Bowers v. Hardwick

Cities across the United States have established registries allowing couples to gain recognition for their relationships outside of marriage. Registering as a couple is open to heterosexual as well as gay and lesbian partners. Although the formation of these domestic partnerships has yet to be challenged by the courts, registration may provide committed couples with some of the legal benefits previously only given to married couples.

Under a domestic partnership agreement, the terms, definitions, and means of beginning and ending a partnership are spelled out. Many of the requirements for entering into a partnership agreement are very similar to those for marriage.

The partnership provides a recognition of the status of the relationship. In some situations, it may offer a partner new benefits. For example, if the agreement is recognized by one partner's employer, this may allow the other individual a means to obtain health insurance and other benefits previously considered spousal benefits.

Some of the cities offering registration of domestic partnership agreements include Madison, Wisconsin; New York and Ithaca, New York; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, West Hollywood, Sacramento, and Berkeley, California; Hartford, Connecticut; and New Orleans, Louisiana.