Only Massachusetts, California and Connecticut provide same-sex couples the ability to "marry" with most of the rights that heterosexual couples share.

Connecticut, New Jersey and Vermont provide the same benefits without the term "marriage".

California also offers the same full benefits to same-sex couples as domestic partnerships.

Washington D.C., Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire and most recently Washington state have passed legislation offering protections like: medical and end-of-life decisions, hospital visitation, inheritance and property rights.