Commitment Ceremonies

Historical Background

Accounts of same-sex or same-gender ceremonies in the contemporary United States are found as early as the 1970s. However, it was not until the mid-1990s that such ceremonies became overtly visible in the media and in GLBT communities. Since their increased popularity, a large number of couples have participated in union ceremonies. However, same-sex unions may have roots prior to the 20th century. For example, scholars have documented that same-sex unions took place among early Christians in medieval Europe. Further, researcher Evelyn Blackwood reports that among some Native Americans, cross-gender females—women who take on the role of men in social, communal, and familial settings—had sanctioned relationships with other biological women. Similar accounts of same-sex relationships, often characterized by the union of a transgender male or female and a traditionally gendered male or female, have been documented throughout the world.

There is no national data that report how many individuals have participated in commitment ceremonies in the United States. This is primarily because there are no national registries or regulations, as there are with legal marriage or civil partnerships. However, there is considerable evidence that female same-sex couples are more likely than male couples to participate in such ceremonies. For example, research shows that women outnumber men in obtaining marriage licenses in Massachusetts. Similarly, more same-gender female couples have participated in civil unions in Vermont.

Meanings of Commitment Ceremonies