The Supreme Court of New Jersey just ruled that the state must extend the same rights to gay couples that it affords to straight couples through marriage. The legislature must decide if the state will allow gay marriage or if the state will create civil unions.
To date, this means we have marriage in Massachusetts, civil unions in Vermont, and one or the other in New Jersey. It's a start.
My own state has a court case pending on this issue. I really hope it goes the same way. I would like to be able to put Ms. P on my health insurance without paying tax on those contributions. I would like to be assured that if one of us were in the hospital, the other could make decisions as necessary. I would like to be able to file taxes jointly. I would like to be able to stop listing myself as single on legal documents.
I know these things are going to magically resolve quickly, but who would have believed ten years ago that it would have gotten this far?
There are ways in which a legal document won't make a difference to our relationship: we're committed now, and we've been through some hard times that only cement that committment. But a legal document will ensure that all of our committment isn't for naught in the end.
Edit: It's really four. Connecticut also allows civil unions. How did I miss Connecticut?
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