Same-sex marriage around the world

PARIS: 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.

Britain will today become the fifth country to allow gay "marriages" on roughly the same basis as heterosexual marriages.

The Netherlands was the first nation to celebrate gay marriages in April 2001, followed by Belgium in January 2003, Canada in June and Spain in July.

In the United States, Massachusetts recognizes gay marriage and the California Senate approved it before the bill was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Canada legalized gay marriages in June and has already discovered one anomaly after a woman sued for divorce on the grounds of adultery between her husband and another man. A Vancouver court defined adultery as taking place only between men and women.

Homosexual marriage in Spain, once one of the world's most staunchly Roman Catholic nation, appears to be supported by a majority of Spaniards, whether straight or gay.

In Britain, the Church of England has refused to celebrate same-sex unions, even though the gay marriage law comes into effect today.

In a first for Africa, South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled in favour of same-sex marriages on Thursday and ordered parliament to change "intolerant" laws within a year.

At a level lower than marriage, many countries recognize same-sex civil unions, with no presumption of sexual involvement, for tax and inheritance purposes.

Denmark was the first country to allow "registered partnerships" or civil unions followed by the other main Nordic nations. France recognizes a union between any two adults, whether man or woman, in a Pact of Civil Solidarity.

In the United States also, Vermont and Connecticut recognize same-sex civil unions, while Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and California allow couples living together the same rights as married couples.

But many countries reject any kind of union between homosexuals, usually on religious grounds.

Australia's conservative government passed legislation last year that defined marriage as "a union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others."

Source: China Daily