French Straight Couples Opt for Civil Unions

Civil unions, which were instituted to grant more rights to gay couples in France, are on track to become the preferred option of straight couples.

The New York Times reports on the changing cultural attitudes in the past decade that have resulted today in two civil unions for every three marriages.

"When France created its system of civil unions in 1999, it was heralded as a revolution in gay rights, a relationship almost like marriage, but not quite," reports the Times. "No one, though, anticipated how many couples would make use of the new law. Nor was it predicted that by 2009, the overwhelming majority of civil unions would be between straight couples."

Easy dissolution explains one aspect of the appeal behind civil unions, said fans of the institution. A registered letter is the only thing required to end the legal relationship.