Changes

In 2003 the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that under Massachusetts' constitution, same-sex couples could not be denied Massachusetts marriage licenses, making Massachusetts the first state to issue same-sex "marriage" licenses. As of April 2009, same-sex "marriage" was legal in four states, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Iowa.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/us/08vermont.html?_r=1&hp ''Vermont Legislature Makes Same-Sex Marriage Legal'']</ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_re_us/connecticut_same_sex_marriage Conn. high court rules gay couples can marry]</ref>

In 2003 the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that under Massachusetts' constitution, same-sex couples could not be denied Massachusetts marriage licenses, making Massachusetts the first state to issue same-sex "marriage" licenses. As of April 2009, same-sex "marriage" was legal in four states, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Iowa.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/us/08vermont.html?_r=1&hp ''Vermont Legislature Makes Same-Sex Marriage Legal'']</ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_re_us/connecticut_same_sex_marriage Conn. high court rules gay couples can marry]</ref>

Beginning in 2008, the states of [[Washington]], and [[Oregon]] also provide for same-sex unions. Washington later legalized same-sex "marriage". [[Hawaii]] provides certain benefits to same sex couples.<ref>[http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--civilunions-optio0531may31,0,341613.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut Newsday]</ref>  The State of New Hampshire issued civil unions until the summer of 2009, when it passed a bill approving same-sex "marriage" <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/us/04marriage.html "New Hampshire Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage"]</ref> The state began issuing same-sex "marriage" licenses in January, 2010.

Beginning in 2008, the states of Washington, and [[Oregon]] also provide for same-sex unions. Washington later legalized same-sex "marriage". [[Hawaii]] provides certain benefits to same sex couples.<ref>[http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--civilunions-optio0531may31,0,341613.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut Newsday]</ref>  The State of New Hampshire issued civil unions until the summer of 2009, when it passed a bill approving same-sex "marriage" <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/us/04marriage.html "New Hampshire Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage"]</ref> The state began issuing same-sex "marriage" licenses in January, 2010.

In the fall of 2009, a same-sex "marriage" bill was introduced to the [[Washington, D.C.]] city council by At-Large Council Member David Catania (who is openly homosexual). After two days of testimony involving nearly 250 witnesses,<ref>[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/D_C_-Council-hears-from-both-sides-in-gay-marriage-debate-8442433-66188647.html ''D.C. Council hears from both sides in gay marriage debate'']</ref> the council voted to approve the bill, 11-2. Once signed by the Mayor, the bill went to Congress for a mandatory [[DC Home Rule|30-day review period]]. While opponents of the bill vowed to fight it in Congress<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/15/AR2009121500945.html "DC Council Approves Same-Sex Marriage"]</ref> it passed and became law in 2010.

In the fall of 2009, a same-sex "marriage" bill was introduced to the [[Washington, D.C.]] city council by At-Large Council Member David Catania (who is openly homosexual). After two days of testimony involving nearly 250 witnesses,<ref>[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/D_C_-Council-hears-from-both-sides-in-gay-marriage-debate-8442433-66188647.html ''D.C. Council hears from both sides in gay marriage debate'']</ref> the council voted to approve the bill, 11-2. Once signed by the Mayor, the bill went to Congress for a mandatory [[DC Home Rule|30-day review period]]. While opponents of the bill vowed to fight it in Congress<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/15/AR2009121500945.html "DC Council Approves Same-Sex Marriage"]</ref> it passed and became law in 2010.

Five years after ''Hernandez v. Robles'', a New York Court of Appeals case in which the court declined to legalize same-sex "marriage" in New York via judicial fiat, the New York legislature voted for same-sex "marriage" on June 24, 2011.<ref>http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-gay-marriage-passes-in-new-york</ref>

Five years after ''Hernandez v. Robles'', a New York Court of Appeals case in which the court declined to legalize same-sex "marriage" in New York via judicial fiat, the New York legislature voted for same-sex "marriage" on June 24, 2011.<ref>http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-gay-marriage-passes-in-new-york</ref>

Same-sex "marriages" were legal for a brief period in the state of [[California]], but the people of that state voted to repeal the law in the fall of 2008,<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122586056759900673.html "California Votes for Prop 8"]</ref> through a ballot initiative known as [[Proposition 8]]. The legislature of [[Maine]] approved a same-sex "marriage" bill in May 2009 <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/06/maine.same.sex.marriage/index.html "Lawmakers approve same-sex marriage in N.H., Maine"]</ref> but opponents lobbied to have the bill put up to a popular vote, and it was defeated by the voters in the fall of 2009.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/04/maine.same.sex/index.html "Maine rejects same-sex marriage law"]</ref> Same-sex "marriage" eventually became legal again in California in 2013 after the United States Supreme Court declined to rule on the case after deciding that those defending it did not have standing to do so, after the gubernatorial administration of California and the attorney general of California had refused to defend the law.

Same-sex "marriages" were legal for a brief period in the state of [[California]], but the people of that state voted to repeal the law in the fall of 2008,<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122586056759900673.html "California Votes for Prop 8"]</ref> through a ballot initiative known as [[Proposition 8]]. The legislature of Maine approved a same-sex "marriage" bill in May 2009 <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/06/maine.same.sex.marriage/index.html "Lawmakers approve same-sex marriage in N.H., Maine"]</ref> but opponents lobbied to have the bill put up to a popular vote, and it was defeated by the voters in the fall of 2009.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/04/maine.same.sex/index.html "Maine rejects same-sex marriage law"]</ref> Same-sex "marriage" eventually became legal again in California in 2013 after the United States Supreme Court declined to rule on the case after deciding that those defending it did not have standing to do so, after the gubernatorial administration of California and the attorney general of California had refused to defend the law.

Same-sex "marriage" is legal in twenty-one countries: the [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Brazil]], [[Spain]], [[Canada]], [[South Africa]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Portugal]], [[Iceland]], [[Argentina]], [[Denmark]], [[Uruguay]], [[Finland]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Ireland]], [[New Zealand]],<ref>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10878200</ref> [[France]], [[Slovenia]], [[The United States]], and the [[United Kingdom]] (excluding Northern Ireland) Additionally, in [[Mexico]], same-sex "marriage" is legal in the states of [[Quintana Roo]], [[Chihuahua]], [[Guerrero]] and [[Coahuila]], as well as in [[Mexico City]], a federal district similar to Washington, D.C. Other countries, such as [[Germany]], [[Colombia]] and [[Chile]], recognize [[civil unions]] and [[domestic partnership]]s.<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-03/05/content_311998.htm Countries worldwide address gay marriage]</ref><ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-05/tasmania-to-back-gay-marriage-intensifying-pressure-on-gillard]</ref>

Same-sex "marriage" is legal in twenty-one countries: the [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Brazil]], [[Spain]], [[Canada]], [[South Africa]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Portugal]], [[Iceland]], [[Argentina]], [[Denmark]], [[Uruguay]], [[Finland]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Ireland]], [[New Zealand]],<ref>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10878200</ref> [[France]], [[Slovenia]], [[The United States]], and the [[United Kingdom]] (excluding Northern Ireland) Additionally, in [[Mexico]], same-sex "marriage" is legal in the states of [[Quintana Roo]], [[Chihuahua]], [[Guerrero]] and [[Coahuila]], as well as in [[Mexico City]], a federal district similar to Washington, D.C. Other countries, such as [[Germany]], [[Colombia]] and [[Chile]], recognize [[civil unions]] and [[domestic partnership]]s.<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-03/05/content_311998.htm Countries worldwide address gay marriage]</ref><ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-05/tasmania-to-back-gay-marriage-intensifying-pressure-on-gillard]</ref>

==Morality==

==Morality==

Social [[conservatives]] regard same-sex "marriage" as immoral, and argue that use of the word "[[marriage]]" is a misnomer, because the [[Form of Solemnization of Matrimony|marriage services]] of Christian denominations define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Some social liberals try to use this debate as a excuse to take the socially-conservative view of marriage out of the law. In some Christian marriage ceremonies, the wedding will begin with a statement along the lines of: "Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony,"<ref>''The Book of Common Prayer,'' Episcopal Church, The Church Hymnal Corporation and the Seabury Press, 1979: "The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage," p. 423</ref> a definition which was also written into United States federal law in 1996.<ref>[http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode01/usc_sec_01_00000007----000-.html US Code - Title 1, section 7]</ref>

Social [[conservatives]] regard same-sex "marriage" as immoral, and argue that use of the word "[[marriage]]" is a misnomer, because the [[Form of Solemnization of Matrimony|marriage services]] of Christian denominations define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Some social liberals try to use this debate as an excuse to take the socially-conservative view of marriage out of the law. In some Christian marriage ceremonies, the wedding will begin with a statement along the lines of: "Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony,"<ref>''The Book of Common Prayer,'' Episcopal Church, The Church Hymnal Corporation and the Seabury Press, 1979: "The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage," p. 423</ref> a definition which was also written into United States federal law in 1996.<ref>[http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode01/usc_sec_01_00000007----000-.html US Code - Title 1, section 7]</ref>

Dr. [[James Dobson]]'s [[Focus on the Family]] organization prefers the phrase ''same-sex "marriage,"'' with quotation marks around the word "marriage," to call attention to his belief that marriage&mdash;civil as well as religious&mdash;is intrinsically a union between a man and a woman, and that that same-sex unions are counterfeits.<ref>[http://www.family.org/socialissues/A000000464.cfm Same-Sex 'Marriage' and Civil Unions], ''Focus on the Family's'' website</ref>

Dr. [[James Dobson]]'s [[Focus on the Family]] organization prefers the phrase ''same-sex "marriage,"'' with quotation marks around the word "marriage," to call attention to his belief that marriage&mdash;civil as well as religious&mdash;is intrinsically a union between a man and a woman, and that that same-sex unions are counterfeits.<ref>[http://www.family.org/socialissues/A000000464.cfm Same-Sex 'Marriage' and Civil Unions], ''Focus on the Family's'' website</ref>