Social-networking platform Facebook’s “Drop Down Status” relationship box allows users to describe their relationships, but so far same-sex couples were not provided with an option in the box to state their relationship.

In order to allow gays and lesbians describe their relationships, Facebook has added "In a domestic partnership" and "In a civil union" options to the list of relationship options, which already includes “Single,” “In a relationship,” “Engaged,” “Married,” “Separated,” “Divorced,” “Widowed,” “In an open relationship,” and “It's complicated.”

Speaking on the move, a spokesperson for Facebook claimed, “This has been a highly requested feature from users.”

However, Facebook’s relationship box will not feature the newly added options in countries like South Africa and Spain, where homosexual marriages are officially authorized. In the UK, homosexuals will be get the equivalent term “in a civil partnership” for describing their relationship.

 Jarrett Barrios, the president of Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has hailed the move, saying it was a strong statement of support for homosexuals.