Same-Sex Partner Rights

The status of same-sex partner rights has undergone considerable change over the last 50 years. Same-sex partner rights are the benefits that people are afforded when they are defined as a couple legally. The types of legal relationships available to same-sex couples differ by location, with some states recognizing relationships through the creation of civil unions, domestic partnerships, or marriages. These partner rights are not only legal and financial in their importance. Research is beginning to quantify the ways in which same-sex partner rights promote individual and family health. This entry discusses the history of same-sex partner rights and their effects on individual and family health.

History

The U.S. Supreme Court recognized marriage as a “vital personal right” in the 1967 interracial marriage case of Loving ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles