What is the definition of a "committed relationship?"?

I have a gay friend who is thinking about "committing" to his partner and asked for my opinion the other day. Stupidly, I didn't ask him myself because I didn't want to seem like an idiot. Now, pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is a committed relationship in the GLBT community? Is it a marriage or just going steady? There is a ring involved here, so I'm guessing it's like a marriage.