Nations that recognize same-sex marriage, partnerships or unions

Nations that recognize same-sex marriage include:

Belgium
The second nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003.

Canada
In June of 2005, the Canadian Parliament enacted a law allowing legal marriage for same-sex couples.

Netherlands
The Netherlands is the first country to grant gay marriage in 2001.

Spain
On June 29, 2005, Spain became the fourth nation to allow gay marriage.

South Africa
The fifth nation to recognize gay marriage in 2005.


US states that recognize gay marriage:

California
In May of 2008, California's Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage in the state was discriminatory. However, Proposition 8, a voter initiative was passed, effectively striking down the court ruling. Although the legality of Prop 8 is being decided right now, at the moment, marriage in California is defined as between one man and one woman.

Connecticut
In a 4 to 3 decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, making it the third state to allow legal gay marriage.

Massachusetts
On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. The State of Massachusetts also issues licenses to gay couples from New Mexico and Rhode Island since neither state explicitly prohibits same-sex marriage.

New Jersey*
New Jersey is the third U.S. state to offer same-sex civil unions behind Vermont and Connecticut. The new same-sex civil unions law, which went into affect on February 19, 2007, grants gay and lesbian couples the same rights as marriage. *(Although same-sex unions in New Jersey are classified as civil unions, couples are granted the same rights as married heterosexual couples.)

New York
Based on a May 29, 2008 directive, New York only recognizes gay marriages from couples legally married outside of the state.


Nations that allow same-sex partnerships or unions:

Brazil
Only the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul allows same-sex civil unions. (June 2006).

Croatia
Civil partnerships for same-sex couples have been allowed since 2003.

Denmark
Legal civil partnerships have been allowed since 1989.

Finland
Has offered registered partnership benefits since September 2001.

France
Pacte Civil de Solidarité” (PACS), or “Civil Solidarity Pacts,” were instituted in France on November 9, 1999.

Germany
Gay couples can register as "Life Partnerships," granting lesser financial and pension benefits than marriage.

Hungary
Gay couples have been protected under common-law marriages since 1995, buy they are not eligible for legal marriage.

Iceland
Since 1996, gay & lesbian couples have been protected under registered partnerships.

Luxembourg
Civil partnership legislation, which is similar to France's PACS, were introduced in Luxembourg in 2004.

Mexico
Same sex civil unions were legalized in Mexico City in November 2006 and in the state of Coahuila on January of 2007, essentially making civil unions legal in all of Mexico (by law, each Mexican state must recognize the laws granted to individuals of the other states).

New Zealand
New Zealand enacted legislation recognizing same-sex civil unions in December of 2004.

Norway
Since 1996, gay & Lesbian couples have been protected under registered partnerships.

Portugal
Same-sex partners have the same rights as opposite-sex partners in common law marriage.

Sweden
Since 1995, Swedish same-sex couples have been able to register under domestic partnership laws.

Switzerland
Same-sex couples are given limited legal benefits with civil recognition.

United Kingdom
Domestic partners can register under the Civil Partnership Act. This legislation took affect in December 5, 2005 giving registered same-sex couples the same rights, privileges and responsibilities of married heterosexual couples. The Civil Partnership Act applies across all of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

US States that allow same-sex partnerships or unions:

Connecticut
Although Connecticut defines marriage as between a man and woman, in April 2005, it became the second U.S. state to grant same-sex civil unions.

New Hampshire
New Hampshire was the 4th state behind Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut to offer civil unions. In January 2008, same-sex partners were allowed to register for civil unions.

Oregon
Under Oregon's new domestic partnership law gay and lesbian couples are eligible for all the state-wide rights and benefits of marriage.

Vermont
In 2000, Vermont became the first U.S. state to offer same-sex civil unions.

Washington
On April 21, 2007, Washington's domestic partnership bill was signed into law giving gay and lesbian couples many of the benefits of marriage.

Sources:
Lambda Legal
Glaad.org
about.com

Marriage Equality Goes Before the California Supreme Court

It has taken four years for the legal battle over California's marriage equality to reach the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, March 4th at 9:00 am, California's seven Supreme Court justices will hear oral arguments in the San Francisco marriage case that was launched in March of 2004. This case challenges the constitutionality of state law that discriminates against same-sex couples in marriage.

The History:
The San Francisco same-sex weddings took place between February 12 and March 11 of 2004 when San Francisco's mayor, Gavin Newsom, issued a directive to the city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

On February 20, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered state attorney general Bill Lockyer to halt the marriages. Lockyer refused, although he agreed that the marriages were unlawful.

On March 11th, the California Supreme Court ordered the city to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. However by this time, approximately 4,000 same-sex couples had already been issued marriage licenses.

In August of 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that all the marriage licenses are worthless, and the subsequent marriages are not valid.

Shortly after the marriage licenses were invalidated, the marriage cases were filed with the court. In April of 2005, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard A. Kramer ruled that the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage violates the California Constitution.

In November of 2006, in a 2-1 vote, the California Court of Appeal reversed Judge Kramer's ruling. Now, the California Supreme Court is poised to hear the case.

This is a landmark case and shouldn't be missed. And lucky for us, we will be able to watch oral arguments live on the California Channel cable network (televised statewide), as well as a live webcast. For a list of local stations, or to find the webcast, go to www.calchannel.com.


There will also be Community viewings available in San Francisco (9 a.m. to 12 noon, unless otherwise noted) at the following locations:

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco LGBT Community Center
Three Dollar Bill Cafe
1800 Market Street (at Octavia)

UC Hastings College of the Law
Louis B. Mayer Auditorium
198 McAllister Street
(Panel discussion about the cases will follow at 12:30 p.m.)

California Supreme Court
Overflow Auditorium
359 McAllister Street

Milton Marks Conference Center
Hiram J. Smith State Office Building
Lower Level
455 Golden Gate Avenue

Help Stop An Anti-Equality Marriage Amendment

In 2006, California became the first state to prevent an effort by right-wing radicals and religious extremists to qualify an anti-equality marriage amendment on the California state ballot. In a renewed effort to place a discriminatory constitutional amendment onto the California ballot this November, these conservative organizations have hired paid signature gatherers to do their dirty work.

Two of these out-of-state organizations, Nationformarriage.org and protectmarriage.com, are financially backing this effort to deny California's same-sex couples the right to marry. To get this amendment onto the 2008 ballot, they will need to gather 1.2 million signatures by April. 

"These out-of-state extremists continue to expend time and resources to write discrimination into our California Constitution, in spite of the fact that Californians are tired of these costly and divisive campaigns," said Lorri L. Jean, chief executive officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, and member of the Equality for All campaign's executive committee. "California voters have a long history of supporting fairness and equal treatment under the law. We believe voters will reject this measure, and the politics of hate and division it represents."

As Californians and lesbians, we need to make it a priority to thwart all efforts by these out-of-state extremists to make decisions for our state. It is essential that we pass this information on to our friends and families so that we can prevent anyone from signing a petition that will allow marriage discrimination in California.

You can find more information about the Equality for All campaign is available at http://www.equalityforall.com/.

Al Gore stands up for Gay Marriage

I have to applaud our former Vice President, Al Gore, for posting a video on current.com supporting gay marriage.

In his video Gore says,"I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women – to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage, to allow it by gays and lesbians," Gore said in the video on Current TV. “Shouldn't we be promoting the kind of faithfulness and loyalty to one’s partner regardless of sexual orientation?"

With the leading Democratic presidential candidates supporting some form of Civil Unions, but not same-sex marriage, I wonder if Gore's words will have any impact on the candidates positions.

Where is Same-Sex Marriage Legal?

If you haven't heard the bad news already, I am sure you could have guessed it...Last week Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB43, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. Not that I am surprised to hear about the Governor's veto, but with more and more Californians in support of same-sex marriage and the Legislature approving the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, it appears as though the Governor is alone in allowing discrimination against same-sex couples in California.

Of course California is not the only location the struggle for equal rights for same-sex couples is occurring, Gays & Lesbians all over the world are fighting for equal protection under the law. Here is a comprehensive guide to same-sex marriage laws around the world that I thought might be interesting for everyone to see.


Nations that recognize gay marriage:

Canada
In June of 2005, the Canadian Parliament enacted a law allowing legal marriage for same-sex couples.

Belgium
The second nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003.

Netherlands
The first country to grant gay marriage in 2001.

South Africa
South Africa became the fifth nation to recognize gay marriage in 2005.

Spain
Spain became the fourth nation to allow gay marriage on June 29, 2005.


US states that recognize gay marriage:

New Jersey*
New Jersey is the third U.S. state to offer same-sex civil unions behind Vermont and Connecticut. The new same-sex civil unions law, which goes into affect on February 19, 2007, grants gay and lesbian couples the same rights as marriage. *(Although same-sex unions in New Jersey are classified as civil unions, couples are granted the same rights as married heterosexual couples.) read more

Massachusetts
On May 17, 2004 Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. The State of Massachusetts also issues licenses to gay couples from New Mexico and Rhode Island since neither state explicitly prohibits same-sex marriage.


Nations that allow same-sex partnerships or unions:

Croatia
Civil partnerships for same-sex couples have been granted since 2003.

Denmark
Legal civil partnerships have been allowed since 1989.

Finland
Has offered registered partnership benefits since September 2001.

France
Pacte Civil de Solidarité” (PACS), or “Civil Solidarity Pacts,” were instituted in France on November 9, 1999.

Germany
Gay couples can register as "Life Partnerships," granting lesser financial and pension benefits than marriage.

Hungary
Gay couples have been protected under common-law marriages since 1995; however they are not eligible for legal marriage.

Iceland
Since 1996, gay Icelanders have been protected under registered partnerships.

Luxembourg
Civil partnership legislation modeled after France's PACS were introduced in Luxembourg in 2004.

Mexico
Same sex civil unions were legalized in Mexico City in November 2006 and in the state of Coahuila on January of 2007, essentially making civil unions legal in all of Mexico (by law, each Mexican state must recognize the laws granted to individuals of the other states). (More on Gay Mexico)

New Zealand
In December, 2004, New Zealand enacted legislation recognizing same-sex civil unions.

Norway
Since 1996, gay Norwegians have been protected under registered partnerships.

Portugal
Same-sex partners have the same rights as opposite-sex partners in common law marriage.

Sweden
Swedish same-sex couples have been able to register under domestic partnership laws since 1995.

Switzerland
Same-sex couples are given limited legal benefits with civil recognition.

United Kingdom
Domestic partners can register under the Civil Partnership Act. This legislation took affect in December 5, 2005 giving registered same-sex couples all of the rights, privileges and responsibilities of married heterosexual couples. The Civil Partnership Act applies across all of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.


US States that allow same-sex partnerships or unions:

California
California provides domestic partnership benefits. The state legislature successfully voted in favor of legal gay marriage in California, only to be vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In March, 2005, a San Francisco judge ruled that the law banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

Connecticut
Although Connecticut defines marriage as between a man and woman, it became the second U.S. state to grant same-sex civil unions in April, 2005.

New Hampshire
New Hampshire, home of the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, became the 4th state behind Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut to offer civil unions. Same-sex partners were allowed to register for civil unions in January 2008. More on New Hampshire Civil Unions

Oregon
Under Oregon's new domestic partnership law gay and lesbian couples are eligible for all the state-wide rights and benefits of marriage. Oregon also outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation. (more)

Vermont
The first U.S. state to offer same-sex civil unions in 2000. Learn about Vermont civil unions.

Washington
On April 21, 2007, Washington's domestic partnership bill was signed into law giving gay and lesbian couples many of the benefits of marriage.


Nations that ban same-sex unions:

Honduras
On March 29, 2005, the constitution of Honduras was amended banning same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.

Latvia
December 21, 2005 marked the day Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga signed into law a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Uganda
On September 29, 2005, legislation banning same-sex unions was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Penalties for gay marriage will be set in 2006. Under current law, homosexual acts are punishable by imprisonment from five years to life.

This information was gathered by Ramone Johnson from About.com