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Maybe they're just joining the rest of the civilized world, from which the US seems content to slowly distance itself.
| quote: | EUROPE
In a number of countries in Europe, the status of "registered partnership" has been established.
In 1989, Denmark became the first country to institute legislation granting registered same-sex partners the same rights as married couples. Church weddings are not allowed.
Norway, Sweden and Iceland all enacted similar legislation in 1996, and Finland followed suit six years later.
The Netherlands became the first country to offer full civil marriage rights to gay couples in 2001.
In neighbouring Belgium gay marriages were allowed in 2003.
Spain, too, legalised full marriage for gay couples in June 2005, despite fierce opposition from the Roman Catholic Church. Gay married couples can also adopt children.
Germany has allowed same-sex couples to register for "life partnerships" since 2001. The law only gives couples the same inheritance and tenants' rights as heterosexual married couples.
France in 1999 introduced a civil contract called the Pacs, which gives some rights to cohabiting couples, regardless of sex. These do not include the full rights of marriage, notably over taxes, inheritance and adoption. In 2004, a mayor conducted the country's first gay marriage, but it was later nullified by a court.
In Luxembourg, a law on civil partnerships largely inspired by the French model was introduced in 2004.
In Britain, legislation came into force in December 2005 giving same-sex couples in registered partnerships similar rights to married couples, in areas such as pensions, property, social security, and housing.
CANADA
In July 2005, a bill to legalise same-sex marriage became law. Gay marriage was already legal in eight of 10 provinces and one of Canada's three territories.
ARGENTINA
In July 2003 the first gay civil union took place, giving legal rights similar to those for heterosexual couples, but excluding adoption and inheritance rights. Argentina is the first country in Latin America to allow such unions.
NEW ZEALAND
In December, 2004, New Zealand's parliament passed controversial legislation to recognise civil unions between gay couples.
AFRICA
Although homosexuality remains a taboo subject in many African societies, South Africa is a liberal country in terms of gay rights.
The post-apartheid constitution includes a clause making discrimination based on sexual identity illegal. Homosexual couples are allowed to adopt.
In December 2005 South Africa's high court said it was unconstitutional to deny gay people the right to marry, and instructed parliament to amend marriage laws to include same-sex unions within a year. |
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