The Points on the Sliding Scale: Marriage, Civil Unions, Domestic Partnerships, Etc.
In these six states with full marriage rights, there are no state-level distinctions between same-sex and different-sex married couples. Marriage has simply been opened to include same-sex couples.
Because of the federal law known as DOMA (we will have more to say about this law in Part III), however, validly celebrated same-sex marriages will not be recognized for any federal law purpose such as tax status, immigration, Social Security, etc. (This state/federal split leads to sometimes odd conundrums such as the need to create "dummy" federal tax returns to include with state tax returns that permit joint-filing status for same-sex spouses.) But within the state in which the marriage was celebrated, a spouse is a spouse, regardless of sex.
The State of the Same Sex Union Part Two in a Three Part Series
Posted by
ExileComingHome 1035 days ago
(http://writ.news.findlaw.com)
Who Voted for this Story
Feedburner
Promoting public awareness of the need for fairness in immigration policy particularly as it relates to the rights of same-sex bi-national couples in the United States who seek equal immigration rights; Providing information regarding political issues relating to gay immigration equality issues, rights and policy.
Comments