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Some cities have passed laws providing for "domestic partnerships" which can be used by
homosexual couples and by heterosexual couples who are living together without being married.
To become domestic partners, the couple usually must register their relationship at a government
office and declare that they are in a "committed" relationship. Domestic partnerships provide
some--but not all--of the legal benefits of marriage. Some of the common benefits are the right
to coverage on a family health insurance policy, the right to family leave to take care of a sick
partner (to the same extent a person would be able to use family leave to care for a sick
spouse), bereavement leave, visiting rights to hospitals and jails, and rent control benefits (to the
same extent a spouse would retain reduced rent if his or her partner died).