by Evelyn Bailey
The first fully recognized gay marriage in modern history took place in the Netherlands in 1989 which received full governmental recognition.
Moving ahead in time the Netherlands which has long been one of the most socially open and progressive nations on the planet was the first to bestow the right of gay marriage in 2001.
Belgium was the next country to ratify gay marriage only a year after the Netherlands. All told since the Netherlands set the trend six countries have passed fully recognized marriage for gays with Canada, Spain, and South Africa, Nepal, and Norway joining the list on New Years Day of 2009.
The United States has regionally recognized gay marriage in Connecticut and Massachusetts, with Rhode Island recognizing these unions but not yet allowing the ceremony within it's borders. California's gay marriage law is under appeal after being revoked by Proposition 8. New York State recognizes legally conducted foreign gay marriages as well.
Aruba now recognizes same sex marriages (Dutch only), as do Israel, and France. A host of countries offer at least same sex civil unions and registered partnerships including: Andorra, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
Civil unions and registered domestic partnerships are becoming more common in many regions of countries that have not yet passed gay marriage laws including Australia (ACT, TAS,VIC), Argentina (C, RN, VCP), Brazil (RS), Mexico (Coah, DF), and the U.S. (CA, DC, HI, ME, MD, NH, NJ,OR, VT,WA). What is important to distinguish is that these registered partnerships and civil unions are not marriages carrying all the legal benefits and protections of marriage. They are however significant because they are often the precursor to gay marriage.
In the U.S. DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) has been adopted by 29 states to explicitly ban same sex marriage. Israel still bans same sex marriage within its borders except for those conducted outside of the country. The French national assembly has rejected same sex marriage as being unfair to children which may lead to a change in the law there.
Full civil rights and marriage equality go hand in hand. Whether you support gay marriage, agree with or object to the terms, want to be married or have a union or not, in matters of the heart only you can decide, but in matters of justice and equality the law decides. Each of us needs to support each other in our journeys to be who we are individually, as couples, as community. This February 14, may we all in our own hearts promise to love ourselves. Freedom born out of love can never be denied or taken away. Happy Valentines Day!