If, as in New Jersey, same sex couples have certain right as a "civil union".....?

Do couples who live together but are NOT of the same sex get the same rights or do heterosexual couples have to marry first before they get those rights? Just wondering.

Thanks everybody! I thought so but I wasn't sure. It's hard to say in this day and age.

Oh.....I'm not trying to change anything! Just trying to understand.

Civil Union is essentially the same as marriage in the legal sense. A heterosexual couple would have to apply through the same process as a same-sex couple. It is not automatically implied that two people living together have this legal arrangement. Marriage or civil unions legally are like mergers, two legal entities into one.

I think they get the same rights.

I think they are. My (now ex) girlfriend and I talked about that once because neither of us want to get married.

It's a choice. Heterosexual couple can be civil unionised if they want, or so they can in New Zealand.

they ought. a heterosexual couple that does not want to 'marry' should also be able to form a 'civil union' if gays can.

of course, gays that don't just want a 'civil union' should be able to 'marry' as well ,but that's another story......

I think you do, I am sure you can have the same health ins...it is not fair that all rights are not extended...have fun trying to change things, I hope you do...