civil union
Rhode Island Governor Signs Civil Union Law
Fri, 2011-07-01 23:00 — AnonymousPROVIDENCE—In a small ceremony in his office Saturday morning, Governor Chafee signed into law legislation legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples. Read more »
New Jersey Marriage Equality Suit Filed
Wed, 2011-06-29 09:22 — AnonymousTRENTON—Seven gay and lesbian New Jersey couples, along with many of their children, are going to court to try to force the state to recognize gay marriage. Read more »
Rhode Island Senate Passes Civil Union Bill
Tue, 2011-06-28 23:00 — AnonymousPROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Rhode Island Senate voted 21 to 16 Wednesday to pass a bill that legalizes civil unions, adding Rhode Island to a short but growing list of states that provide marriage-like rights to same-sex couples. Read more »
Illinois Starts Granting Civil Unions
Thu, 2011-06-02 00:00 — AnonymousSPRINGFIELD—Add the Land of Lincoln to the list of states providing civil unions. Illinois' new civil union law went into effect on June 1, allowing both same-gender and opposite-gender couples to form a civil union, providing them with rights, benefits and obligations similar to those granted to married couples under Illinois law. Read more »
Delaware Approves Civil Union Bill
Thu, 2011-04-14 23:00 — AnonymousDOVER—Delaware's House of Representatives voted 26-15 Thursday night to grant legal status to same-sex civil unions, giving those couples the same rights, protections and obligations now granted only to married couples.
The vote followed three hours of debate that covered a wide range of concerns – some fiscal, some related to family relations, some related to equal access to civil unions for opposite-sex couples. Read more »
Senators Introduce "Respect for Marriage Act" to Repeal DOMA
Wed, 2011-03-16 23:00 — AnonymousCalifornia Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation today to repeal a law that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples. Read more »
MD Marriage Equality Bill Withdrawn
Sat, 2011-03-12 00:00 — AnonymousANNAPOLIS— The speaker of Maryland’s House vowed that Democrats would try again next year to pass legislation legalizing gay marriage, but the intense lobbying by faith groups against the measure in recent weeks shows that it won’t be easy, even in a state known for its liberal politics.
A loose coalition of Democratic legislators failed to cobble together enough votes to overcome opposition from Republicans and religious groups, including the Catholic church and many black congregations, to make Maryland the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. Read more »
Hawaii Governor Signs Civil Union Law
Thu, 2011-02-24 00:00 — AnonymousHONOLULU—Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercombie has signed a bill legalizing civil unions among same-sex couples beginning next year.
The legislation was signed into law a week after the state Senate approved final changes to it for the last time. Senators last month passed the bill by a 19-6 vote, which was followed by a 31-19 vote in the state House. Read more »
Hawaii Passes Civil Union Bill
Wed, 2011-02-16 00:00 — AnonymousHONOLULU—The Hawaii Senate took its final step in clearing the way to grant same-sex couples virtually the same rights and privileges of traditional marriage, giving approval today to a bill legalizing civil unions.
Senate Bill 232 was approved by a 18-5 vote.
It now goes to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who supports civil unions and has promised to sign the bill into law. Read more »
Illinois Governor Signs Civil Union Law
Tue, 2011-02-01 00:00 — AnonymousSPRINGFIELD—Gov. Pat Quinn this afternoon signed into law a measure legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples for the first time in Illinois. Read more »
