Wellness for Peace Education on Climate Change: 04/25/11

Monday, April 25, 2011

Farm to School program brings locally grown produce to the lunchroom | Family | Kentucky.com

Farm to School program brings locally grown produce to the lunchroom | Family | Kentucky.com: "Even in a state as rural as Kentucky, a lot of students have no exposure to agricultural life, said Dr. Jayaram Srinivasan, chief resident in the preventive medicine department at the University of Kentucky and an advocate of the program.

'A lot of these kids don't even know where their food comes from,' he said.

Farm to School is a cooperative effort among a number of local groups, including the UK College of Public Health, the Lexington- Fayette County Health Department and Lexington Farmers Market.

The program at Lansdowne is a pilot for a program that Srinivasan hopes will be offered eventually in all Fayette County public schools. The goal is to not only let kids understand where food comes from and why eating healthy food is important, but also to connect local farmers to the school system so that fresh, locally grown produce can become a standard part of a school menu.

Taste tests, like the one conducted last week, are merged with classroom lessons about food groups and making healthy choices."

Man's Health Problems Inspire Holistic Business - Bakersfield News Story - KERO Bakersfield

Man's Health Problems Inspire Holistic Business - Bakersfield News Story - KERO Bakersfield: "Neal was treated with anti-fungal medicine that seemed to have done the trick. But the more serious cases of valley fever usually take a toll on its victims, leaving them fatigued and worn out for several years.
'It was pretty painful. I was weak all the time. I could not even walk across the room without resting. I didn't want to live like that, and I wanted to get well. So I started reading health food books,' said Neal.
Neal said his research taught him how to keep the bad fungus in check using nutritional supplements.
'Actually we need fungus for digestion. The problem with valley fever; the bad fungus starts controlling the body,' said Neal.
It was the nearly fatal brush with the disease that birthed the health food store Neal started in mid-life.
'Before I got valley fever, I was in my 40s and could care less about vitamins. Then I learned the only way I was going to get well was through the natural way,' said Neal."

Hopeful Perspective Aids Healthy Diet | Psych Central News

Hopeful Perspective Aids Healthy Diet | Psych Central News: "The question remained as to why an individual who feels positive would be more likely to eat a candy bar rather than a piece of fruit. According to the authors, the difference is that positive feelings come from that thinking about the past or the present (pride and happiness) while hope is a projection to the future.

In the authors’ first study, hopeful participants consumed fewer M&Ms than people who experienced happiness.

In a second study, the authors found that consumers who were more focused on the past chose unhealthy snacks, even if they felt hope.

In the third study, the researchers shifted the time frame of the positive emotion (having participants feel hopeful about the past or having them experience pride in the future). “That is, if someone is anticipating feeling proud, she prefers fewer unhealthy snacks than someone experiencing pride,” the authors wrote.

Finally, the authors compared future-focused positive emotions (hopefulness, anticipated pride) to future-focused negative emotions (fear, anticipated shame). They found that the combination of positivity and future focus enhanced self-control."

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Clean Monogamous Homosexual Sex is Safe: No need for Contraceptive

Clean Monogamous Homosexual Sex is Safe: No need for Contraceptive provided you have a free heart and a free thinking. Homosexual relationship is groovy kind of love where two respectable individuals are attracted to each other and agreed to have a relationship beyond the norms of the society. The acceptance of this relationship varies with the culture where they live and belong. In the Philippines, it is not acceptable, not encouraged but is also not being condemned. In other countries like Canada and some parts of the US, homosexual relationship gained a legal standing with equal rights as that of heterosexuals.

To talk about homosexuality will take a long discourse as it has a lot of issues that goes along with it.

A woman or a man who wish to do it out of curiosity must first consider the following pointers before doing it:

First, a person must have a free heart, meaning it is not taken legally or otherwise by another person, period. How? The person should be in the position that she/he is open to love and be with someone freely without the rules imposed by society.

Sex is not just physical gratification or feasting out of curiosity. During sexual activity, two persons who do it produce a certain hormone called oxytocin that when release during love making makes the person feel that she/he is involve, in-love and in-need of his/her partner almost everyday after the first sexual act. It is a normal phenomenon, biological and psychological effect of the hormone oxytocin in the body. Like drugs, this hormone produces the same effect not only to homosexuals but also to heterosexuals. That is why, after love-making, they thought they are in-love. Well if they do, that is another matter, subject for another discussion in my separate writing (please see “How to know your in love and not in lust?” Book 5 Innovative Mind & Body).

Now let’s say you wanted to try homosexual sex and you got emotionally involve with the gay or the butch, what if you don’t have a free heart, meaning your heart is taken by someone else then it produces confusion, irritation, annoyance, and worst trauma not to you but to the butch or to the gay, for they will feel that they were just used for sexual pleasures or curiosity at a certain time. Instead of being a lover, you became their heart oppressor as you made them feel love and wanted but only up to the bed because you cannot commit for a relationship, for reasons that you are married, in relationship, engaged or just in a state of being complicated.

Homosexuals are sensitive, delicate and dignified individuals who like heterosexuals, wants to have a decent relationship in society where they currently belong. Butch is Men & Gays are Women. We must treat them as gentlemen and ladies, they deserve that. However, in the society like the Philippines, homosexuals grew up always adjusting or worst hiding their identity for fear of discrimination. Thus, their personalities were not fully developed. Most of the time they can only have the bravery and the freedom to explore it during their teenage years in the company of same homosexuals or some on their later years 30s, 40s or 50s. If we just imagine how difficult the life they had to go through just to be accepted, they have mastered the art of self-sacrifice.

Now if you plan to get involve with a homosexual make it serious. Don’t play games. Thus, check your heart first, is it free? Just like in a heterosexual relationship, you will not involve yourself into a relationship with someone else if you know that you are putting the other person in misery because you have another commitment. Or even if you are not in-love anymore or you declared yourself separated to your previous relationship (live-in or married), is it already final? Did you already speak to your ex that everything is over and that you need your freedom to enter into a new relationship, either homosexual or heterosexual? If married, are you legally separated that already allows you to have a new relationship? It is best, if your previous marriage is already annulled, that way you can marry your homosexual partner in another country (please see list of countries that allows marriage for the homosexuals).

Why is it so? Because your homosexual partner needs a dignified relationship. A relationship that will not put them into trouble. A relationship that will make them secured. Comparatively, homosexuals are more insecure than heterosexuals because they grew up unaccepted of their chosen gender. They grew up where they were not treated properly as ladies and gentlemen. So, if you are asking for a commitment to a homosexual make yourself free first. This way you give them the security that you can go through the relationship as an adult ready to defend it all cost. Do not expect a homosexual to defend you, they do not have the prowess that you have, they get their emotional security from you. Thus do not ask for a commitment but you give them your commitment.

Second, you have a free thinking. A free thinker is open to all possibilities. To them every idea has a face value. They do not discriminate anyone on the basis of sex, age, race, religion, etc. They are brave to explore. They are willing to learn to understand. They believe nothing is impossible and everything can be acceptable in due time. They don’t have barriers. They respect individualism and collectivism. They do not carry any dogma of religion, customs, politics, culture, etc.

They are not traditionalist, neither are they conformist.

But most importantly, free thinkers are not rebels. They reached a certain point of intellectual maturity that they know what the society requires of a person to be acceptable that is why they know how to act accordingly.

And beyond all else and everything they see, hear and touch, they KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.

They are not in search, but they have searched and had found the answer to the kind of life they wanted to live for the rest of their lifetime.

If you are like this, congratulations!

Entering into a homosexual or heterosexual relationship, whoever you prefer requires such a kind of person in order to defend the relationship.

The requirement for a free thinker is much needed for a homosexual relationship given that homosexuals were not granted equal rights as that of heterosexuals. Most of the time, they do not have strong family support (and in most cases butch or gays live away from their relatives for they were not accepted in the first place to maintain their sanity and continue their career, this is the usual cases in the Philippines).

In Asian countries where strong family ties are customs and traditions, homosexual relationship would take time (luckily!) to be accepted. However, there are cases that butch and gays are part of the family gatherings being introduced as friends of their son or daughter, but rarely introduced as husband or wife of their son or daughter, respectively.

So if you expect that eventually your homosexual partner will be accepted in your family, circle of friends, relatives, officemates, bosses, etc, forget it! It will take millions of full moon before this will happen, not unless of course you live in France!

That means your gay or butch partner will always be insecure of your status if your relationship is going anywhere, or nowhere. No further explanation.

To make your relationship work will take your free thinking capabilities to always find a good reasons, of course aside form love, on why you still stay in the Philippines in the first place, and or why you still attend a religious gathering where you are both being condemned for cases of immorality. And that you need to stay because you are employed and you conform because both your career is at stake. And when the money is gone, you fear that love may be gone.

These are reality bites.

Do not fret; there are good chances that homosexual relationship will flourish. Here are some suggestions:

Join support groups of homosexuals that support monogamous relationship. I say “monogamous”, meaning it promotes loyalty. If you sense that it is not, don’t join. Just stay home with your partner and enrich your relationship together. Pray daily on how you can be guided.

Find your own church if you are being condemned to your existing church to avoid instilling hate and to protect your faith. Anyway, God is not an exclusive property of one religion

Be sensitive to your partner’s mood to hint insecurities. If there is, be open to talk about both of your fears and worries and settle it before going to sleep or early in the morning before you take your coffee.

Do not shout at each other, not unless the house is on fire. This will also preserve your privacy from the neighbors who are always curious on how the homosexuals do it

To migrate and live in a country where homosexuals are given equal rights as heterosexuals is a good option. Be open on the idea so you can save money and prepare

Prioritize your partner over your family. Your loyalty is to your husband or to your wife, not to your parents or relatives. Remember, homosexuals did not marry a clan, they married you!

Do not expect your homosexual partner to provide you financially because you have more opportunities than them. Gender discrimination in the workplace still exists. So your partner may be in and out of work, be responsible to make both ends meet.

Teach your partner to be loyal to you by devoting yourself and your body only to your partner. Do not encourage open relationship. This will prevent HIVs and other sexual diseases brought about by promiscuous relationships.

Remember beyond sexual relationship there is emotional relationship.

Emotional relationship and bonding is safe because as you both grow old and your relationship is passing through time, sexual desire lessen. If sexual needs are the most prevalent thoughts always, either one of you will always look for someone better in bed. The complications of these thereafter produce heartaches.

To be emotionally involved is to know the emotional needs of your partner and treat it as your own. Thus, you attend to it and settle it together. Do not let your partner be emotionally involved even without sex to someone else through face book, texts or other means.

When you decide to be as a couple, you are not two separate individuals anymore but you cohabit to become one.

Sex is sacred. It involves complete meeting of two persons mind, body and spirit. When a person only made sex with the mind imagining someone else while the body is doing it to another one else, it is not love-making, but rather it is lust-making.

When you love a person, you make love, you don’t make lust.

Thus, you can only make love “only” to the one you love. You are monogamous in mind, body and spirit. You are not tempted to look at other person’s body in the internet just to be lustful and take that when you make love to your wife or to your husband. You cannot even treat your partner as a lustful sex object.

And when you love a person that you want to make love, you keep your mind, body and spirit clean. You detoxify and clean your mind with all the negative thoughts about your partner; you purify your spirit with constant prayer and meditation; and you nourish your body not to make it sick and always keep it healthy.

And of course, you devote your clean and well-maintained body and sex organ only to your wife or husband meant for love-making and not lust making.

So before you take the sex plunge, get a medical report (!) to secure you both that you don’t have sexual disease. Then tell this “mind-body-spirit” sexual activity devotion to your partner before you start your first make love and make this your agreement, loyalty and commitment in deeds not only as a couple but as children of God.

Thus, you don’t need any contraceptive, you are both safe.

Note: This article is meant for two persons who will enter into a relationship. If you are single and you are in need of sex, the safest way to do it is to divert your sensuality to creativity or sports to release your overflowing passion. But if on heat and you can’t control on full moonJ might as well masturbate. Better safe than sorryJ

Further readings:

Civil recognition

World homosexuality laws

Netherlands in 2001 was the first country to legalize same-sex marriages, with the first marriages performed in the Amsterdam city hall on 1 April 2001. Since then, same-sex marriages have been recognized legally by Belgium (2003), Spain (2005),Canada (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009), Portugal (2010),Iceland (2010), and Argentina (2010).

In the United States, same-sex marriages are recognized in its federal district, theDistrict of Columbia (2010), and in five states: Massachusetts (2004), Connecticut(2008), Iowa (for 4 hours in 2007 and from 2009), Vermont (2009) and New Hampshire (2010). A 1996 law prevents the U.S. federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, but this law is under challenge in the courts and was recently ruled unconstitutional by a federal district court in Massachusetts.^[1][2]This ruling is currently under a stay, but if the stay is lifted, same-sex marriages in Massachusetts would be afforded both state and federal recognition. If the case is affirmed on appeal, it could be applied regionally in the U.S. or, if affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, nationwide.

In Mexico, same-sex marriage is recognized in Mexico City (2010).^[3]

[edit]Africa

See also: LGBT rights in Africa

Same-sex sexual activity legal

Same-sex marriage

Other type of partnership (or unregistered cohabitation)

Foreign same-sex marriages recognized

No recognition of same-sex couples

Same-sex sexual activity illegal

Penalty

Life in prison

Death penalty

[edit]South Africa

In December 2005, in the case of Minister of Home Affairs v. Fourie, the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled unanimously that it was unconstitutional to prevent people of the same gender from marrying when marriage was permitted for people of opposite gender, and gave Parliamentone year to "rework laws allowing same-sex unions". If Parliament does not act, the words "or spouse" will be added to the Marriage Act to allow these unions.

South Africa has completed the process of reorganizing certain government departments to support gay marriages. By July 2005, the Department of Home Affairs had completed the design and printing of new forms to allow for same-sex couples to apply for immigration and residence benefits. Several same-sex couples are already legally recognized as married, based on the definition of "spouse" in South Africa's Immigration Act of 2002.

In November 2006 the government of South Africa passed the Civil Unions Act, allowing for the "voluntary union of two persons, which is solemnized and registered by either a marriage or civil union". The law allows for churches to refuse to perform civil unions.

[edit]Asia

Main article: LGBT rights in Asia

Asia
Same-sex sexual activity legal

Same-sex marriage

Other type of partnership (or unregistered cohabitation)

Foreign same-sex marriages recognized

No recognition of same-sex couples

Same-sex marriage banned only

Same-sex sexual activity illegal

Penalty

Life in prison

Death penalty

[edit]Nepal

Nepal's highest court, in November 2008, issued final judgment on matters related to LGBT rights. Based on its recommendation the government will introduce asame-sex marriage bill.^[4][5] Same-sex marriage and protection for sexual minorities will be included in the new Nepalese constitution currently being drafted.^[6][7]

[edit]China

The National People's Congress, legislature of the People's Republic of China (PRC), proposed legislation allowing same-sex marriages in 2003. During the course of the debate, the proposal failed to garner the 30 votes needed for a placement on the agenda. Same-sex marriage supporters have vowed to keep pressing for its passage in the PRC.

[edit]Japan

Article 24 of the Japanese constitution states that "Marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes and it shall be maintained through mutual cooperation with the equal rights of husband and wife as a basis." The purpose of the clause was to counter previous feudal arrangement where the father or husband was legally recognized as the head of the household. However, the new constitution had the unintended consequence of defining the marriage as union of "both sexes", i.e. man and women.^{[citation needed]} However, on 27 March 2009, it was reported that Japan has given the green light for its nationals to marry same-sex foreign partners in countries where same-sex marriages is legal, a justice ministry official said Friday.^[8] Japan does not allow same-sex marriages domestically and has so far also refused to issue a key document required for citizens to wed overseas if the applicant's intended spouse was of the same gender. Under the change, the justice ministry has told local authorities to issue the key certificate—which states a person is single and of legal age—for those who want to enter same-sex marriages.

[edit]Taiwan

In 2003, the government of the Republic of China, (ROC, aka Taiwan) led by the Presidential office, proposed legislation granting marriages to same-sex couples under the Human Rights Basic Law. However, it faced opposition among cabinet members and has not proceeded. ROC does not have any form of same-sex unions.

[edit]South Korea

On 30 July 2004, the Democratic Labor Party of South Korea filed a formal complaint against the Incheon District Court's decision to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages. The complaint was filed on the grounds that the decision is unconstitutional, because neither theConstitution nor civil law define marriage as being between a man and a woman (the only mentioned requisite is age of majority) and that the Constitution explicitly forbids discrimination "pertaining to all political, economic, social, or cultural aspects of life of an individual." The Committee also claimed that refusal to recognize same-sex marriages constitutes discrimination based on sexual orientation and a refusal to provide equal protection under the law.^[9]

[edit]Philippines

The New People's Army of the Philippines conducted the country’s first same-sex marriage in 2005. However it was not recognized by the government. Within the government there has been some debate on the issue of same-sex unions. The Roman Catholic Church stands in fierce opposition to any such unions. But since 1991 the Metropolitan Community Church Philippines has been conducting Same Sex Holy Unions in the Philippines. As of 2010, the issue of same-sex marriage is not "under consideration" in the Philippines. The only thing under consideration is a possible ban on same-sex marriage, including refusal to recognize marriages performed overseas. No political party has placed gay rights on its platform aside from Akbayan, a small party with only one representative in Congress. The Philippines has yet to even approve any anti-discrimination legislation, so any serious look at same-sex unions (in a positive sense at least) is likely decades or more away.^[10]

[edit]Cambodia

The King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk, announced in 2004 that he supports legislation extending marriage rights to same-sex couples. However, since his proclamation no effort has been made to legislate for them.

In an exceptional case, a marriage between a lesbian couple was legally and religiously solemnized in 1995 in Kandal Province.[11]

[edit]Israel

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Israel

Marriages in Israel are performed under the authority of the religious authorities to which the couple belong. For Jewish couples the responsible religious authority is the orthodox Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The Rabbinate does not permit same-sex marriages. However, on 21 November 2006 the Supreme Court of Israel ruled that five same-sex Israeli couples who had married in Canada were entitled to have their marriages registered in Israel.^[11]

[edit]Europe

Main article: LGBT rights in Europe

Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe

Same-sex marriage

Other type of partnership

Unregistered cohabitation

Issue under political consideration

Unrecognized

Constitution limits marriage to man–woman

v · d · e

Same-sex civil marriages are legally recognized nationwide in the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland. In a number of other European countries, same-sex civil unions give similar rights to marriage.

A poll conducted by EOS Gallup Europe in 2003 found that 57 percent of the population in the then 15-member European Union support same-sex marriage. The support among the member states who joined in 2004 is lower (around 28 percent), meaning that 53 percent of citizens in the 25-member EU support legalizing same-sex marriage.^{[12][dead link]}

[edit]Albania

Albania's governing party, the Democratic Party of Albania, proposed a law on 30 July 2009 that would allow same-sex marriages. Only heterosexual marriages are recognized within Albania.

The government has stated that the legislation is needed to stop discrimination against gay couples. A law was passed on 4 February 2010 by a unanimous vote to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but did not include the right to marry.^[13]

[edit]Belgium

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Belgium

On 30 January 2003, Belgium became the second country in the world to legally recognize same-sex marriage, with some restrictions^[vague].

[edit]Czech Republic

Main article: Civil unions in the Czech Republic

On 15 March 2006, the parliament of the Czech Republic voted to override a presidential veto and allow same-sex partnerships to be recognized by law, effective 1 July 2006, granting registered couples inheritance and health care rights similar to married couples. The legislation did not grant adoption rights. The parliament had previously rejected similar legislation four times.^[14]

[edit]France

Main articles: Same-sex marriage in France and Pacte civil de solidarité

In May 2004, the largest opposition party in France, the French Socialist Party, announced its support for same-sex marriage. A 2004 poll byELLE found that 64% of those polled in France supported same-sex marriage and 49% supported adoption by same-sex couples.^[15]

[edit]Germany

Main article: Civil unions in Germany

In Germany there is a legal recognition of same-sex couples. Registered life partnerships (Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft) (effectively, a form of civil union) have been instituted since 2001, giving same-sex couples rights and obligations in areas such as inheritance, health insurance, immigration, name change, and maintenance (alimony and child support). In 2004, this act was amended to include adoptionrights (stepchild adoption only) and to reform previously cumbersome dissolution procedures with regard to division of property and alimony.

Later that year, the Social Democratic Party, one of the oldest and largest political parties in Germany, and the Alliance '90/The Greens (a political party founded in the 1970s, based on progressive social movements in Germany) proposed allowing same-sex marriage. However, in recent years the Social Democratic Party ceased to push for same-sex marriage but to equalize rights for registered partners.

[edit]Greece

Greek law on civil marriage does not explicitly specify that the couple should be a female and a male. In spring 2008, the Minister of Justice announced that a bill was to be introduced to Parliament in order to regulate civil partnerships, but refused to include provisions for same-sex couples in the bill. On 3 June 2008 the mayor of Tilos Island performed two same-sex civil weddings, one of a female and one of a male couple. This created a flurry of reactions, both positive and negative. The chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court declared that the weddings have no basis in law and initiated judicial action against the mayor, the Minister of Justice concurring. Many clerics declared their opposition, but the spokesman of the Primate of the Church of Greece said that people who marry "outside the church ... can do what they want". Most opposition parties declared their support both for same-sex civil marriage or partnership and for the mayor's actions. The newlyweds indicated that they intend to pursue the matter in the courts and, if not vindicated, to the European Court of Human Rights.

[edit]Hungary

Main article: Recognition of gay unions in Hungary

Hungary was the fifth country in the world to legalize same-sex partnerships.

Unregistered cohabitation has been recognized since 1996. It applies to any couple living together in an economic and sexual relationship (common-law marriage), including same-sex couples. No official registration is required. The law gives some specified rights and benefits to two persons living together. These rights and benefits are not automatically given – they must be applied for to the social department of the local government in each case. An amendment was made to the Civil Code: "Partners – if not stipulated otherwise by law – are two people living in an emotional and economic community in the same household without being married." Widow-pension is possible, partners cannot be heirs by law (without the need for a will), but can be designated as testamentary heirs.

The Hungarian Parliament on 21 April 2009 passed legislation by a vote of 199–159, called the Relationship Registory Act 2009 which allows same-sex couples to register their relationships so they can access the same rights, benefits and entitlements as opposite-sex couples (except for the right to marriage, adoption, IVF, surrogacy, taking a surname or become the legal guardian of their partner's child). The legislation does not allow opposite-sex couples to register their relationships (out of fear that there might be duplication under the law). The law will come into force from 1 July 2009 [12].

[edit]Iceland

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Iceland

On 11 June 2010, a law was passed to make same-sex marriage legal in Iceland. The law took effect on 27 June 2010.^[16]

[edit]Ireland

Main article: Recognition of same-sex unions in Ireland

The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 was first debated in Dáil Éireann on 3 December 2009. It passed in Dáil Éireann without a vote on 1 July 2010 due to all parties supporting the bill. The bill passed in Seanad Éireann on 8 July 2010 with a vote of 48–4. It was signed by the President of Ireland on 19 July 2010. The Minister for Justice and Law Reform will make a Commencement Order setting the day on which the Act will take effect. It will grant many rights to same-sex couples through civil partnerships but will not recognise both civil partners as the guardians of a child being raised by the couple. Irish law allows married couples and individuals to apply to adopt and allows gay couples to foster. The Act will also give new protections to cohabitating couples, both same-sex and opposite-sex.

[edit]Latvia

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Latvia

In December 2005, the Latvian Parliament passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga signed the amendment shortly afterward, making Latvia the third (after Poland and Lithuania) member state of the European Union to constitutionally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.^[17]

[edit]Netherlands

Main article: Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands

The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriages on 1 April 2001.

[edit]Norway

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Norway

Same-sex marriage is legal in Norway. The Norwegian government proposed a gender-neutral marriage law on 14 March 2008, that would give gay couples the same rights as heterosexuals, including church weddings, adoption and assisted pregnancies. On 29 May 2008, the Associated Press reported that two Norwegian Opposition parties came out in favor of the new bill, assuring the bill's passage when the vote was held on 11 June. Prior to this, there were some disagreements with members of the three-party governing coalition on whether the bill had enough votes to pass. With this, it became almost certain that the bill would pass.^[18]

The first hearings and the vote were held, and passed, on 11 June 2008. 84 votes for and 41 against. This also specified that when a woman who is married to another woman becomes pregnant through artificial insemination, the partner would have all the rights of parenthood "from the moment of conception" - the law became effective from 1 January 2009.^[19]

Norway was also the second country to legalize registered partnerships, doing so in 1993. Since 1 January 2009, all registered partnerships^{[citation needed]} from 1993–2008 were upon request by the couples upgraded to marriage status.

[edit]Portugal

Main articles: Same-sex marriage in Portugal and Civil unions in Portugal

On March 2001, the Socialist government of then Prime Minister António Guterres introduced legislation that would extend to same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples living in a de facto union for more than two years. This, effectively provides same-sex couples with the possibility to register their partnership as a Civil Union.

Same-sex marriage has been the source of debate since on February 2006 a lesbian couple were denied a marriage license. They have taken their case to court based on the ban to discrimination based on one's sexual orientation as stipulated by the 1976 constitution. Prime Minister José Sócrates of the Socialist Party was reelected on September 2009 and included same-sex marriage in his party program. There is now a majority of the left in the Parliament, with all the left parties in favor of same-sex marriage. A bill that recognizes same-sex marriage was proposed by the government and approved by parliament on 8 January 2010.^[20] Portugal's parliament rejected proposals to allow homosexual couples to adopt.^[21] The Portuguese President did ratify the bill on 17 May 2010. The law became effective on 5 June 2010, after publication in the official gazette, on 31 May. The first marriages was celebrated on 7 June 2010 between Teresa Pires and Helena Paixão, the same lesbian couple that was denied a marriage licence in 2006.

[edit]Slovenia

Main article: Same-sex unions in Slovenia

In July 2006, Slovenia became the first former Yugoslav country to recognize domestic partnerships nationwide.^[22] In December 2009 the Slovenian government approved a new Family Code, which includes same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption. The bill has been sent to Parliament to vote on the matter.

[edit]Spain

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Spain

Spain became the third country in the world (after the Netherlands and Belgium) to legalize same-sex marriage. After being elected in June 2004, Spanish prime minister Zapatero restated his pre-election pledge to push for legalization of same-sex marriage.^[23] On 1 October 2004, the Spanish Government approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, including adoption rights. The bill received full parliamentary approval on 30 June 2005 and passed into law on 2 July, becoming fully legal on 3 July. Polls suggest that 62% to 66% of Spain supports same-sex marriage.^[24]

[edit]Sweden

Main articles: Civil unions in Sweden and Same-sex marriage in Sweden

Following a bill introduced jointly by six of the seven parties in the Riksdag, a gender-neutral marriage law was adopted on 1 April 2009.^[25] It came into force on 1 May, replacing the old legislation on so-called registered partnerships.^[26] On 22 October, the assembly of the Church of Sweden (which is no longer officially the national church but whose assent was needed for the new practice to work smoothly within its ranks) voted strongly in favor of giving its blessing.^[27]

[edit]Turkey

Main article: LGBT rights in Turkey

Although same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Turkey since 1858, there is no recognition of same-sex relationships in Turkey.

[edit]United Kingdom

Main articles: Civil partnerships in the United Kingdom and Same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom

On 18 November 2004 the United Kingdom Parliament passed the Civil Partnership Act, which came into force in December 2005 and allows same-sex couples to register their partnership. The government stressed during the passage of the bill that it is not same-sex marriage, and some gay activists have criticized the act for not using the terminology of marriage. However, the rights and duties of partners under this legislation are almost exactly the same as for married couples. An amendment proposing similar rights for family members living together was rejected. The press is widely referring to these unions as "gay marriage."^[28]

[edit]North America

North America, from Mexico north

Same-sex marriage¹

Only foreign same-sex marriages recognized

Other type of partnership¹

Unregistered cohabitation

Unrecognized or unknown

No recognition, issue under consideration

No recognition, only same-sex marriage banned

No recognition, marriage and civil unions banned

¹May include recent laws or court decisions which have created legal recognition of same-sex relationships, but which have not entered into effect yet.

[edit]Canada

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Canada

In Canada between 2003 and 2005, the provincial supreme courts of Ontario, British Columbia,Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick as well as the Yukon Territory, ruled the prohibition of same-sex marriage to be contrary to the Charter of Rights, thus legalizing it in those jurisdictions. A similar ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada (Re Same-Sex Marriage) in December 2004 paved the way for national recognition of same-sex marriage. On 20 July 2005, the Canadian Parliament (a Liberal party minority government) passed the Civil Marriage Act, defining marriage nationwide as "the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others." This was challenged on 7 December 2006 by a motion tabled by the newly elected Conservative party, asking the government to introduce amendments to the Marriage Act to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples; it was defeated in the House of Commons by a vote of 175 to 123.

Canada does not have a residency requirement for marriage; consequently, many foreign couples have gone to Canada to marry, regardless of whether that marriage will be recognized in their home country. In fact, in some cases, a Canadian marriage has provided the basis for a challenge to the laws of another country, with cases in Ireland and Israel.

As of 11 November 2004, the Canadian federal government's immigration department, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), considers same-sex marriages performed in Canada valid for the purposes of sponsoring a spouse to immigrate.^[29] Canadian immigration authorities previously considered long-term, same-sex relationships to be equivalent to similar heterosexual relationships as grounds for sponsorship.

[edit]Mexico

Main articles: Recognition of same-sex unions in Mexico and Same-sex marriage in Mexico City

On 9 November 2006, Mexico City's unicameral Legislative Assembly passed and approved (43–17) a bill legalizing same-sex civil unions, under the name Ley de Sociedades de Convivencia (Law for Co-existence Partnerships), which became effective in 16 March 2007.^[30] The law recognizes propertyand inheritance rights to same-sex couples. On 11 January 2007, the northern state of Coahuila, which borders Texas, passed a similar bill (20–13), under the name Pacto Civil de Solidaridad (Civil Pact of Solidarity).^[31] Unlike Mexico City's law, once same-sex couples have registered in Coahuila, the state protects their rights no matter where they live in the country.^[31] Twenty days after the law had passed, the country's first same-sex civil union took place in Saltillo, Coahuila.^[32]

On 21 December 2009, Mexico City's Legislative Assembly legalized (39–20) same-sex marriages and adoption by same-sex couples.^[33]Eight days later, the law was enacted and became effective in March 2010.^[34] In January 2010, in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora, a same-sex marriage bill has been proposed.^[35] In southeastern Tabasco, the state's largest political parties, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), have announced their support for same-sex marriage in the 2010 agenda.^[36] In the western state of Michoacán, the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) has announced it will propose bills concerning civil unions, same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples in 2010.^[37] In neighboring Colima, governor Mario Anguiano Moreno has agreed to discuss the legalization of civil unions and adoption by same-sex couples.^[38]

[edit]Costa Rica

In 2006, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5–2 decision that it was not required by the constitution to recognize same-sex couples in family law.^[39] Legal recognition of same-sex unions has been considered by the Legislative Assembly.^[40]

[edit]United States

Main article: Same-sex marriage in the United States

Wikinews has related news:Interview with gay marriage movement founder Evan Wolfson

Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in the United States

Same-sex marriage¹

Unions granting rights similar to marriage^1,2

Legislation granting limited/enumerated rights¹

Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere recognized¹

No specific prohibition or recognition of same-sex marriages or unions

Statute bans same-sex marriage

Constitution bans same-sex marriage

Constitution bans same-sex marriage and some or all other kinds of same-sex unions

¹May include recent laws or court decisions which have created legal recognition of same-sex relationships, but which have not entered into effect yet.
²Same-sex marriage laws in California are complicated, please see the article on same-sex marriage in California.

v · d · e

Marriage laws in the United States are governed by the fifty U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Consequently, recognition of same-sex marriages differs from state to state. Five U.S. states and the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) now perform same-sex marriages:Massachusetts (2004), Connecticut (2008), Iowa (2009), Vermont (2009), New Hampshire (2010), and Washington D.C. (2010).

In 2005, California became the first state to pass a bill authorizing same-sex marriages without a court order, but this bill was vetoed by GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger. In 2008, the Supreme Court of California overturned a law banning same-sex marriages that had been passed by a voter initiative in 2000 (Proposition 22).^[41] The legal effect of the court ruling was curtailed by another voter initiative called Proposition 8 later that year.^[42]Proposition 8 was upheld by the California Supreme Court in 2009, holding that same-sex couples have all the rights of heterosexual couples, except the right to the "designation" of marriage.^[43] But the court also ruled that marriages performed after its 2008 decision and before the passage of Proposition 8 remained legally valid. Attempts to overturn Proposition 8 by another voter initiative immediately followed the court's ruling.

The validity of Proposition 8 under the United States Constitution is currently pending appeal in a federal court case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, which could potentially have an effect on all same-sex marriage bans nationwide. In that case, a federal district judge in San Francisco ruled on 4 August 2010, that Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution.^[44] The case is being appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and then will likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2005, a federal district judge in Nebraska also ruled, in Citizens for Equal Protection v. Bruning, thatNebraska Initiative Measure 416, which prohibited the recognition of same-sex relationships, violated the U.S. Constitution, but the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed the decision on appeal and ruled that "laws limiting the state-recognized institution of marriage to heterosexual couples ... do not violate the Constitution of the United States."^[45]

[edit]Federal recognition

Although marriage laws are the province of state law in the U.S., after the Hawaii State Supreme Court became the first U.S. state supreme court to rule that the denial of marriage to same-sex couples was discriminatory in 1993, the U.S. Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996. (Hawaii passed a constitutional amendment in 1998 that allowed the legislature to overturn the court's 1993 decision.)

DOMA defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and its purpose was to enable states to deny recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states.^[46] During his political campaign, President Barack Obama vowed to overturn DOMA, and gay-rights groups have pressured Obama to come through on his promise. Because of DOMA, same-sex couples who marry in states that grant legal recognition are denied federal rights that attach to marriage, such as the right to petition a spouse to immigrate to the U.S.

DOMA is under challenge. On 3 March 2009, GLAD filed a suit challenging DOMA in Federal District Court in Boston, Massachusetts on behalf of eight married couples and three surviving spouses from Massachusetts who have been denied federal legal protections available to spouses.^[47][48][49] On 9 March 2009, Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer filed a lawsuit challenging both DOMA and California's Proposition 8 as unconstitutional under U.S. federal law in Federal District Court in Santa Ana, California.^[50]

On 8 July 2010, Judge Joseph Tauro of the District Court of Massachusetts held that the denial of federal rights and benefits to lawfully married Massachusetts same-sex couples under the DOMA is unconstitutional, under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution.^[1][2] This ruling is currently under a stay, but would affect residents residing within the federal district that covers Massachusetts if the stay is lifted. If this decision is appealed and affirmed, the ruling could apply elsewhere in the U.S. For now, no act or agency of the federal government—except within the state of Massachusetts if the stay is lifted—may recognize same-sex marriage. The federal court case on California's Proposition 8, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, could also have an effect on DOMA.^[44]

On 23 February 2011, the Obama administration said it would no longer defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, and President Obama instructed the Justice Department to do the same. The decision was made in response to two court challenges that were filed in a judicial jurisdiction with no established precedent for evaluating claims of discrimination against gay people.

[edit]Legal recognition of same-sex unions without marriage

Several other states offer alternative legal certifications that recognize same-sex relationships. Before states enacted these laws, U.S. cities began offering recognition of these unions. These laws bestow marriage-like rights to these couples, and are referred to as civil unions,domestic partnerships, or reciprocal beneficiaries depending on the state. The extent to which these unions resemble marriage varies by state and several states have enhanced the rights afforded to them over time. The U.S. jurisdictions that use these forms of same-sex union recognition instead of marriage are: Hawaii (1997), California (1999), Maine (2004), New Jersey (2007), Washington (2007), Oregon (2008),Maryland (2008), Colorado (2009), Wisconsin (2009), Nevada (2009) and Illinois (2011).

[edit]States with constitutional or statutory bans on same-sex marriage or union recognition

Constitutional amendments in 29 states explicitly bar the recognition of same-sex marriages,^[51] and 18 of these states prohibit the legal recognition of any same-sex union. Another 14 states have legal statutes that define "marriage" as a union of two persons of the opposite sex.

An attempt to ban same-sex marriages and any other legal recognition of same-sex couples in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico failed in 2008. Puerto Rico already banned same-sex marriage by statute.^[52]

[edit]States with neither bans on same-sex marriage nor legal recognition

There are four states that have no explicit bans against same-sex marriages nor laws that enable their legal recognition:

§ Maryland: On 24 February 2010, the Attorney General of Maryland (Doug Gansler) released an opinion that same-sex marriages performed in other states could be recognized in Maryland. The opinion does not allow same-sex couples to wed in Maryland and is not legally binding, but is meant to serve as a guide for judges and state agencies.^[53]

§ New Mexico

§ New York: In 2006, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the state had no constitutional obligation to recognize same-sex marriages.^[54] However, in 2008 the New York State Supreme Court Fourth Department ruled that the state was required to recognize legal out-of-state marriages whether they were same-sex or not, confirming multiple lower court rulings. That same year, New York Governor David Paterson issued a directive requiring that all state agencies recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.^[55]

§ Rhode Island: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2006 that because Rhode Island law does not explicitly prohibit same-sex marriage, Rhode Island same-sex couples may marry in Massachusetts.

[edit]Coquille

In 2008, the Native American Coquille Nation passed a law recognizing same-sex marriage; it is believed to be the first tribal nation to do so.^[56] Although the Oregon voters approved an amendment to the Oregon Constitution in 2004 to prohibit such marriages, the Coquille are not bound by the Oregon Constitution, because they are a federally recognized sovereign nation.^[57]

[edit]Cherokee

After a Cherokee lesbian couple applied for a marriage license, the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council unanimously approved a Constitutional amendment in 2004 defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The couple appealed to the judicial court on grounds that their union predated the amendment, and on 22 December 2005 the Judicial Appeals Tribunal of the Cherokee Nation dismissed an injunction against the lesbian couple filed by members of the Tribal Council to stop the marriage.^[58] The couple would still need to file the marriage certificate for the marriage to become legal.

[edit]Oceania

[edit]Australia

Status of same-sex unions in Australia.

Domestic partnership registry

Domestic partnership agreement

Defined as de facto

Main articles: Same-sex marriage in Australia and LGBT rights in Australia

Since August 2004, same-sex marriage became banned under an amended federal law Marriage Act 1961 (Amendment) Act 2004 so that neither a foreign same-sex marriage can be performed or recognised in the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961. This effectively banned same-sex marriage in Australia. The law, which prior to 2004, had not defined marriage specifically, appropriated marriage as the "voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others." In 1874 under the Hyde vs. Hyde case marriage was defined in the common law as a "voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others." Neither Civil partnerships nor civil unions are recognised by the Commonwealth Government, either. The Federal Opposition, namely the Australian Labor Party under the leadership of Mark Latham, joined with the Government to support the ban, amid strong objection from the Australian Democrats and The Greens. It was passed on 13 August 2004 as effective from the day of assent. In June 2009, polling showed that 60 percent of Australians support same-gender marriage (Galaxy).

The states and territories of New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory have a "registered partnership" system that is available for all couples. These state-level registered relationships are recognised on both the state and Commonwealth Government levels. Even some councils such as Sydney, Melbourne and Yarra also provide a relationship register for symbolic recognition, but provides no legal recognition. However, all Government levels of Australia have some form of "de-facto status recognition" or "common-law marriage" that recognises both same sex and opposite sex couples, called "unregistered co-habitation".

[edit]New Zealand

Main article: Civil unions in New Zealand

In New Zealand civil unions, which impart all of the same rights and privileges as marriage, are allowed (except for adoption).^{[citation needed]}

[edit]South America

South America

Same-sex marriage

Other type of partnership

Unregistered cohabitation

Unrecognized or unknown

No recognition, issue under consideration

No recognition, only same-sex marriage officially banned

No recognition, all types of partnerships officially banned

Same-sex sexual activity illegal

[edit]Argentina

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Argentina

On 22 July 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalise gay marriage. The law also allows same-sex couples to adopt.^[59]

[edit]Brazil

Main article: Recognition of same-sex unions in Brazil

The country is debating a law that would allow same-sex civil unions throughout the nation.^[60] TheSupremo Tribunal Federal may decide about it in 2011. Legally, same sex couples can currently have unregistered cohabitation rights and full rights to adopt children.

[edit]Colombia

Main article: Recognition of same-sex unions in Colombia

The Colombian Constitutional Court ruled in February 2007 that same-sex couples are entitled to the same inheritance rights as heterosexuals in common-law marriages. This ruling made Colombia the first South American nation to legally recognize gay couples. Furthermore, in January 2009, the Court ruled that same-sex couples must be extended all of the rights offered to cohabitating heterosexual couples.^[61]

[edit]Ecuador

Main article: Recognition of same-sex unions in Ecuador

The Ecuadorian new constitution has made Ecuador stand out in the region. Ecuador has become the first country in South America where same sex civil union couples are legally recognized as a family and share all the same rights of married heterosexual couples (except for adoption).^{[citation needed]}

[edit]Uruguay

Main article: Civil unions in Uruguay

Uruguay became the first country in South America to allow civil unions (for both opposite sex and same-sex couples) in a national platform on 1 January 2008.

Children can be adopted by same-sex couples since 2009.^[62][63]

[edit]Religious recognition

The religious status of same-sex marriage has been changing since the late 20th century and varies greatly. Reformed traditions in Western societies (Liberal Christian denominations, Reform Judaism, and Unitarian churches) tend to be more receptive to the idea than orthodox or conservative ones, but many others, particularly mainline Protestant churches, are deeply divided over the issue.

[edit]Recognized

Many religious institutions that do recognize same-sex marriage avoid using the terms "marriages" or "weddings", and instead call them "blessings" or "unions." How and to what degree these institution embrace the idea varies, often by congregation. These institutions have recognized same-sex marriage or encourage it in their congregations in some fashion, either simply as marriage or some kind blessing or union:

[edit]Christianity

The following denominations accept same-sex unions to some degree:

§ Anglican Diocese of New Westminster in British Columbia (which includes Greater Vancouver) decided to allow blessing of same-sex unions in 2002—in response, bishops from Africa, Asia and Latin America, representing more than one-third of Anglican Communionmembers worldwide, cut their relations with the diocese. From 1 September 2009, the Diocese of Niagara clergy in the diocese in Ontario have the discretion to bless same-gender civil marriages in consultation with the bishop. Two other dioceses – Montréal and Ottawa – have also informed the house of bishops about their intention to move ahead with same-sex blessings.

§ British Quakers, some American Quaker meetings (see Homosexuality and Quakerism). (1987)

§ Episcopal Church (United States) bless same-sex unions^[64]

§ Lutheran (Europe)

§ In the Netherlands and in Switzerland the reformed church allows blessings of married same-sex couples.

§ In Germany some Lutheran and reformed churches in the EKD permit their priests also blessings of same-sex couples.

§ On 22 October 2009, the governing board of the (Lutheran) Church of Sweden voted 176–62^[65] in favour of allowing its priests to wed same-sex couples in new gender-neutral church ceremonies, including the use of the term marriage.^[27][66] Same-sex marriages in the church will be available starting 1 November 2009.^[67]

§ Metropolitan Community Church perform same-sex marriages,

§ United Church of Canada variously bless same-sex unions or allow same-sex marriages in the church—several Canadian religious groups joined in an interfaith coalition in support of equal marriage rights, and issued a joint statement: http://www.religious-coalition.org/

§ Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2009) – During its 2009 Churchwide Assembly the ELCA passed a resolution by a vote of 619-402 reading “Resolved, that the ELCA commit itself to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.”^[68]

§ United Church of Christ (2005) – the specifics of the resolution did not change any church's religious marriage policies, but urged UCC congregations to advocate for civil marriage equality. In keeping with the polity of that denomination, doctrinal matters like wedding policies remain under the authority of each local congregation.

§ Old Catholic Church^{[clarification needed]}

§ Liberal Catholic Church^{[clarification needed]}

[edit]Judaism

§ Union for Reform Judaism (Reform Judaism)

§ Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (Reconstructionist Judaism) – Left up to the individual rabbi.^[69]

Liberal Judaism in the United Kingdom recognizes and performs same sex marriages (where both partners are Jewish). Rabbi's will also perform blessings of same sex relationships where one partner is Jewish and the other is not so long as a (legal) Civil Partnership is in force for the couple.

[edit]Other

§ Unitarian Universalist

§ Neo-Pagan

§ Japanese Buddhism – although there is no same-sex marriage in Japan itself, authorities in Buddhist sects based in Japan recognise Buddhist same-sex unions performed elsewhere.

§ Ethical Society

§ Religious humanism

[edit]Debated or divided

In many religious traditions, the adherents are deeply divided over the issue, often alongside other contentious issues, such as having women in leadership positions or legalizing abortions. The institutions within the following traditions are either debating the issue or have policies that vary according to congregation:

[edit]Christianity

§ Anglicans, particularly in the US and Canada^[64]

§ Baptists

§ Lutherans

§ Quakers

§ Methodists

§ Presbyterians

[edit]Judaism

§ Conservative

[edit]Hinduism

§ Individual interpretation

[edit]Not recognized

The religious traditions or institutions that do not recognize same-sex marriage tend to view homosexuality as immoral. The degree to which it is considered immoral—or even whether or it is immoral at all—often varies according to the adherents within them, especially in large institutions like the Roman Catholic Church. These traditions or institutions do not recognize same-sex unions in any form or in any congregation:

[edit]Christianity

§ Pentecostal

§ Roman Catholic Church—On 3 June 2003, the Congregation for the Faith issued a document concerning maritial rights to same sex couples.[13] It reaffirmed traditional Catholic teaching that regards homosexual acts as being intrinsically disordered because they cannot result in children. The international Catholic organisation We are Church states that it is "committed to change the Church's official and theological approach to homosexual people".[14]

§ Eastern Orthodox Church

§ Southern Baptists

§ Latter-day Saints^[70]

§ Evangelical Free Church

§ Numerous non-denominational churches

[edit]Judaism

§ Orthodox

[edit]Others

§ Bahá'í Faith

§ Islam

§ Sikhism^[71]

[edit]See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Same-sex marriage

LGBT portal

§ Adoption by same-sex couples

§ Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches

§ Marriage, unions and partnerships by country

§ Religion and sexuality

§ Same-sex controversy in the U.S. Census 2000

§ Same-sex marriage

§ Societal attitudes toward homosexuality

§ Timeline of same-sex marriage

§ Uniting American Families Act

§ Marriage privatization

§ Divorce of same-sex couples – legal aspects, divorce rates

[edit]References

1. ^ ^a ^b "Federal Court Declares Part of Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional". 8 July 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010.

2. ^ ^a ^b "Judge rules federal same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional". CNN. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010.

3. ^ Mark Stevenson (29 December 2009). "Mexico City enacts region's 1st gay marriage law". Associated Press. MSNBC. Retrieved 30 December 2009.^{[dead link]}

4. ^ http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9597.html

5. ^ http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/08/Nov/1703.htm

6. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/nepal/Nepal-charter-to-grant-gay-rights/Article1-499154.aspx

7. ^ Nelson, Dean (19 January 2010). "Nepal 'to stage gay weddings on Everest'". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 24 May 2010.

8. ^ Japan allows its citizens same-sex marriage abroad

9. ^ 블로그 :: 네이버

10. ^ http://progressph.blogspot.com/p/faq.html

11. ^ In precedent-setting ruling court says state must recognize gay marriage – Haaretz – Israel News

12. ^ http://www.steff.suite.dk/eurolet/eur_109.pdf

13. ^ http://www.365gay.com/news/albania-plans-to-legalize-gay-marriages/

14. ^ [1] [2]

15. ^ Sorry

16. ^ Iceland parliament votes for gay marriage

17. ^ RIGHT TO MARRY AND RIGHT TO FOUND A FAMILY – Charter of Fundamental Rights

18. ^ "Majority in Norwegian parliament agrees on new law allowing gay weddings, adoptions". Associated Press. 29 May 2008. Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.

19. ^ Ravndal, Dennis; Gjermund Glesnes and Øystein Eian (11 June 2008). "Tårer da ekteskapsloven ble vedtatt" (in Norwegian).Verdens Gang. Retrieved 11 June 2008.

20. ^ Portugal tipped to allow gay marriage

21. ^ Same-sex marriage law backed in Portugal's parliament

22. ^ Gay News From 365Gay.com

23. ^ "Spain 'to approve gay marriages'". BBC News. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2010.

24. ^ [3]
[4]
[5]

25. ^ Gays Win Marriage Rights, Sveriges Radio English, 1 April 2009

26. ^ http://www.riksdagen.se/Webbnav/index.aspx?nid=45&sq=1&ID=rpjtok7D9_3_1B

27. ^ ^a ^b http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/kyrkomotet-oppnade-for-homovigslar-1.979744

28. ^ [6]
[7]

29. ^ CIC

30. ^ Erich Adolfo Moncada Cota (19 November 2006). "Mexico City Approves Same Sex Unions". Retrieved 9 December 2009.

31. ^ ^a ^b S. Lynne Walker (5 March 2007). "New law propels gay rights in Mexico". Mail & Guardian Online. Retrieved 15 December 2009.

32. ^ Associated Press (1 February 2007). "Mexico's first civil union". Gay.com UK & Ireland. Archived from the original on 30 May 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2009.

33. ^ Associated Press (21 December 2009). "Mexico City 1st in region to approve gay marriage". Retrieved 21 December 2009.

34. ^ Associated Press (4 March 2010). "Mexico City’s gay marriage law takes effect". MSNBC. Retrieved 6 March 2010.

35. ^ (Spanish) Ulises Gutiérrez (13 January 2010). "Proponen matrimonio homosexual en Sonora". La Jornada. Retrieved 16 January 2010.

36. ^ (Spanish) Fernando Hernández (15 January 2010). "A favor PRI y PRD del aborto y matrimonios gays". El Heraldo de Tabasco. Retrieved 21 January 2010.