
Same-sex, or gay marriage is marriage between individuals who are of the same legal or biological sex. The movement towards the legal recognition of same-sex marriages has resulted in changes in the law in many jurisdictions, though the extent of the changes have varied:
* Civil unions provide varying degrees of the rights and responsibilities of same-sex marriage, but use a different name for the arrangement. They exist in several European countries as well as in some U.S. states, some Canadian provinces, some Australian states, and Tasmania, New Zealand and the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
* Domestic partnerships or registered partnerships also provide varying degrees of privileges and responsibilities, usually fewer than those found in civil unions. They are often available to opposite-sex couples and exist in many jurisdictions.
Even in jurisdictions where they are not legally recognized, many gay and lesbian couples choose to have weddings (also called “commitment ceremonies” in this context) to celebrate and affirm their relationship, fulfilling the social aspect of a marriage.
Such ceremonies have no legal validity, however, and as such do not deal with issues such as inheritance, property rights or social security.