Talk:Civil union

Could someone who knows more about Danish law update the Denmark section to say whether or not it applies to French, German, and Canadian citizens, for example? Is it a requirement to be a CITIZEN of Denmark, or merely a RESIDENT? The current section looks somewhat out of date. --Bhuck 07:24, 8 Apr 2004 (UTC)

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I'm curious - are the registered partnerships exactly the same as marriage, or some kind of variation designed to bestow equivalent legal and economic benefits, or what? (Note: this question is without prejudice to the issue of should gays marry.) I'm interested in seeing some comparisons between marriage (in the traditional heterosexual sense) and any and all variants, such as Vermont's civil union law. --Ed Poor

In Quebec, they supposedly are, although I am not an expert; except that you must be 18 (not 16), there are special laws for filiation, and they can be dissolved by notary if both partners consent and there are no children. Information about this should go in the article. - user:Montrealais

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The exact text of the Vermont law reads, in relevant part: "Parties to a civil union shall have all the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under law, whether they derive from statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law or any other source of civil law, as are granted to spouses in a marriage." This includes laws about title, probate, adoption, insurance, civil causes of action, medical care, family leave, taxes, public benefits, and others. Further, if one of the parties to a civil union becomes a natural parent during the civil union, the parties share the same rights and responsibilities of married parents toward the child. Family court handles dissolutions in the same manner as divorce of married couples--the statement in the article to the contrary is mistaken, and I'll remove it. --LDC

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In Germany, registered partnerships still have less rights than marriages, as explained in the article. The leftist government couldn't pass full equality (which they want) without the opposition. AxelBoldt

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In France, the Civil Union, known as PACS (pacte civil de solidarité) is less than a marriage. For once, it's easier to break. It also gives some of the immediat benefits of marriage (fill common taxes, which saves money except perhaps in some very specific cases) only after 3 years. It's open to heterosexual and homosexual couples alike.

I don't feel enough pumped up to write a piece on it. David.Monniaux 22:55, 17 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Full Faith and Credence

The article states:

A Vermont civil union is nearly identical to a legal marriage. It carries the same rights and responsibilities, granting partners next-of-kin rights and other protections that heterosexual married couples take for granted. However, despite the "full faith and credit" clause of the United States Constitution, civil unions are generally not recognized outside of the state of Vermont in the absence of specific legislation. Opponents of the law have supported the Defense of Marriage Act and the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment in order to prevent obligatory recognition of same-sex couple in other jurisdictions.

The words despite the "full faith and credit" clause of the United States Constitution convey the sense that civil unions really ought to be recognized by other states: additional legislation should not be needed. This is a popular point of view, but it is POV -- not an obvious and undisputed fact -- and should this be attributed to an advocate.

Say rather that some advocates -- or, better, name some person or group -- ...assert the the Full Faith and Credence clause obliges all states to recognize civil unions of other states.

You see, there's a constitutional question involved, as well as two opposing public relations and legal strategies. One side says, make civil unions, and then a same-sex union or "marriage" in one state is valid nationwide. The other side says, let's pass a law that keeps our state from having to recognize those same-sex unions.

The Wikipedia shouldn't endorse the strategy or legal POV of either side, but just report on how well each side is doing; and explain each side's legal arguments. --Uncle Ed 15:39, 20 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Austria?

I'm not sure we've got Austria right here (I'm not sure Austria has civil unions). I can't find any information on civil unions in austria. Could someone check that Austria is listed correctly? Barnaby dawson 18:22, 24 Mar 2005 (UTC)

YES AUSTRIA RECOGNIZE COHABITATION BY SAME SEX. TTHI IS RESULT OF COURT DESISION IN 2003.IT EXTEND GAY RIGHTS FOR 45 BENEFITS. SINCE 1998 AUSTRIA RECOGNISED SOME RIGHT TO DECLINE DEPOSITIONS AGAINST PARTNER, AND COMMON APARTMENT with PARTNER. AFTER COURT DECISION THOSE RIGHTS ARE EXTEND FOR 45 MORE. MORE INFORMATIONS YOU CAN FIND IN "ILGA EUROPE" SIDE! THERE ARE LISTED ACTUAL INFORMATIONS ABOUT RECOGNITION OF SAME SEX COUPELS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

Actually, same-sex partners have almost no recognition in Austria. This is a mistake both in this article and in the map at Image:Samesex_Map_Europe.png; the issue could be considered "under consideration", since the Social Democrats introduced a bill to parliament this year which would legalize civil unions, but it will not pass since the ruling Christian Democrats don't want to - quote - "introduce a 2nd degree marriage". (POV) Bigots. (/POV) Anyway, point is: No civil unions in Austria. I'll remove them from the template, but someone else'll have to do the map, I haven't quite figured out how to do that yet. Nightstallion 11:55, 8 Jun 2005 (UTC)