Civil Marriage and Other Unions of Same-sex Couples
Main article: Same-sex marriage See also: Civil union and Domestic partnershipAs of June 15th, 2012, there were 11 countries that permitted same-sex marriages (Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and six states of the United States (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont). Maryland in the United States and Israel recognize same-sex marriages but do not allow such marriages to be performed within their borders.
In 29 countries worldwide and 12 states within the U.S., a same-sex couple can be legally partnered in a civil union or registered partnership. Couples in these partnerships are afforded rights and obligations similar to, but not identical to, those of a married couple.
Read more about this topic: Civil Marriage, Civil Marriage in The World Currently
Famous quotes containing the words civil, marriage, unions and/or couples:
“... as a result of generations of betrayal, it’s nearly impossible for Southern Negroes to trust a Southern white. No matter what he does or what he suffers, a white liberal is never established beyond suspicion in the hearts of the minority.”
—Sarah Patton Boyle, U.S. civil rights activist and author. The Desegregated Heart, part 2, ch. 10 (1962)
“Honor, riches, marriage blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“When Hitler attacked the Jews ... I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then, Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church—and there was nobody left to be concerned.”
—Martin Niemller (1892–1984)
“A whole village-full of sensuous emotion, scattered abroad all the year long, surged here in a focus for an hour. The forty hearts of those waving couples were beating as they had not done since, twelve months before, they had come together in similar jollity. For the time Paganism was revived in their hearts, the pride of life was all in all, and they adored none other than themselves.”
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)