You get a bonus - 1 coin for daily activity. Now you have 1 coin

Civil partnership

Lecture



Civil partnership (also civil union , home partnership , internal partnership , registered partnership , etc.) is a state-recognized social institution in which the relations of two people who are unwilling or unable to register a marriage can be legitimized. As a rule, this opportunity is provided to same-sex couples, but in some countries, same-sex couples can also register their relationship in this way. The specific terminology for such unions varies from state to state. The legal consequences of their conclusion are not the same. Officially registered civil partnerships should not be confused with unregistered de facto marital relations, as well as same-sex civil partnerships with same-sex marriages.

Regional differences

In different countries, the categories of persons entitled to enter into civil partnerships may differ. Initially, the right to enter into a civil partnership was granted only to same-sex couples. In this case, civil partnerships are a parallel social institution created specifically for same-sex couples who do not have the right to marry under the law. In many countries that legalized same-sex marriages, civil partnerships for same-sex couples were an intermediate step to marital equality. After the opening of access to marriage for same-sex couples, the conclusion of civil partnerships is usually terminated, and previously concluded unions can be converted into marriages.

In the second group of countries, civil partnerships are available to both same-sex and multi-sex couples. At the same time, a heterosexual couple is given the choice between entering into a marriage and registering a civil union, which in the legal sense is usually a facilitated alternative to marriage. Same-sex couples in these countries may or may not have the legal possibility of marriage. Therefore, they either have the opportunity to choose between marriage and partnership, or they can only enter into partnerships, but not marriages.

The popularity of civil partnerships

In France, the institution of civic partnership, introduced in 1999 mainly for the legal recognition of same-sex couples, was rapidly gaining popularity. This is due to the fact that heterosexual couples increasingly began to enter into civil partnerships. So, in 2000, of all couples who entered into a partnership, 76% were heterosexual couples, and in 2010 their share reached 96%. In 2000, 22,271 partnerships and 305,234 marriages were concluded, and in 2010, 2,05550 partnerships and 2,51654 marriages (INSEE data) were concluded. [1] If this trend continues, in the near future, civil partnership will become more popular than marriage.

Criticism

Criticism of civic partnerships for same-sex couples

Civil partnership

“I don't want to ask her: will you form a civil union with me?”

In countries where same-sex couples have the opportunity to enter into civil partnerships, but are denied the right to marry, some LGBT activists (including homosexual couples) often reject such partnerships because of their unequal status with civil marriages [2]. In addition, some homosexuals do not want to enter into partnership for ideological reasons, comparing the existence of separate institutions for registering relationships for same-sex and opposite-sex couples with racial segregation [3] and feeling discrimination in this division [4]. There are also situations where joining a same-sex partnership is fraught with negative consequences. For example, in Germany, persons who have entered into same-sex partnership are immediately subject to dismissal if their employer is the Catholic Church, under whose roof more than 1.3 million people work in more than 100 professions [5]. Nevertheless, the general statistics of concluded partnerships in Germany is characterized by an annual increase in the absolute number of new unions, despite the fact that they are still not equal in the legal sense with heterosexual marriages [4].

However, many same-sex couples tend to legitimize their relationship. As shown, for example, by Thomas Hertling's research published in Germany in 2011, about 19.7% of respondents (homosexual men) who have a regular partner decided to register their relations in the form of a civil union. Only 15.6% completely rejected such an option. In addition, 59.1% of respondents said that they would have entered into a partnership if, by law, it was equated with marriage in financial matters. About 35.4% of respondents said they would conclude an alliance if he allowed them to adopt a child [6].

LGBT activists draw attention to the fact that creating special legislation for laws on same-sex couples (laws on civil partnerships) creates a situation in which same-sex couples are registered according to other legislation than heterosexuals in marriage, creating symbolic discrimination, even if there is no actual discrimination and civic partnerships are fully equal in rights with opposite-sex marriages.

At the same time, opponents of same-sex marriage may agree to legalize civil unions, until they are called marriages, explaining that marriage is traditionally a union of a man and a woman. In some countries, this understanding of marriage is defined in the constitution, so for same-sex couples, at best, only civil partnership is possible.

On the other hand, civil partnerships are often criticized also because of the inaccessibility of this institution to couples in some countries. For example, in the UK, supporters of civil partnerships, including heterosexual couples who reject traditional marriage, have for several years tried to achieve the right of heterosexual couples to enter into civil partnerships [7].

Country Overview

Europe

A country Introduction date
(and liquidation)
Single.
couples
Diff.
couples
Article
Civil partnership Denmark October 1, 1989 - June 15, 2012 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Same-sex marriage in Denmark
Civil partnership Iceland January 1, 1991 Civil partnership 2), 3) Civil partnership Civil unions in Iceland
Civil partnership Norway August 1, 1993 - January 1, 2009 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Same-sex marriage in Norway
Civil partnership Sweden January 1, 1995 - May 1, 2009 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Same-sex marriage in Sweden
Civil partnership Greenland July 1, 1996 - April 1, 2016 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Same-sex marriage in Denmark
Civil partnership Netherlands January 1, 1998 Civil partnership 3) Civil partnership See Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands.
Civil partnership France November 16, 1999 Civil partnership 3) Civil partnership Civil Solidarity Treaty
Civil partnership Belgium January 1, 2000 Civil partnership 3) Civil partnership Legal Cohabitation in Belgium
Civil partnership Germany August 1, 2001 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in Germany
Civil partnership Finland March 1, 2002 - March 1, 2017 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Registration of same-sex couples in Finland
Civil partnership Luxembourg November 1, 2004 Civil partnership 3) Civil partnership See Same-sex marriage in Luxembourg
Civil partnership Andorra March 23, 2005 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in Andorra
Civil partnership Great Britain December 5, 2005 Civil partnership four) Civil partnership Civil partnerships in the UK
Civil partnership Czech July 1, 2006 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in the Czech Republic
Civil partnership Slovenia July 23, 2006 Civil partnership Civil partnership Registering same-sex couples in Slovenia
Civil partnership Switzerland January 1, 2007 Civil partnership Civil partnership Swiss civil partnerships
Civil partnership Greece November 26, 2008 Civil partnership five) Civil partnership Civil partnerships in Greece
Civil partnership Hungary July 1, 2009 Civil partnership Civil partnership Same-sex unions in Hungary
Civil partnership Austria January 1, 2010 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in Austria
Civil partnership Ireland January 1, 2011 - November 16, 2015 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Same-sex marriage in Ireland
Civil partnership Isle Of Man April 6, 2011 Civil partnership Civil partnership 6) Civil partnerships in the UK
Civil partnership Liechtenstein September 1, 2011 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in Liechtenstein
Civil partnership Jersey April 2, 2012 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in the UK
Civil partnership Gibraltar March 28, 2014 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in the UK
Civil partnership Malta April 14, 2014 Civil partnership Civil partnership Malta Civil Partnerships
Civil partnership Croatia August 5, 2014 Civil partnership Civil partnership Same-sex unions in Croatia
Civil partnership Andorra December 25, 2014 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in Andorra
Civil partnership Cyprus December 9, 2015 Civil partnership Civil partnership Cyprus Civil Partnerships
Civil partnership Estonia January 1, 2016 Civil partnership Civil partnership Estonian Civil Partnerships
Civil partnership Italy June 5, 2016 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civic partnerships in Italy

Notes to the table:

1) In Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ireland and Greenland, new civil partnerships in connection with the legalization of same-sex marriage are no longer registered.

2) In Iceland, same-sex couples can enter into civil unions (isl. Óvígð sambúð) only from June 27, 2006.

3) In Iceland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France, currently same-sex couples also have the opportunity to marry.

4) In England, Wales and Scotland, same-sex marriages are also registered.

5) Same-sex couples in Greece gained access to the conclusion of civil partnerships only from January 2016.

6) Gender couples on the Isle of Man were given the opportunity to enter into civil partnerships from 2016.

United States

In all states, same-sex marriage is legalized. In addition, the following states recognize various forms of civil partnerships:

  • District of Columbia - Domestic Partnership (1992; expanded in 2002)
  • Hawaii - Reciprocal Beneficiary Relationship (1997)
  • Vermont - Civil Union (2000; canceled in 2009 due to same-sex marriage legalization)
  • California - Domestic Partnership (2000; subsequently expanded)
  • Maine - Domestic Partnership (2004)
  • New Jersey - Domestic Partnership (2004; canceled in 2007 due to legalization of Civil Union )
  • Connecticut - Civil Union (2005; canceled in 2010 due to legalization of same-sex marriage)
  • Washington - Domestic Partnership (2007; later expanded)
  • New Jersey - Civil Union (2007)
  • New Hampshire - Civil Union (2008; canceled in 2011 due to legalization of same-sex marriage)
  • Oregon - Domestic Partnership (2008)
  • Colorado - Designated Beneficiary Agreement (2009)
  • Wisconsin - Domestic Partnership (2009)
  • Nevada - Domestic Partnership (2009)
  • Illinois - Civil Union (2011)
  • Rhode Island - Civil Union (2011; canceled in 2013 due to legalization of same-sex marriage)
  • Hawaii - Civil Union (2012)
  • Delaware - Civil Union (2012; canceled in 2014 due to legalization of same-sex marriages)
  • Colorado - Civil Union (2013)

Australia

Same-sex unions in Australia

There is no federal law in Australia that legalizes any form of same-sex unions. However, in all states and territories of Australia various forms of same-sex unions are legalized.

State or territory Official status Introduction year
AST Civil partnership Civil Partnership / Civil union 2008/2012
N.S.W. Civil partnership Registered relationship 2010
Northern Territory Unregistered cohabitation -
Queensland Civil partnership Registered relationship 2012
South Australia Civil partnership Domestic Partnership (Agreement) 2007
Tasmania Civil partnership Significant relationship 2004
Victoria Civil partnership Domestic relationship 2008
Western Australia Unregistered cohabitation -

Other countries and regions

Country or region Year of introduction (and liquidation) Single.
couples
Diff.
couples
Article
Civil partnership Argentina, Buenos Aires 2002 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Civic partnerships in argentina
Civil partnership Argentina, Rio Negro 2003 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Civic partnerships in argentina
Civil partnership Argentina 2015 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Civic partnerships in argentina
Civil partnership Brazil 2003 Civil partnership 12) Civil partnership Sustainable Alliances in Brazil
Civil partnership Canada, Nova Scotia 2001 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Canadian Civic Partnerships
Civil partnership Canada, Quebec 2002 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Canadian Civic Partnerships
Civil partnership New Zealand 2005 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Civil unions in New Zealand
Civil partnership South Africa 2006 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership Civil unions in South Africa
Civil partnership Mexico, Mexico 2006 Civil partnership 3) Civil partnership See Same-sex Marriages in Mexico
Civil partnership Mexico, Coahuila 2007 Civil partnership 3) Civil partnership See Same-sex Marriages in Mexico
Civil partnership Mexico, Colima 2013 - 2016 Civil partnership four) Civil partnership Same-sex marriage in Mexico
Civil partnership Colombia 2007 Civil partnership Civil partnership See Registering Same-Sex Couples in Colombia
Civil partnership Uruguay 2008 Civil partnership one) Civil partnership See Same-sex marriage in Uruguay
Civil partnership Ecuador 2015 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil partnerships in Ecuador
Civil partnership Chile 2015 Civil partnership Civil partnership Civil unions in Chile

Notes to the table:

1) Throughout Argentina, Brazil and Canada, as well as in New Zealand, South Africa, Uruguay and Colombia, same-sex marriages are registered.

2) In Brazil, same-sex couples have been able to register civil partnerships since 2011.

3) In Mexico City, as well as in Coahuila, Colima and other states of Mexico, same-sex marriages are registered.

4) New civil partnerships in connection with the legalization of same-sex marriages are no longer concluded.


Comments


To leave a comment
If you have any suggestion, idea, thanks or comment, feel free to write. We really value feedback and are glad to hear your opinion.
To reply

Interpersonal relationships

Terms: Interpersonal relationships