Same Sex Couples

Menstuff® has compiled the following information on Same Sex Couples. This is an outline of information that can be found at the web site noted at the end.

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Same-Sex Couples
Jimmy Kimmel Asks Kids to Explain Same-Sex Marriage
N.J. High Court Rules for Same-Sex Couples
Oregon Leads the Fight Against Gays
Same Sex Marriage

Same-Sex Couples

Domestic Partnerships

Domestic Partnership Basics
Domestic Partnership Benefits for Employees

Same-Sex Parenting and Adoption:

Parental Rights for Same-Sex Partners
Same-Sex Parenting: When Adoption Isn't Possible
Who is a Legal Parent? (Rights as a Gay or Lesbian Parent)
Parenting Issues for Unmarried Couples FAQ

Same-Sex Marriage:

Same-Sex Marriage: Developments in the Law
If Same-Sex Marriage Were Legal

Same-Sex Couples: Property and Expenses:

Unmarried Couples and Property Basics
Property Rights of Unmarried Couples FAQ
Top 10 Reasons for Unmarried Partners to Own Property as Joint Tenants
Agreements to Share Expenses or Property

Living Together Agreements and Contracts:

Living Together Contracts: Basics
Sample Living Together Agreement
A Promise of "I'll Take Care of You"

Same-Sex Couples: More Topics

Claiming Your Partner as a Dependent on a Tax Return
Making Medical and Financial Decisions for Your Partner
Economimc Benefits of Marriage for Straight People

Source: family.findlaw.com/marriage/same-sex/

N.J. High Court Rules for Same-Sex Couples

But Judges Say Lawmakers Must Decide on Gay Marriage

New Jersey's Supreme Court opened the door to gay marriageruling that homosexuals are entitled to the same rights as heterosexuals, but leaving it to lawmakers to legalize same-sex unions.

The high court gave lawmakers 180 days to rewrite marriage laws to either include same-sex couples or create a new system of civil unions for them.

The ruling is similar to the 1999 decision in Vermont that led to civil unions there, which offer the benefits of marriage, but not the name.

"Although we cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage exists in this state, the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state Constitution," Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for the 4-3 majority's decision.

Outside the Supreme Court, news of the ruling caused confusion, with many of the roughly 100 gay marriage supporters outside asking each other what it meant. Many started to agree that they needed to push for a state constitutional amendment to institute gay marriage .

Garden State Equality, New Jersey's main gay and lesbian political organization quickly announced that three lawmakers would introduce a bill in the Legislature to get full marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Gay couples in New Jersey can already apply for domestic partnerships under a law the Legislature passed in 2004 giving gay couples some benefits of marriage , such as the right to inherit possessions if there is no will and healthcare coverage for state workers.

Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine supports domestic partnerships, but not gay marriage .

Supporters pushing for full gay marriage have had a two-year losing streak in state courts including New York, Washington, and in both Nebraska and Georgia, where voter-approved bans on gay marriage were reinstated.

They also have suffered at the ballot boxes in 15 states where constitutions have been amended to ban same-sex unions.

Cases similar to the one ruled on Wednesday, which was filed by seven by gay New Jersey couples, are pending in California, Connecticut, Iowa and Maryland.

"New Jersey is a stepping stone," said Matt Daniels, president of the Virginia-based Alliance for Marriage , a group pushing for an amendment to the federal Constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage . "It's not about New Jersey."
Source: By Geoff Mulvihill, articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/nj-high-court-rules-for-same-sex/20061025152409990030

Oregon Leads the Fight Against Gays

Same Sex Marriage

Supreme Court December 10, 2004

State's opening brief (pdf)
State's answering brief (pdf)
State's reply brief (pdf)
State's brief on Measure 36 (pdf)
State's answering brief on Measure 36 (pdf)
State's reply brief on Measure 36 (pdf)