01-12-2017, 10:23 PM
(01-11-2017, 05:27 PM)Duchess Wrote: In 2009 only 4 states recognized marriage equality and today, in every state in America you're free to marry the person you love. I'm really proud of my country for this.
It was a huge step forward in a short time, following decades of activism inside and outside of the LGBT community. I'm proud that the U.S. did the fair and right thing too.
Most countries still don't recognize same sex marriage. But, a hell of a lot of progress has been made in the last 15 years.
In the late 20th century, religious rites of marriage without legal recognition became increasingly common. The first law providing for marriage of people of the same sex in modern times was enacted in 2001 in the Netherlands.
As of 3 January 2017, same-sex marriage is legally recognized (nationwide or in some parts) in the following countries: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay.
A similar law in Finland is not yet in force. Polls show rising support for legally recognizing same-sex marriage in the Americas, Australia and most of Europe. However, as of 2016 South Africa is the only African country where same-sex marriage is recognized, and no country in Asia allows same-sex marriage ceremonies, although Israel accepts same-sex marriages performed overseas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage