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Domestic partnership in the District of Columbia Legal recognition of same-sex couples Same-sex marriage Belgium Canada Netherlands Norway South Africa Spain Sweden Recognized in some regions United States (CT, IA, ME1, MA, VT2) 1eff. September 14 2009 2eff. September 1, 2009 Formerly performed United States (CA)3 3May 15—November 5, 2008 Recognized, not performed Aruba (Dutch only) Israel Netherlands Antilles (Dutch only) United States (DC,4 NY) 4 Unless Congress intervenes. Civil unions and registered partnerships Andorra Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Greenland Hungary5 Iceland Luxembourg New Zealand Slovenia Switzerland United Kingdom Uruguay 5eff. July 1, 2009 Recognized in some regions Argentina (C, RN, VCP) Australia (ACT, TAS, VIC) Mexico (COA, DF) United States (CA, CO6, DC, HI, MD, NH, NJ, OR, WA) 6 eff. July 1, 2009 Recognized, not performed Isle of Man Unregistered co-habitation Argentina Australia Austria Brazil Colombia Croatia Israel Portugal Same-sex marriage debated Australia (TAS) European Union Estonia France Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Mexico (DF) Nepal New Zealand Philippines Portugal Switzerland United Kingdom Taiwan United States (CA, CO, DC, MD, MN, NH, NJ, NY, RI) Civil unions and registered partnerships debated Argentina Australia Austria Brazil Bulgaria Chile Costa Rica Cuba Ecuador European Union Estonia Faroe Islands Italy Ireland Jersey Liechtenstein Slovakia Venezuela Mexico (CL, GR, JA, MI, PB, VE) United States (AZ, FL, GU, HI, IL, NM, NV, SC, UT, WI) See also Same-sex marriage Status of same-sex marriage Timeline of same-sex marriage Civil union Domestic partnership Registered partnership Listings by country LGBT portal Washington, D.C., has recognized domestic partnerships since June 11, 1992, when the From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Domestic partnership in the District of Columbia 1 Health Benefits Expansion Act, DC Law 9-114, was passed, allowing unmarried, co- habiting couples (same-sex or opposite-sex) to register as domestic partners.[1][2][3] However, the U.S. Congress, which has ulti- mate legislative control of the District, for- bade the spending of local funds to imple- ment the law until the prohibition was lifted in the federal appropriations act for fiscal year 2002.[4] The rights afforded such regis- trations have been incrementally expanded since 2002, with the last expansion in May 2008. On April 7, 2009, the Council of the District of Columbia voted to recognize same- sex marriages contracted in other states.[5] Domestic partnership benefits Domestic partnership in the District is open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. One of the unusual features of the original bill establishing domestic partnerships was that it allowed partnerships to be created between people who were related by blood (e.g., siblings or a parent and adult child, provided both were single). All couples re- gistered as domestic partners are entitled to the same rights as family members and spouses to visit their domestic partners in the hospital and to make decisions concerning the treatment of a domestic partner’s re- mains after the partner’s death.[4] The measure also grants District of Columbia government employees rights to a number of benefits. Domestic partners are eligible for health care insurance coverage, can use annual leave or unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a dependent child or to care for a domestic partner or a partner’s de- pendents, and can make funeral arrange- ments for a deceased partner.[4] Legislative History 1992 - 2002 The original bill establishing Domestic Part- nerships in the District of Columbia was known as "The Health Benefits Expansion Act." It was passed by the City Council and signed into law by the Mayor of Washington, D.C. The bill became law on June 11, 1992. Every year between 1992 and 2002, the Re- publican leadership of the U.S. Congress added a rider to the District of Columbia ap- propriations bill that prohibited the use of federal or local funds to implement the Health Care Benefits Expansion Act.[2][3] The law was finally implemented in fiscal year 2002 after Congress failed to add the rider to the appropriations bill.[6] 2003 - 2004 Since the 2002 implementation of domestic partners, the benefits attached to Domestic Partnerships has been expanded many times. In the Health Care Decisions Act of 2003 do- mestic partners were given the right to make health care decisions for their partners.[4] The Deed Recordation Tax and Related Amendments Amendment Act of 2004 provided equal treatment, like spouses, of do- mestic partners for the purpose of paying the deed recordation tax.[4] Expanding benefits further, the Department Of Motor Vehicles Reform Amendment Act Of 2004 exempted domestic partners from the excise tax pay- able for transfer of title to your partner. And the Domestic Partnership Protection Amend- ment Act of 2004 amended the definition of the term "marital status" in the Human Rights Act of 1997 to include domestic part- ners.[4] 2006 The Domestic Partnership Equality Amend- ment Act of 2006 was a major expansion of the benefits of domestic partners. The law came into effect on April 4, 2006. This act provides that in almost all cases a domestic partner will have the same rights as a spouse regarding inheritance, probate, guardian- ship, and certain other rights traditionally ac- corded to spouses. The act also gave the right to form premarital agreements for pro- spective partners, and for domestic partners to not testify against their partner in court. However, it does not extend most benefits of legal marriage to domestic partners, such as the marital estate tax deduction.[4] At the time of this latest expansion coming into ef- fect in April 2006, there were 587 registered couples.[7] 2007 The City Council and Mayor of Washington, D.C., once again, incrementally expanded the domestic partnership rights when in March 2007, the right to jointly file local taxes as From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Domestic partnership in the District of Columbia 2 domestic partners became law with the pas- sage of the Domestic Partnerships Joint Fil- ing Act of 2006.[8] 2008 On May 6, 2008, the District of Columbia city council unanimously passed the Omnibus Do- mestic Partnership Equality Amendment Act of 2008. According to the Washington Blade, "the bill provides both rights and obligations for domestic partners in a total of 39 separ- ate laws that touch on such areas as rental housing, condominiums, real estate transac- tions, nursing homes, life insurance, worker’s compensation, investigations into child abuse and the police department’s musical band, among other areas," thus "bringing the law to a point where same-sex couples who register as domestic partners will receive most, but not quite all, of the rights and benefits of marriage under District law."[9] Economic Impact of Al- lowing Marriage for Same Sex Couples A UCLA study concluded that extending mar- riage to same-sex couples will boost the Dis- trict of Columbia’s economy by over $52.2 million over three years, which would gener- ate increases in local government tax and fee revenues by $5.4 million and create approx- imately 700 new jobs.[10] This analysis estim- ates the impact on business revenue and loc- al government revenues, if D.C. were to ex- tend marriage to same-sex couples.[10] Recognition of out-of- state marriages On April 7, 2009, the same day that Vermont legalized same-sex marriage, the District of Columbia council voted unanimously (12-0) to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. The move was hailed as a possible gateway to legislation of same-sex marriage in the near future.[11] Under the District’s procedures, the bill was voted on again on May 5, 2009, passing with a 12-1 vote.[12] It was signed into law by Mayor Adrian Fenty and awaits review by Con- gress.[13][14] References [1] DC Office of Personnel: Services: Employee Benefits: Health Benefits Expansion Act of 1992 FAQs [2] ^ Homophobe Bush Threatens DC Over Domestic Partner Funds « From the Left [3] ^ CitizenLink: Amendment Would Mean No Money to D.C. Domestic-Partner Registry [4] ^ "Domestic Partnership". DC Department of Health, Vital Records Division. http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/cwp/ view,a,3,q,573324,dohNav_GID,1787,dohNav,/ 33110/33120/33139/.asp#6. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. [5] Stewart, Nikita; Craig, Tim (April 8, 2009). "DC recognizes same-sex marriage". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ content/article/2009/04/07/ AR2009040702200.html?hpid=topnews. [6] "D.C. Domestic Partnership Program". Human Rights Campaign. http://www.glaa.org/archive/2001/ dpfactsheet103001.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-05-15. [7] "Registration for Domestic Partnership". Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples. http://www.buddybuddy.com/d- p-reg.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. [8] "GLAA celebrates as new domestic partnership joint filing law takes effect". Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington. http://www.glaa.org/ archive/2007/ glaacelebratesdpjointtaxfilingact0321.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-05-15. [9] Chibbaro, Lou (2008-05-16). "D.C. Council expands DP law". Washington Blade. http://www.washingtonblade.com/ 2008/5-16/news/localnews/12599.cfm. Retrieved on 2008-05-17. [10]^ Ramos, Christopher; Badgett, M.V. Lee; Sears, Brad (April 2009). [http://www.law.ucla.edu/ williamsinstitute/pdf/ DC%20Econ%20Impact.pdf "The Economic Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples in the District of Columbia"] (PDF). The Williams Institute. University of California Los Angeles School of Law. http://www.law.ucla.edu/ williamsinstitute/pdf/ DC%20Econ%20Impact.pdf. [11]DC recognizes foreign gay marriages From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Domestic partnership in the District of Columbia 3 [12]D.C. Gay Marriage Measure Set for Mayor’s Signature [13]10 Council members back same-sex marriage bill [14]Showdown in D.C. over marriage bill External links • DC Department of Health • Vital Records Division, Domestic Partnership Information • "District of Columbia Marriage/ Relationship Recognition Law," Human Rights Campaign • "Rights and Responsibilities of Domestic Partners in the District of Columbia," Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC, revised April 3, 2006 • "Registration for Domestic Partnership," Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples See also • Same-sex marriage in the United States • Same-sex marriage legislation in the United States • Same-sex marriage in the United States by state • Same-sex marriage in the United States public opinion • Same-sex marriage status in the United States by state • List of benefits of marriage in the United States • Defense of Marriage Act • Marriage Protection Act • Defense of marriage amendment • Federal Marriage Amendment • Domestic partnerships in the United States • Freedom to Marry Coalition • History of civil marriage in the U.S. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domest- ic_partnership_in_the_District_of_Columbia" Categories: Recognition of same-sex relationships in the United States, District of Columbia law This page was last modified on 21 May 2009, at 22:00 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax- deductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Domestic partnership in the District of Columbia 4
