Gay Marriage Laws in Nevada

Although there are no gay marriage laws granting full marital rights for homosexual couples in Nevada, marriage-minded gay partnerships received at least some good news when, in 2009, they were granted legal recognition of same-sex unions in Nevada. Marriage it is not recognized, but at least it's monumental progress in the right direction.

In Nevada, marriage for same-sex couples was actually legally banned with an astonishing 67% majority vote in 2002, in an amendment to the Constitution of Nevada entitled Question 2. However, despite the ban, the Senate Bill (283) creates a domestic partnership registry that allows those in same-sex relationships to have the same rights as Nevada's heterosexual married couples. The bill makes Nevada the 17th state to legally recognize residents which are in homosexual relationships.

Although those rights are not nearly the same as those in other states' gay marriage laws, because it does not recognize the partnership as an actual legal marriage. The new bill, similar to California's historic domestic partnership law, does allow gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender couples to receive the exact same rights, responsibilities, entitlements, and benefits as those with a Nevada marriage license, such as health care decision–making, insurance rights, information–access rights, and inheritance rights, without actually having a legal Nevada marriage license.

Although the bill was vetoed, as promised, on May 26, 2009, by Republican Governor Jim Gibbons, who opposes the idea of gay marriage laws and has previously said, "I just don't believe in" domestic partnerships, the veto was successfully overturned by both the Senate, in a 14-7 vote, and finally, on May 31, 2009, by The Assembly, in a 28-14 vote. And despite the outlook of the Governor, who was assured that the majority of Nevadans, who were so strongly against gay marriage laws at the beginning of the decade, would likewise not support the new domestic partnership bill, there was indeed, no major opposition or overwhelming outcry from the public, and the law took effect on October 1, 2009. If you need legal advice and assistance, contact Nevada lawyers.