Then again "gay marriage" is generally a whole lot less about the assorted rituals and whatnot (it's not like a lot of straight couples are big on those either, hence civil unions or just skipping the brouhaha etc.) and specifically about that legal recognition. Which is kind of a big deal both practically (property rights, related taxation etc. to speak nothing of any children that might be involved) and symbolically (equal standing under the law etc.).
Also common-law marriage is not the same as cohabitation. It's an actual legal status and, as you can guess from the name, basically specific to common law countries (in practice meaning the former British Empire).
last edited at Nov 15, 2018 4:50AM