Same-sex marriage is the union of two people who are of the same gender. Other terms include "gender-neutral marriage", "equal marriage", "gay marriage", "lesbian marriage," "homosexual marriage", and "same-gender marriage".
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, opposing efforts to legalize or ban same-sex civil marriage made it a topic of debate all over the world. At present, same-sex marriages are recognized in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, and the U.S. commonweath of Massachusetts.
On December 1, 2005, South Africa’s Constitutional Court extended marriage to include same-sex couples. The court mandated that changes go into effect by the end of 2006.
Civil unions, domestic partnerships, and other legal recognitions of same-sex couples which offer varying amounts of the benefits of marriage are available in: Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory and the U.S. states of California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Vermont, and the U.S. territory of Washington, D.C.. The first same-sex union with government recognition was obtained in Denmark in 1989.
Information quoted from Answers.com
UPDATED 07.20.2011
Here is a map of marriage rights as of the date noted above:
2 comments:
John this deserves its own talking point, would you repost it as a thread please? This is a huge step forward.
Ark. unlikely to appeal order reversing gay foster parent ban
Board leaves action up to Legislature
PARIS, Ark. (AP) | Sep 8, 7:59 AM
The head of a state panel that had approved a policy banning homosexuals from serving as foster parents says it is unlikely Arkansas will appeal court decisions rejecting the ban.
The Child Welfare Agency Licensing Review Board, meeting at the Mount Magazine State Park, intended a formal vote Thursday.
"I'd just like to let the Legislature work on this one," board chairman James Balcom said.
A Pulaski County judge and the state Supreme Court each ruled that the board did not have the authority to impose the ban. A state Health and Human Services department lawyer said the state has until Sept. 29 to file papers with the U.S. Supreme Court that it intends to keep fighting.
Four people sued after the board adopted the policy in 1999 and the board dropped the policy after losing a court fight in 2004. The four who successfully sued the board did not apply to serve as foster parents, a state spokeswoman said after the state Supreme Court affirmed the ban in June.
Gov. Mike Huckabee has said he hoped legislators would consider a ban but that he was not inclined to call a special legislative session to address the issue. He leaves office in January before the next term of the Legislature.
The board had instituted the ban in March 1999, saying children should be in traditional two-parent homes because they are more likely to thrive in that environment.
Source for this is Houston Voice Online.
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