Celebrate Regardless of the Type Of Ceremony Permitted By Law For Gay and Lesbian Same-Sex Unions!

Sometimes you might feel like your hands are tied when it comes to celebrating your love as a same-sex couple.  And even though in most states we as gay and lesbian couples are still waiting for some kind of formal recognition, there are still many options, even if it just means a simple commitment ceremony with family and friends.  We have assembled some information to help you try to wade through the differences between a  commitment ceremony, domestic partnership, civil union, and a gay marriage as defined by current laws.

Commitment Ceremony

When all else fails, or until such time that winds of legal turmoil calm down and present each of us with the opportunity to marry the one we love, a Commitment Ceremony is a perfect option to show your friends and family the love and commitment you share as a couple.

Just like a real gay wedding celebration, a Commitment Ceremony can be anything you want it to be. Full of pomp and circumstance, or a laid back party atmosphere.  It can be the horse drawn carriage, or a quiet sunset ceremony that only the two of you wish to share.  Regardless of the decision you make for your Commitment Ceremony, you will probably find helpful hints and tips throughout the Ultimate Gay Weddings website that will aid you as you plan your celebration.

Domestic Partnership

A domestic partnership is a legal or personal relationship between two individuals who live together and share a common domestic life but are neither joined by a traditional marriage nor a civil union. However, in some jurisdictions, such as California, domestic partnership is equivalent to marriage, or to other legally recognized same-sex or different-sex unions. The terminology for such unions is still evolving, and the exact level of rights and responsibilities conferred by a domestic partnership varies widely from place to place.

Civil Unions

Civil Unions, just like Domestic Partnerships and Gay Marriage rights vary from state-to-state.  For the most part, a Civil Union is a form of relationship recognition that gives same-sex couples all the state-level benefits of marriage (though not federal rights).  These rights also, for the most part, require similar legal processing requirements as do an actual marriage.

Gay MarriageSame Sex Marriage

There are now...yes count them...five states and one district that currently provide the rights and privileges for same-sex couples to marry - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and District of Columbia.  It has been a long hard fight and the legal fights continue across the nation...but the walls of inequality are starting to crumble - state-by-state.