Same-sex marriage

A same-sex marriage is a legal relationship between two people of the same sex that has the same legal status as a marriage between a man and a woman.

The Christian conservative organization Focus on the Family consistently presents the phrase as same-sex 'marriage,' with quotation marks around the word marriage, to emphasize their view that marriage—civil as well as religious—is intrinsically a union between a man and a woman and their rejection of "marriage counterfeits."

Unheard of a few decades ago these unions are one of a number of issues involving gay rights and the "culture wars."^{[Citation Needed]} In the United States, marriage is primarily governed by each individual state and marriage laws differ from state to state.

In 1996 Congress recognized the likelihood that gay rights advocates would soon seek changes in some states, and was concerned about test cases that would make it to the Supreme Court which would require a state that did not allow homosexual unions to recognize as valid a state that issued licenses for gay unions. The Defense of Marriage act was passed, which President Clinton signed, prevents this possibility, and does not allow the Federal Government to recognize marriage as anything other than between a man and a woman.

In 1999 a Vermont court ruled that under its 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.

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.

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.