Formalized Same-Sex Relationships From a Global Perspective

Dorothy Kliks Fones Professor of Law Leslie J. Harris of the University of Oregon School of Law has recently published her article entitled Same-Sex Unions Around the World: Marriage, Civil Unions, Registered Partnerships–WhatAre the Differences and Why Do They Matter?, Prob. & Prop., Sept./Oct. 2005, at 31.

Prof. Harris discusses the ability of single sex couples tomarry in Massachusetts and to have quasi-marriage relationships in Vermont,Hawaii, California, New Jersey, and Connecticut as well as in a variety offoreign jurisdictions.  She explains how the enabling legislation variesin three important aspects:

the extent to which it gives the partners familial rights intheir dealing with third parties, the extent to which it gives the partnersrights and duties between each other, and the extent to which the legislativescheme is available to opposite-sex and well as same-sex couples.