Related within the Second Degree? Burns v. Burns and the Potential Benefits of Civil Union Status

Abstract

Many states have mini-DOMAs prohibiting the recognition of same-sex marriage. Many of these same statutes, however, do not prohibit the recognition of civil unions. This Case Note explores the circumstances in which civil unions may be recognized by other states, and argues that such recognition may in fact be more likely than out of state same-sex marriage recognition in view of the existence of mini-DOMAs prohibiting recognition of same-sex marriage.

Keywords: Same-sex Marriage, Civil Unions, Sexual Orientation and the Law