Gay Marriage Facts

The fight for same-sex marriages has triggered mass revolution in various nations. One of the lesser known gay marriage facts is that the Netherlands, legalized same-sex marriages, way back in 2001, the year we entered this new millennium. However, it has some terms, like one of the partners must be a Dutch national. In many parts of the world, it is believed that amongst western countries, US was the first to legalize same-sex marriages, given the liberal societal nature prevalent in US. However, it is one of the astonishing facts related to gay marriages, that in the US, 19 states have banned same-sex marriages! These include:

• Alaska
• Nevada
• Montana
• Oregon
• Utah
• Nebraska
• Missouri
• Michigan
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Kentucky
• Oklahoma
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Arkansas
• Georgia
• Mississippi
• Texas
• Alabama

Only these states and districts in the US allow same-sex marriages - Connecticut (2008), Iowa (2009), Massachusetts (2004), New Hampshire, Vermont (2009), Washington, D.C (2010, not a state) and the District of Columbia. There can be some variations in terms and conditions that need to be discussed with lawyers before going for same-sex marriages.

In California, same-sex marriages were allowed in the year 2008 for a couple of months however, the court cases have been pending since then and so same-sex couples still don't have rights to marry in California, officially. In states like New York, Rhode Island, and Maryland same-sex marriages are only recognized but it is not allowed to perform marriages. Some other countries where there is a legal recognition of same-sex relationships are Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Sweden. Once again, do check state laws of every state or country, before you plan to get married in any of them. Also, check if back home, you'll be accepted. Another fact is that many other countries have numerous standards of same-sex couples marriages. These are known as "civil unions", wherein couples can live together but not get married or they have some similar constraints. I only mentioned names of countries where same-sex marriages have been accepted in a more proper form. Numerous countries have pending cases when it comes to LGBT rights.

Some Facts about Gay Marriages

In the US, politics is divisive when it comes to LGBT rights or precisely, gay marriages. Much hue and cry is made on the question, should gay marriage be legal? Many states define marriage as a union of members of opposite sex while in many states only civil unions of LGBT members are allowed but marriages are not. This is where the issue of same-sex marriages goes beyond the threshold of religious, moral or the much cried, right or wrong concepts. Same-sex marriages can give couples numerous tax benefits, just like other couples of heterosexual marriages. Many states have allowed civil unions however, civil unions laws are limited to states and they may not be applicable in other states. Marriages however are recognized everywhere. So, when we're talking about gay marriages, let us shift our attention to numerous benefits same-sex couples will enjoy. This is one of the arguments for gay marriage. Numerous facts about same-sex marriage or gay or lesbianism are as follows.

• In countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Mauritania and Sudan same-sex marriage attracts jail terms or some or the other forms of punishments. These countries are unclear about their stand against or for homosexuality.
• Massachusetts was the first state in US to allow gay marriages. It was in California in 2005 that for the first time, gay marriage legislature was introduced in America, though it was defeated.
• Gay male sex was considered as a form of crime in nine of the US states, until 2003.
• It has been found out that gay and lesbian couples have very high divorce rates in the Sweden, one of the first countries to allow same-sex marriages.
• The federal Defense of Marriage Act has created huge issues regarding stringent tax laws for homosexual couples.
• In the US, under the leadership of President Bill Clinton, the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) was passed and this 17 year old policy allowed homosexual soldiers to serve the army without some military bans. Still, nearly 14,000 gay men and lesbian women were thrown out the army due to sexual orientation issues over the course of years of its existence.

We're living in an era where human intellect is evolving at a rapid pace. Conservative ideologies and age-old customs that were more of an oppressive duty for people have been discarded by society, to quite a large extent. It is a fascinating time for social revolution. People have realized their rights and centuries of laws and rules are being overhauled to give new identity to people. Numerous aspects of gay marriage facts have raged hot debates in the national and international arena. There was never a time in human civilization, when individuality and right to acceptance in society, irrespective of sexuality were challenged on such a massive scale. Social history is changing faster and dynamics of society will sooner be different. Let us wait and watch.