From the "Gay Marriage is Nothing New" Dept
"Brotherment" contracts 600 years ago in Europe were effectively civil unions, sanctioned by the state. The couple would share "one bread, one wine, one purse" and could be used to sanction various non-nuclear-family living arrangements between relatives -- or otherwise unmarried men.
It's worth mentioning (and the article alludes to this) that marriage contracts in those days were more about property rights than about holy sanction.
It's worth mentioning (and the article alludes to this) that marriage contracts in those days were more about property rights than about holy sanction.