural about two men having sex. That’s not homophobic, it’s science. The purpose of sex is to have children – it’s natural with a man and woman for that reason. Putting a penis into a hole designed for dumping out your body’s waste is NOT natural. Furthermore, if same sex couples were conducive with sexual dimorphism. If two men were natural physically meant to be together, they wouldn’t be equipped to procreate. If it were natural, gay men wouldn’t have semen and lesbians wouldn’t have eggs, since it would serve no purpose for them.
To those saying disrespectful things to or about people that have religious conviction and stick by it – YOU are a hypocrite. Preaching human right and acceptance while taking a dump on others’ rights to disagree with you. GET REAL! If you want resistance and people to oppose your views, keep being a jerk and you’ll get nothing but steadfast opposition, I promise you.
There is nothing wrong with gay marriage. Gays have the same rights as straight people. Honestly, gays are the most truthful people in this world. They know who they are, and there is no argument to it. If you don’t support gay marriage or you don’t like gays, congratulations nobody cares about you and your homophoic opinions. I love the fact gay people get to have the same rights as straight people. It shows that the president is doing something for a change. The world may be changing, but for some people it may be ending for yall. It changing the way people live. Don’t like, grow some balls and get over it.
I think its necessary to have a binding agreement to make a marriage true, having an implied marriage “Domestic Partnerships”, is not very honest. Whether Christian or not
I say to hell with ur gods screw ur stinkn, lying, fictional bible and to hell with those who think otherwise I say live and let live you only have one life and live it how you see fit as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone it’s all good..
marriage is marriage there’s no discrimination between homosexual and heterosexual couples. its all marriage. its not changing the meaning of marriage, its opening up your homophobic eyes and realizing that not everyone falls in love with the opposite gender. marriage is for two people who wish to be united for the rest of their lives by law and if they wish, under god. that is all. there is no reason it has to be one man and one woman. I’m 110% straight and i support marriage equality because no one should take away a homosexuals rights, because realistically, the gays are just asking for the same rights we already have. LEGALIZE LOVE!
be humble, ask God to forgive you daily, and honor God.
the lord also created us to live the life he has planned for us, and if god makes someone gay then they should live that way happily under god living out gods will just like you do. you’re not god so who are you to judge? no one.
I believe whole heartedly that they should be able to marry. If the christian bible says that gays cant marry, that shouldnt play any role in the court desicion.Anyway, if christians arent allowed to be gay then gays wouldnt fall under the churchs’ juristiction and their would be no issue.
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
When you were in your early 20s you could get by on 6 hours of sleep…. Now you need 8 hours of sleep and how much time has passed?
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
LMAO aathe biggest problem is the fact that there is too much goverment. What ever two adult do behind closed doors should be there business. Let two ADULT get married. As far as moral breakdown. Look back at history. It was always the rich allowed to do what they want with who or whatever they wanted. No I am not gay but I think it should be up to us to decide what is best for me. not goverment nor every one who think I should live my live the way they think is best for every one.
The legal issues surrounding same-sex marriage in the United States are complicated by the nation’s federal system of government. Marriage is between One man and One woman. The law should have other means to support gays. I feel that changing the meaning of marriage is wrong. The American familes are in trouble already, so to change the meaning of marriage will cause more damage. Changing the law of marriage everywhere would be looked at as a joke.Thanks for this post.
The Old Testament’s prohibition on homosexual activity was not the cruel imposition of a dictator, but the wise provision of a loving God who desired to see His chosen people grow in love. Perhaps (though there is no explicit evidence for this in the text) at some point the intensity of David and Jonathan’s affection for each other might have spilled over into sexual temptations. If so, the “delight in the law of the Lord” which moved David to song protected them from sin and kept their souls knit together in a pure and spiritual love.
In the same way, by declaring the “truth of God” that homosexual acts are sinful, the New Testament helps those of us who struggle with same-sex attractions to discover what it means to “worship the Father in spirit and in truth.”
But because love is the heart of the Gospel, Satan always tries to fool us with counterfeits of true love. Against these counterfeits, the Apostles and Prophets warn us again and again. God is love, and so nothing that is against His will can be love. He only approves of certain kinds of love, but punishes His people for loving idols, foreign women in the case of Israel, foreign deities, multiple wives, money, sexual love between close relations (incest), etc.
We do not always understand these prohibitions; God’s reasons for forbidding gay relationships may seem like dim shadow in a mirror to us when we first confront them. But it is love, not understanding, which God most desires from us. To place our hopes in Him even when we do not understand His ways is a mark of great faith, and even greater love.
It is not an easy path, and just as the Apostle Paul expressed the struggle between flesh and spirit, all of us will face struggles. But when we struggle, or when we fail, we should not lose hope. Rather, we should remember that Jesus said even of the soldiers who killed Him, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). And even when we fall again and again to the same familiar sins, we should remember that Christ told Peter to forgive others not seven times, but seventy times seven times (cf. Matthew 18:22). If God commands such mercy from us, how much more will He, who is Mercy Himself, show mercy to us in our weakness?
It also brought alive an important theme from the Psalms, the great prayerbook of the People of God: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalms 1:1-3). For those who follow the Law with all their heart, it becomes a source of life, strength, and peace of spirit.
In the bible it states that no man shall lay with with another man while with woman…….
The bible says to pluck your right eye out too….so what are you waiting for….
Shame on you for saying that.
“1,500 diffrent species of animals have homosexual relationships,” to the person who quoted this above, there is one word that makes us different, “animals.” Marriage, under God, is a sacrament, therefore, Holy Matrimony. Okay, God is Holy. What does Holy mean, one can say, pure or clean without sin. Man was made in the image of God, our job is to be pure or clean without sin, in the likeness of our God Almighty, so that we may honor him by being so. Holy Matrimony is for one man and one woman, for the sake of the children that they bear. I am all for homosexuals having civil unions and having civil rights, but not to bring the term “Holy Matrimony,” to this civil union. Do not DARE call your same sex union, Holy, it is not, and you will bring the Wrath of God upon the innocent. Be happy with the civil unions with civil rights, and do not take the title of “Holy Matrimony,” remember, is a sacrament, as written in the Bible, “1 Peter 2:4-5.”
You spoke well but as you say we need to know what the creator says about what we do. Another good reference is:
Leviticus 20:13
King James Version (KJV)
13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
As Sarah said, we are born sinners, we can’t ever achieve purity. And I thought He loved us no matter what we did..? I grew up hearing that God loves his children, and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us less. He punishes us, sure. But He does not disown one of his children merely because of their sexual tendencies.
I believe that if you believe in God, and are truly a good person, no matter what you do, you cannot be denied passage into heaven, or our Father’s love.
Here is a reference for you :
Second Samuel, 1:26 David to Jonathan
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
Biblical scholars have argued both for and against an intimate relationship between them. It just shows that you can take anything in the bible out of context and make it say whatever you want. Religion has no business dictating LEGAL issues in the United States.
You’re saying “religion” as if churches of religious sects are calling the White House and demanding the government put a stop to all these gay marriage. People – who happen to be Christians – are opposing gay marriage; they are also citizens of this country and have every right to disagree with it.
I thought we are born sinners and Jesus died for our sins…we can’t be pure.
Sarah!
No human being can make himself/herself pure. No human being is righteous. We are all sinners in the eyes of God! the Only ONE that can make us righteous is JESUS CHRIST! through His blood shed on the cross… He offered forgiveness of sins to those who believe in Him. John 3: 16 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
My question – how’s your faith in the Lord? Are you following His ways, statutes according to what the Bible says?
people say a marriage is consisted of a man and woman, they get this from the origination on the bible. Bible thumpers bash gay people when them themselves have probably had premarital sex, they cuss, they judge their neighbors, and most are major hypocrites! I went to church everg Sunday and Wednesday for 18 years, being gay is not a choice! Trust me why would anybody want to make their life harder and not get the same rights? I believe the bible also says God looks at all sins the same. That is what is wrong with the world today, it is 2013 and their is still prejudice and homophobia. It is a right to have one beliefs, but people need to open their mind, Im from a small southern town and if i can be open minded, anybody should be able to!!! The person who commented about incest and things of that nature you are ignorent!!! In no way is that kind of love right, but when two unrelated people fall in love doesnt matter the sex it should be fine.
Sin is not a choice and like any other milestone in our lives, we need to abstain from it. There are lots of things we want to do and we can’t just accept them all. Like I said, people are born with disorders where stealing and murder are guiltless acts, but that doesn’t mean they are right.
Furthermore, having gay feelings does not make you gay nor does it mean you’ve sinned. Acting on those feeling is what is sin. There’s nothing wrong with having self control so I don’t get why everything that someone feels I’d immediately considered innocuous in America
i believe to each its own!Me and wife been together for 8 years and we are very much in love and happy so for those whom are against it maybe its because your marriage its on the brinks of divorce if so maybe you should try a different route L.O.L!!!!
i say to each its own! we have the freedom to fall in love with whom ever we want i have been with my wife for 8 years and we are very much in love and we will get married we believe love conquers all!! so regardless of what anyone says love is love i believe a women knows what a womens needs and wants are and understands and listens to each other before a man can actually grasp any of it!!!!! also the american families are in troubled not because of gay marriages its because of unhappiness and unfaithfulness in there marriages so dont put the blame on gay marriages!!!
My wife and I have been together for over 8 years, we do not drink, smoke, do drugs or sleep around..second marriage (it’s a state of mind, we do not need a piece of paper saying we are married..) for us both, her first love died from leukemia, my first love was killed in
an accident..we met fell in love at first sight..committed and have been together ever since..in the meantime my sister has been married 4 times..drugs and cheating and abuse ended all 4 marriages..my estranged brother has been married 5 times same issues ended his marriages..her brothers are on 3rd and 4th marriages..cheating was their issues..so do not tell me straight marriages are more moral..that’s a load of pig s**t…who I love
is my business life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not life, liberty and the pursuit of straight happiness..so please let me put it as nicely as I can…MYODB!
I am against the gay marriage, it will change the law of nature and do also change the meaning of marriage.
1. Go back to school and learn proper English.
2. “It will change the law of nature.” You’ve got to be shitting me….are pigs going to fly? Dogs will be born with 5 heads? The roots of trees will grow above ground and the leaves underground? No. It’s two people who love each other having that love recognized by the government. Therefore earning tax benefits, Social Security benefits, military benefits, and being able to see one another if one is hospitalized. What if your significant other is lying in a hospital bed, asking to see you, health is deteriorating, and nurses won’t let you see them because you’re not family. Yeah..that’s what they have to go through because of assholes like you.
3. The meaning of marriage? As if it’s sacred or something? My grandpa is getting married for the SIXTH time this weekend. Not one of his marriages ended because death tore them apart like marriages are supposed to end.
Okay, I’m going to disregard what you just said to that woman about her english. Your grandpa has gotten married 6 times? Congrats! Under the Lord’s eyes, who says that is ok because it’s not. That’s the problem nowadays. We compare each others sins to our own. If everyone committed suicide, would it make it less of a sin because everyone is doing it? No. It becomes a greater issue. God looks at all sins the same. Just because you know of people who do it doesn’t make it OK. Marriage originated from the bible, if you did not realize, marriage IS sacred. Your lack of knowledge is quite revolting. I respect your decision, but atleast have some clue of what you’re saying.
Well, Jenna, straight people are overpopulating the earth with humans who have no regard for overuse of resources, pollution, displacement of endangered species, etc……I’m all for gays adopting the ever increasing abundance of human beings…I think gay people are in communion with “the laws of nature” by adopting the unwanted children of the “straight population” who have a reckless disregard for the earth by popping out a continuous stream of offspring.
Changing the law of marriage everywhere would NOT be looked at as a joke. Marriage is the celebration of love between two people promising themselves to each other. Weather you like it or not everyone should have the right to marry who the want freely. If the “meaning of marriage” is only meant for a man to be married to a woman screw marriage love is love legal or not.
So two in love makes it Okay? How about Daddy-daughter marriages? Mom-son? Mom-daughter? Dad-son? Pedophile-child? Zoophilic-camel? Necrophiliac-corpse? Polygamist-1,2,3, wives (or husbands)? Or the Brit who petitioned to marry his car? Where do we draw the line?
This is no different than the moral decay caused by abortion. It has gone from early termination to Gosnell to over 53,000,000 dead. Now we have life curves and soon there will be cost-to-benefit death panels. When a nation arrives at complete moral decay it soon collapses taking us all down.
you are an idiot!!! How do any of those come close to gay marriage. Usually the people the people that are so
much against same sex marriage, are in the closet homsexuals..if you were confident in your sexuality then why would you care what other people did! Grow up
I think there is no need to be disrespectful. Everyone have the right to express their opinions and we have to accept and respect the same way we accept and respect gay people.
Abortion doesn’t kill “babies” or even “people”. It severs a tiny microscopic cell that doesn’t even feel pain. Advocates of gay marriage don’t support pedophile relationships, or necrophiliac relationships, or interspecies relationships. You’re using the stupid “slippery slope” argument which has no basis in reality; just because two consenting adults are marrying doesn’t mean a bunch of people will marry dead bodies, animals, and inanimate objects; it doesn’t even mean that a dusty old pervert will marry a 10-year-old. You’re using the same old argument everybody uses, and it doesn’t work. Abortion and gay marriage don’t decay the moral fiber of humanity’s existence. Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Israel, Mexico, and Uruguay all have same-sex marriage and abortion, and people aren’t murdering each other and eating people’s faces off in the streets
Wow, sorry you are so paranoid….and remember perversion is in the mind of the beholder
Just moving to san diego and I am trying to get read everythign I can on what is going on their . Thanks for your post
I hate to tell you but marriage is already a joke! Just look at Kim kardashian or Britney spears. Or any man and woman drunk in Vegas! So I hate to tell you but my girlfriend and I have been together for going on 6 years (which is longer than some people are married) and if I was allowed to marry her I wouldn’t try to get it annulled the morning I sobered up or only 72 days after saying I promise forever. To me marriage is very serious and I think its absurd for you or anyone else to be able to take my right away to marry the person I love just because you don’t want to accept something different than YOU believe! The love I share with her is just as real as love shared between man and woman.
amen
Well said Kate. I believe that everyone should have the right to love and happiness. I am straight, but did my part to help get same-sex marriage legalized here in Washington, and I used the same argument you just made. Marriage could not possibly be ruined by same-sex marriages more than it is ruined by those who take it lightly and treat it as a joke. I know so many people under 25 who are divorced that it is sickening. And for those who say that same-sex marriage will lead to incest, pedophilia, etc., you are still forgetting that homosexuals are no different from heterosexuals except in their choice of partners. It is still illegal for ANYONE to marry a child. A homosexual cannot marry her sister, just like a heterosexual cannot marry her brother. Incest is still illegal for EVERYONE. People need to stop having the mindset that heterosexuals and homosexuals are so different. Biologically and genetically, humans are one of the most similar species in existence, so why do people seem to think we are so different? We will probably never have peace on Earth, but learning to see one-another as equals is a good place to start.
Marriage is between One man and One woman. The law should have other means to support gays. I feel that changing the meaning of marriage is wrong. The American familes are in trouble already, so to change the meaning of marriage will cause more damage. I believe it will cause the act of marriage to be looked at as a joke.
Exactly. It should not be called marriage, but have MOST of the same rights as a married couple.