A civil union is a legally recognized arrangement that provides some or all of the rights and protections of marriage to a couple, primarily designed for same-sex couples when marriage was not available to them. Here are some key points about civil unions:
- A civil union is a legal relationship between two people, either of the same or different sex, that offers state-level legal protections to the couple.
- Civil unions are often considered a "first step" towards establishing same-sex marriage, as they are viewed by supporters of LGBT rights as a "separate but equal" or "second class" status.
- Civil unions may not be recognized by all states, and they do not provide federal protections, benefits, or responsibilities to couples.
- In some countries, such as South Africa, the term "civil union" is used interchangeably with "civil partnership," and both can be either a marriage or a civil partnership.
- Vermont was the first state in the United States to recognize civil unions, following the state supreme courts ruling in Baker v. State of Vermont.
- The United States Supreme Court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage in every state and required states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, making civil unions less relevant in the U.S..
