Same Sex Marriage
Ad by GoogleSame-sex marriage is one of the principles that LGBT activists feel stronglyabout. This would provide same-sex couples equal rights to those ofheterosexual couples, especially on the issue of adoption and insurance.However, most countries around the world do not recognize or perform suchunions.
But some countries recognize same-sex marriage, namely the Netherlands,Belgium, Canada, Spain, and South Africa. Israel recognizes same-sex marriagesperformed in other countries, but does not perform them. In the United States,these unions are currently considered unprotected by the country’s constitutionand is banned in the majority of states. It is, however, legal in the State ofMassachusetts but only for their residents and those living in RhodeIsland.
Civil unions
Civil unions or legal partnerships are being done in several countries inEurope’s such as the Scandinavian region, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Andorra,Slovenia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, and some regions inItaly. It is also operative in American states of Vermont and Connecticut, aswell as the Australian states of Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory, andin Mexico City.
Domestic relationships
Domestic partnership, which gives fewer rights than a civil union, isoperative in Hungary, Portugal, and Croatia. It is also being done in Americanstates of California, Maine, New Jersey, and District of Columbia, in theAustralian states and territories of Western Australia, New South Wales,Victoria, Northern Territory, and Queensland, in the Brazilian state of RioGrande do Sul and in the Argentinean province of Rio Negro and the city ofBuenos Aires.
Same sex marriage in U.S.
The state of Hawaii has “reciprocal beneficiaries’ relationship,” which is alimited interpersonal status for same-sex couples, while pending legalchallenges to marriage restrictions are aimed at expanding or reinforcing therecognition of same-sex marriages to California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, NewYork, Rhode Island, and Washington.
Meanwhile, steps are being undertaken to challenge the recognition ofsame-sex marriages and civil unions at prohibiting such recognition in statesof Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, NewYork, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota,Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The city of San Francisco in 2004 began sanctioning same-sex marriagesdespite their explicitly illegal in California. The state’s Supreme Courtdeclared the unions null and void. In 2005, a bill that would have changedCalifornia law to let same-sex couples marry was passed by both the Congressand the Senate. However, it was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.GuideTo.Com