Same-sex marriage

2007-04-17T00:08:49Z

Cheesepower:

[['''''
== CONSERVATIVES SUPPORT SAME SEX MARRIAGE. MANY CONSERVATIVES ARE GAY!!!! ==''''']]

'''Same-sex marriage''' is a legal contract (i.e. one typically formalized by filing papers at a government office) in which the two people being married are of the same sex. It gives these couples the same legal rights and status as married opposite-sex couples.

Unheard of a few decades ago, same-sex marriage is one of a number of issues involving gay rights and the "culture wars."{{fact}} Traditionally, in the United States, marriage has been considered to be one of the areas governed by each state rather than by the Federal Government, and marriage laws are a patchwork whose details are different in each state. The possibility of same-sex marriage in each state depends on that state's constitution.

In 1996 Congress recognized the likelihood that same-sex marriage would soon become legal in at least some states, and was concerned that the Constitution might be interpreted as forcing states that did not allow it to recognize marriages performed in states that did allow it. It passed the Defense of Marriage act, which prevents this possibility, and also prevents the Federal Government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

In 1999 a Vermont court ruled that under Vermont's constitution, it was not required to allow same-sex marriage but was required to make provisions to grant same-sex couples legal rights identical to those provided by marriage. Vermont responded by creating "civil unions," which are legally distinct from "marriages" but convey the same rights. As of 2007, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and a couple of other states also provide civil unions. In 2003 the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that under Massachusetts' constitution, same-sex couples could not be denied Massachusetts marriage licenses, making Massachusetts the sole state to issue same-sex marriage licenses.<ref>Because of an established Massachusetts law, Massachusetts same-sex marriages are all-but-limited to Massachusetts residents. The law says that an out-of-state couple cannot be married if their marriage would be illegal in their home state. The same-sex marriages are not recognized under federal law or in most other states.</ref>

The religious ceremony of marriage is governed by each denomination and is unaffected by laws passed by civil authority. Same-sex marriage is forbidden in Orthodox Judaism, Catholicism, and most mainstream Protestant denominations. Thus, even in Massachusetts, it would be close to impossible for a same-sex couple to find a Catholic priest willing to marry them in a church, or an Orthodox rabbi willing to marry them in a temple.

Public attitude toward same-sex marriage parallels attitude toward homosexuality. In general, it is opposed by social conservatives and outside of this group, support is split down the middle leaning to opposition.<ref>[http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Relationships/same_sex_marriage_poll_040121.html Same Sex Marriage Poll from ABC News]</ref>

Same-sex marriages are allowed in [[Canada]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[South Africa]], [[Monaco]], [[Spain]], [[Cayman Islands]], [[Greenland]], [[Netherland Antilles]], [[Turks and Caicos Islands]], [[Pitcairn Island]], [[French Guiana]], [[Falkland Islands]].

[[Israel]] approves of same-sex marriages performed abroad, but does not perform them in the country.

Same-sex unions or registered partnerships are allowed in [[Hungary]] (from July 2007), [[Andorra]], [[Italy]9 (some regions), [[Luxembourg]], [[the Czech Republic]], [[Denmark]], [[Finland]], [[Germany]], [[Iceland]], [[Norway]], [[Portugal]], [[Slovenia]], [[Sweden]], [[Switzerland]], [[France]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Martinique]], [[Guadeloupe]], [[United States]] ([[Vermont]], [[Connecticut]], [[Massachusetts]], [[New Jersey]], [[California]], [[Maine]], [[District of Coumbia]] and [[Hawaii]]), [[Mexico]] ([[Mexico City]] and [[Coahuila]]), [[Australia]] and [[Norfolk Island]], [[New Caledonia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Brazil]] ([[Rio Grande do Sul]]), [[Argentina]] ([[Buenos Aires City]] and [[Rio Negro Privince]]).

Same-sex unions are considered in [[Hong-Kong]], [[Philippines]], [[Taiwan]], [[Austria]], [[Faroe Islands]], [[Gibraltar]], [[Greece]], [[Gernsey]], [[Ireland]], [[Isle of Man]], [[Jersey]], [[Lichtenstein]], [[Poland]], [[Bermuda]], [[Costa Rica]], [[New Caledonia]], [[Chile]], [[Colombia]], [[Uruguay]].<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_laws_of_the_world Homosexuality laws of the world at Wikipedia]</ref>

==Reference==
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[[Category:Law]]

Pie

2007-04-17T00:05:51Z

Cheesepower:

'''Pies''' are a filled, baked pastry dish, distinguished from [[quiche]]s and [[tart]]s by the presence of a topcrust.

== Types of pie ==

Many things have been historically put into pies, such as "four-and-twenty-[[blackbird]]s". Meat, fish, fruit, vegetables or even cheese, almost anything that is solid enough not to seep out during the baking process may be used.
*Steak and [[kidney]] pie is a traditional meat-based recipe.
*[[Pork]] pie is a traditional Northern English staple, generally served cold. It has a distinctively cylindrical form; most other pies are somewhat flatter.
*[[Mom's apple pie]] is a traditional American fruit-based form.
*[[Custard pie]]s are either pies of set [[custard]], or more often fake (and topcrustless) pies used in cinematic and theatrical [[slapstick]] performances as non-lethal missiles.
*Stargazy pie, a traditional [[Cornwall|Cornish]] dish is made with fish, traditionally with the [[stargazer]], an upward-looking, bottom-dwelling species.
*Shepherd's pies, despite their name do not contain agricultural workers, but instead are made with minced meat, historically [[lamb]].
*Cottage pies are similar to shepherd's pies, but contain [[beef]] instead of lamb. They do not contain small houses.
*Admiral's pies likewise do not contain high-ranking [[navy|naval]] officers, but rather white fish.
*It should also be noted that Scotch pies do not generally contain [[whisky]].

It's something liberals would like for everyone to have a slice of.

[[Category:Food and drink]]

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Same-sex marriage

Pie