In France they are civil unioning

[Undertoad]

Yeah I knew this would happen.

Religious right: "Gays can't get married!"
Gays: "But we want partnership rights!"
Politicians: "Let's just have civil unions which grant rights without marriage."
Heteros: "Holy shit, those civil union things look like a great option! None of the church bullshit? We love it!"
Religious right: "We didn't think of that...!"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/wo...html?src=twrhp

Originally Posted by nytimes

Whatever their reasons, and they vary widely, French couples are increasingly shunning traditional marriages and opting instead for civil unions, to the point that there are now two civil unions for every three marriages.