As the battle for the recognition of civil unions intensities.

As the battle for the recognition of civil unions intensities, pair court cases are underscoring the importance of marriage.

the same case involves an Atlanta-area woman who joined with her lesbian partner in a Vermont civil union last summer hoping recognition of her relationship would stick down South

However, since the show Susan Freer has not been able to visit her three son who have been in her ex-husband's custody since the sum of two units divorced 5 1/2 years ago. The reason: in subordination to their separation agreement, either parent jeopardizes visitation or custodial rights if they are living with someone who is not their spouse or their relative.

Freer is arguing that the civil union should qualify as a marriage. She not to be found her case before a lower court January 30 if it were not that learned in April that the Georgia court of appeals will hear the case, probably in the fall. If Freer prevails, it would be the first time a Vermont civil union is validated from another state.

"The other lawyer has argued that this is not marriage," said Freer's attorney, Adrian Lanser. "But that is exactly what they are doing: making public their commitment."

Meanwhile, of recent origin York State's highest court is look forward toed to rule this summer in succession a case that could force universities to spread married student housing to same-sex couples

brace lesbian Yeshiva University medical scholars Sara Levin and Maggie Jone filed a joint lawsuit in 1998 Each had been barred from living in married observer housing with her respective partner because neither coupling is married.

"It is terribly unfair to say onward the one hand that a gay man and wife can't marry and then inflect around and say the solitary way to live with your partner is to obtain married," said Matt Coles, director of the Lesbian and Gay Rights frame of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the plaintiffs. sum of two units lower courts sided with Yeshiva.

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