Category Archives: same-sex partners

Does Illinois Recognize a Same-Sex Marriage from Another State?

No.  As of this writing, Illinois law prohibits a marriage between two people of the same sex and does not recognize a same-sex marriage performed in a state where it is legal, for example, Massachusetts.
The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act states that “a marriage between 2 individuals of the same sex” is [...]

Civil Union in Vermont Makes Non-Biological Mom a Legal Parent in New York

New York’s highest court ruled 7-0 yesterday (May 4) that a non-biological mother is a legal parent and entitled to seek custody and visitation.  The New York Court of Appeals based its decision on a Vermont civil union that the non-biological mother and her former partner entered into before the birth of [...]

2010 Census Data Will Count Same-Sex Partners and Same-Sex Spouses

The 2010 Census will be the first census to publicly release the number of both same-sex spouses and same-sex unmarried partners.  In the past, these two groups were combined and reported as same-sex “unmarried partners.”
This information will come from the relationship question, which asks the person filling out the form to identify how all [...]