Gay marriage

The modern term for adelphopoiesis, a medieval Christian ceremony uniting two men (or less often, two women) in a bond similar to heterosexual matrimony. Although adelphopoiesis vows resembled traditional marriage vows, they did not include a sanction of sexual relations between the couple. For more information see John Boswell, "Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe", New York, Villard Books, 1994.