Going gay around the world
Font size:
NEWSX
Although it is one of the most turbulent moral issues of the day, homosexual marriages and other forms of same-sex partnerships are gaining acceptance around the world.
The most populous US state California will hold its first gay marriages starting today, two weeks after the state Supreme Court quashed a ban on the partnerships in a historic ruling.
It becomes the second US state after Massachusetts to allow gay marriages. The Netherlands was the first nation to celebrate gay marriages in April 2001, followed by Belgium in June 2003, Canada and Spain in July 2005, and Britain in December 2005. In India, homosexuality is an offence punishable by up to life in prison, and there is no discussion of the issue.
Same-sex marriages are prohibited in China and Russia. South Africa became in November 2006 the first African country to legalise same-sex marriage. The Civil Union Act, 2006, allows for civil unions to be solemnised by way of either a marriage or a civil partnership.
Norway followed earlier this year when parliament adopted a law allowing homosexuals to marry and adopt children and lesbians to be artificially inseminated.
Homosexual marriage in Spain, once one of the world's most staunchly Roman Catholic nations, has called down fulminations from the Vatican, but appears to be supported by a majority of Spaniards, whether straight or gay.
In Britain, the establishment Church of England has refused to celebrate same-sex unions. At a level lower than marriage, many countries recognise same-sex civil unions for tax and inheritance purposes. In other countries, such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan andAfghanistan, it is simply out of the question.
The most populous US state California will hold its first gay marriages starting today, two weeks after the state Supreme Court quashed a ban on the partnerships in a historic ruling.
It becomes the second US state after Massachusetts to allow gay marriages. The Netherlands was the first nation to celebrate gay marriages in April 2001, followed by Belgium in June 2003, Canada and Spain in July 2005, and Britain in December 2005. In India, homosexuality is an offence punishable by up to life in prison, and there is no discussion of the issue.
Same-sex marriages are prohibited in China and Russia. South Africa became in November 2006 the first African country to legalise same-sex marriage. The Civil Union Act, 2006, allows for civil unions to be solemnised by way of either a marriage or a civil partnership.
Norway followed earlier this year when parliament adopted a law allowing homosexuals to marry and adopt children and lesbians to be artificially inseminated.
Homosexual marriage in Spain, once one of the world's most staunchly Roman Catholic nations, has called down fulminations from the Vatican, but appears to be supported by a majority of Spaniards, whether straight or gay.
In Britain, the establishment Church of England has refused to celebrate same-sex unions. At a level lower than marriage, many countries recognise same-sex civil unions for tax and inheritance purposes. In other countries, such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan andAfghanistan, it is simply out of the question.
del.icio.us
Digg
Technorati
Email to a friend
Print version
Plain text
Comments (0 posted):
Post your comment