GAYS WANT THE family rights and benefits heterosexuals enjoy. Gay men and lesbians want to marry and form legally recognized family units. They want to be able to bear or adopt children, and to raise them without fear the courts will declare them unfit parents simply because of their homosexuality and take their children from them.

When they jointly own real estate or personal property, gays want the right to inherit that property as a surviving spouse. If their spouse is ill or disabled, gays want the right to make health care decisions for their partner. Gay couples want to be eligible for benefits on each other's health, disability, and life insurance policies and pension plans. In short, gay men and lesbians want to broaden family law to include gay families.

Marriage

Same-sex marriages are recognized in a...