New Jersey approves gay civil unions
80725
TRENTON, New Jersey  - New Jersey lawmakers approved same-sex civil unions on Thursday, giving gay and lesbian couples the same rights as married partners without allowing such relationships to be called "marriage."
372513
The Spanish government approved a bill to legalise homosexual marriages, which will make it only the third country in Europe to condone same sex marriages.
738940
A commission established to study same-sex civil unions in New Jersey has found in its first report that civil unions create a "second-class status" for gay couples, rather than giving them equality.
470149
Under pressure from New Jersey's highest court to offer marriage or its equivalent to gay couples, lawmakers gathered on Thursday to vote on whether to create civil unions.
468829
Congress in Colombia backs a bill to grant homosexual couples the same social security rights.
270278
Facing pressure from the state's top court, the New Jersey Legislature voted Thursday to give gay and lesbian couples the rights and privileges of marriage, while using the term "civil unions" to describe the partnerships.
514203
Comparing bans on same-sex marriage to once-common laws against interracial marriage, a trial court judge in Manhattan ruled Friday that same-sex couples have a right to wed under the state constitution.
151764
Ohio, Georgia and five other states approved constitutional amendments to define marriage as a union of a man and a woman, banning legal sanction of unions between same-sex couples, the Associated Press reported.
364198
Gay couples in New Jersey get new legal rights as it becomes the third US state to offer civil unions.
156089
(Madrid) The cabinet of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero Friday approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage and allowing gay couples to adopt.
608289
Shortly after midnight, Steven Goldstein and Daniel Gross renewed their vows as New Jersey became the third state in the nation to offer civil unions for gay couples.
280782
Bans on same-sex marriage passed yesterday in all 11 states that considered constitutional amendments limiting marriage to a man and a woman.
705770
Voters in 10 US states have approved a ban on gay marriages, according to early data of the referendums held there. Oklahoma, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Utah, Mississippi and
28700
New Jersey's state legislature legalises same-sex civil unions, but says they cannot be called marriages.
320352
The Illinois House on Tuesday passed a bill that bans discrimination against gays and sent it to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has said he supports the measure.
425505
With a solemn exchange of vows and a kiss, Louis Navarrete and Ric Best became the first same-sex couple to marry in New Jersey.
16908
Gay couples in New Jersey get new legal rights as it becomes the latest US state to offer civil unions.