美國佛蒙特州同性伴侶法制之發展：以2000年「公民結合法」及2009年「婚姻平等法」為論述重心

Developments on Statutory Protections for Same-Sex Couples in Vermont: Focus Attention on the Civil Union Act of 2000 and Marriage Equality Act of 2009

江崇源(Chung-Yuan Jiang)

《東海大學法學研究》 38期 (2012/12) Pp. 59-132

https://doi.org/10.29722/TULR.201212.0002

摘要

觀乎美國佛蒙特州同性伴侶法制之發展，其於2000年即開始施行全美第一部，以同性伴侶共同生活關係為唯一規範對象的州層級同性伴侶保護法－「公民結合法」（Civil Union Law）。該法在不修正傳統一男一女婚姻定義的前提下，將州婚姻法下原僅異性伴侶始得享有之所有權益，授與同性伴侶。此一規範同性伴侶共同生活關係之法制模式，亦為日後美國其他州，如：康乃狄克、紐澤西、新罕布夏、羅德島、伊利諾、德拉瓦與夏威夷等州，所仿效。近年來，受國內、外陸續合法化同性婚姻風潮之鼓舞，佛蒙特州立法機關，於2009年4月，更主動制頒承認同性婚姻之「保障宗教自由與承認公民婚姻平等法」（以下簡稱：婚姻平等法）（An Act to Protect Religious Freedom and Recognize Equality in Civil Marriage; Marriage Equality Act），實現同志平權運動長期以來追求同性伴侶亦應享平等婚姻權之目標。如是豐富且多元的佛蒙特州同性伴侶法制發展經驗，對於同性伴侶法制建設尚處一片空白之我國，實具參考價值。因此，本文希冀藉由整理暨分析佛蒙特州2000年公民結合法與2009年婚姻平等法之立法沿革、具體規範內涵及其與聯邦婚姻防衛法的互動關係，期以供我國將來針對此等議題，進行相關法制建構時之參考。

關鍵字

同性伴侶 ； 公民結合 ； 公民結合法 ； 佛蒙特公民結合法 ； 同性婚姻 ； 佛蒙特婚姻平等法

並列摘要

From the perspective of legal developments related to fundamental rights of same-sex couples in United States, Vermont is the first and leading state to create a separate, marriage-like statutory protection entitled ”Vermont Civil Union law” for same-sex couples without provoking greater political backlash. The law not only creates a legal status equal to that of married spouses, but also designs to serve as a substitute for same-sex couples excluded from the definition of traditional marriage. Although the Vermont civil union statute has not fulfilled complete equality for same-sex couples, it reflects the social reality and represents a significant civil rights progress for same-sex couples. More recently, in September, 2009, a new legislature, An Act to Protect Religious Freedom and Recognize Equality in Civil Marriage, took effect in Vermont. Under the Act, same-sex couples are allowed to enter into marriage as their heterosexual counterparts.Unlike Vermont, where state laws have been very progressive in extending state-level spousal rights to same sex couples, either by providing same sex couples a marriage-equivalent regime-civil union or recognizing same-sex marriage, Taiwan's legal regime for regulating same sex relationship is so underdeveloped. Therefore, with the legal needs of same-sex couples in mind, this research, through the introduce, discussion, and analysis of the legal developments with respect to same-sex couples in Vermont, hopes to provide a useful direction for Taiwan Legislature to establish a more reasonable and well-tailored legal regime to cope with the relationship of same-sex couples in the near future.

並列關鍵字

same-sex couples ； civil unions ； civil union law ； Vermont Civil Union Law ； same-sex marriage ； Vermont Marriage Equality Act

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