Non-traditional Families

Same-sex Partnerships

Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex couples can marry in District of Columbia, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The Supreme Court of California ruled that same-sex couples could marry in that state, but the California constitution was amended to prohibit same-sex marriage. That Constitutional amendment is currently being reviewed by federal appellate courts.

Same-Sex Marriages are currently allowed in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, District of Columbia, and New York (as of 2011).

Same-sex couples can marry in Canada. There is no residency requirement for marriage in Canada, and therefore United States citizens may go to Canada, marry, and return to the United States. In order to divorce in Canada, however, one of the married persons must have lived in Canada for at least a year.

We recommend that before marrying in another state or Canada, couples talk to an attorney. It is not clear what the legal ramifications will be for couples who marry in other jurisdictions and then return to Colorado. Many states, including Colorado, have laws that prohibit recognition in Colorado of a legal same-sex marriage.

Same-Sex Marriage around the World

Countries that currently allow same-sex marriages include The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, South Africa, Connecticut, Norway, Sweden, Argentina, and most recently, Portugal.

Civil unions and domestic partnerships

There are a number of states that give same-sex couples legal recognition, and provide for rights and duties of same-sex couples in committed relationships.  Those states are:

• California
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Maryland
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• Oregon
• Washington