Front Cover -- Title Page -- Table of Contents -- Dedication -- Acknowledgements -- Preface -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: Gay in the U.S.A. -- Sodomy Statutes -- Changing the Laws -- Supporting the Community -- Voting With Your Feet -- Getting Legal Help -- Chapter 2: Protection From Discrimination -- What is Discrimination? -- Federal Protection -- State Law Protections -- Hate Crime Laws -- Discrimination in the Military -- Discrimination by Private Organizations -- Chapter 3: Home Sweet Home -- Renting -- Owning -- Home Sharing -- Chapter 4: Dealing with Finances -- Considering Joint Ownership -- Joint Bank Accounts -- Joint Investments -- Joint Credit Cards and Debts -- Retirement -- Safety Deposit Boxes -- Life Insurance -- Taxes -- Powers of Attorney -- Living Trusts -- Chapter 5: Health and Medical Issues -- Health Insurance -- Long-Term Care Insurance -- Medicaid -- Viatical Settlements -- Emergency Contact Cards -- Health Care Directives, Living Wills, and Health Care Powers of Attorney -- Hospital Visitation Authorization -- Partner Notification Laws -- End of Life Issues -- Chapter 6: Benefits, Insurance, and Legal Protections -- Employment Protection -- Domestic Partner Benefits -- Life Insurance -- Auto Insurance -- Homeowner's and Renter's Insurance -- Pensions and Retirement Programs -- Immigration -- Domestic Violence -- Public Assistance -- Privacy -- Chapter 7: Domestic Partnerships -- Adult Adoption -- LLCs -- California Domestic Partnerships -- Other Domestic Partnership Registries -- Commitment Ceremonies -- Domestic Partnership Agreements -- Chapter 8: Vermont Civil Unions -- Meaning of the Law -- Civil Union Benefits -- Procedure -- Civil Union Ceremony -- Dissolving a Civil Union -- Effect of Civil Union in Other States -- Chapter 9: Name and Gender Changes -- Choosing a Name -- Legal Name Change -- Name Change by Use.

Transsexual Name Changes -- Gender Change -- Other TG Issues -- Chapter 10: Estate Planning -- Intestate Inheritance -- Wills -- Guardianship of Children -- Living Trusts -- Powers of Attorney -- Joint Ownership -- Chapter 11: Becoming a Parent -- Stepparenting -- Adoption -- Foster Care Parenting -- Insemination -- Egg Donation -- Surrogacy -- Egg Nuclear Transfer -- Choosing an Adoption or Reproductive Rights Attorney -- Chapter 12: GLBT Parenting -- Your Child's Sexuality -- Role Models -- Dealing With Discrimination -- Safe Schools -- Summer Camps -- Parenting After a Break Up -- Chapter 13: Ending a Domestic Partnership -- Ending a Relationship That Had No Written Agreement -- Ending a Relationship With A Written Agreement -- Palimony -- Coping With a Break Up -- Chapter 14: GLBT Rights in a Traditional Marriage -- Transgenders and Marriage -- Divorce -- Alimony and Fault -- Custody -- Visitation -- Talking to Your Kids About Being Gay -- Conclusion -- Glossary -- Appendix A: Vermont Civil Union Law -- Appendix B: Vermont Town Clerk List -- Appendix C: California Domestic Partnership Law -- Appendix D: State Departments of Vital Records -- Appendix E: Resources -- Appendix F: Blank Forms -- Index -- About the Author -- Ad Pages -- Back Cover.