Same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia

Part of the LGBT rights series
Marriage

Recognized

Civil unions or registered partnerships but not marriage
Minimal recognition
See also
Notes
  1. ^ a b Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
  2. ^ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
  3. ^ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
  4. ^ a b Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
  5. ^ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
  6. ^ a b c d e The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
  7. ^ A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
  8. ^ Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.
  9. ^ Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
  10. ^ Courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
  11. ^ Some cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
  12. ^ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse recognized for residency rights.
  13. ^ Hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.
  1. ^ a b Not yet in effect.
LGBTQ portal

Same-sex marriage has been legal in the District of Columbia since March 3, 2010. On December 18, 2009, Mayor Adrian Fenty signed a bill passed by the D.C. Council on December 15 legalizing same-sex marriage. Following the signing, the measure entered a mandatory congressional review of 30 work days. Marriage licenses became available on March 3, and marriages began on March 9, 2010.[1][2] The District of Columbia was the first jurisdiction in the United States below the Mason–Dixon line to allow same-sex couples to marry.[3]

In addition to recognizing same-sex marriages, the District has also allowed residents to enter into registered domestic partnerships since 2002. Since the passage of the Domestic Partnership Judicial Determination of Parentage Act of 2009, the District has recognized civil unions and domestic partnerships performed in other jurisdictions that have all the rights and responsibilities of marriage. The law gives the mayor discretion to recognize relationships from states with lesser benefits.[4][5]

  1. ^ Gresko, Jessica (March 3, 2010). "Same-sex marriage becomes legal in DC". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  2. ^ Steve Hendrix; Joe Heim (March 7, 2015). "Gay couples who wed in 2010 celebrate five years of legal marriages in D.C." The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  3. ^ Chuck Colbert (March 3, 2010). "DC couples obtain marriage licenses". The Bay Area Reporter. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011.
  4. ^ Associated Press (July 7, 2009). "Washington, D.C., Recognizes Same-Sex Marriages". New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  5. ^ Gaynair, Gillian (July 7, 2009). "Gay Marriage Bill Takes Effect in Nation's Capital". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved December 1, 2009.