Civil partnership win for mixed-sex couple 'Why ... In the US, laws regarding civil partnerships (known as "civil unions" or "domestic partnerships") are passed at a city or state level.

Da Silva called the civil union ”deceitful,“ a runaround to grant status to a polygamous relationship. Such relationships aren't new; they just haven't been recognized, Domingues said.

Without a civil partnership, Dee and James's relationship ... they do not qualify for the country's PACS - a civil union contract giving similar, but not entirely the same, rights as marriage.