Uruguay Sees First Civil Union

http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=8035
5/1/2008

"Couples must live together for five years before they can take advantage of the law, which grants spousal rights in areas that include inheritance, property ownership, pensions, parenting and health care. The law applies to "two people — whatever their sex, identity, orientation or sexual option may be — who maintain an emotional relationship of a sexual nature [and] an exclusive, singular, stable and permanent character without being united in matrimony."