Homosexuality and bisexuality

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Same-sex marriages (SSM), civil unions,
domestic partnerships & other human rights issues

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We use the acronym "SSM" throughout this section to represent "same-sex marriage"
We use the acronym "LGBT" to refer to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender persons and transsexuals.

Worldwide SSM status as of 2010-JUL-16:

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Apology: Somehow, the Opera browser deletes the light gray outline of countries
that do not provide SSM from the above image. Sorry about that.
Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari show the image properly.
The Adobe Dreamweaver program -- used to write essays on this website --
doesn't show the image properly either. But that's my problem, not yours.

The next countries to legalize SSM are expected to be Nepal, Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Not shown above are individual cities, states, and provinces where SSM has been legalized.

Aspects of same-sex marriage (SSM) discussed in this section:

SSM is very controversial. Preventing same-sex couples from marrying is considered by many religious and social conservatives to be even more important than restricting women's access to abortion. Thus, we have devoted a very large section in our web site to this topic. It is difficult to keep this section up to date, because there is -- or has been -- separate battles for and against SSM in the District of Columbia and in each of tne 50 states and in Congress.

	Introductory material: Background material:       <<< Please read these two essays first! Past marriage trends & changes worldwide, from biblical times to now.   Marriage as a human right Current SSM status outside the U.S.   Strategy.   Predictions.   Links to resources. Summary: quotes, terminology, a book on SSM  <<< Please read this next! Status of SSM and civil unions, as they existed in mid-2005   Timeline of changes: SSMs and civil unions, worldwide: From 2001 to 2004 From 2005 to 2008 From 2009 to now Current status of SSM and civil unions. SSM in Canada: an overview Harms resulting from: The denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples Same-sex marriage itself according to some conservatives   Health benefits resulting from SSM Quotations showing the diversity of beliefs about SSM
	Additional material: Changes, including re-definitions, of marriages since before biblical times Recent trends in marriage in the U.S. Why are couples not permitted to marry? A related topic: the battle over inter-racial marriage in the U.S. Why do some same-sex couples want to marry? Disagreements over whether same-sex marriage should be permitted Is same-sex marriage a good or bad idea? A threat to the institution of marriage, or a beneficial cultural change? Analysis of Family Research Council`s stance on SSM Arguments against SSM raised by the National Organization for marriage Allowing military chaplains to conduct SSM ceremonies Inside a "scary, society-destroying family" led by parents of the same sex A speech by Ed Fallon in opposition to a state DOMA law in Iowa How do children fare with same-sex parents? One child with three legal parents: a Canadian court decision Governments that recognize same-sex relationships Companies that extend benefits to partners of gay/lesbian employees Marriage benefits denied to gay & lesbian couples A sampling of opinions by religious leaders and individuals
	Religion and SSM: Faith groups' policies toward same-sex marriages and equal rights for gays The Bible and same-sex marriages Two aspects to marriage: civil and religious: should they be separated? Marriage and family forms in the Bible and now Opposition by the Black religious community towards marriage equality Article in Newsweek in support of SSM (2008-DEC-15) TV ad by the National Organization for Marriage opposing SSM
	Laws in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world: Legal aspect of same-sex marriages US court & legislative activity restricting same-sex marriage - DOMA laws The Nebraska DOMA law declared unconstitutional Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) to the U.S. Constitution An interpretation of the U.S. Constitution Will SSM inevitably lead to decriminalizing polygamy?   International declarations on the rights of LGBT persons   Laws in other countries that oppress or protect LGBT persons
	Public opinion polls: In the U.S.: Single polls Repeated polls: On same-sex marriage On same-sex civil unions In Canada: 1996 to 2002; 2003 2004 2005 This is the year in which SSM was legalized across Canada 2006 Anecdotal comments about SSM
	Status of SSM, civil unions, etc. in the U.S.: LGBT news items 1996 to 2010 Overview in the U.S. Recognition of same-sex relationships seems to have reached a tipping point on 2011-FEB-23 Accelerating series of events leading towards marriage equality etc. following 2011-FEB-23: 2011-FEB/MAR    2011-APR  2011-MAY-01 to 15  2011-MAY-16 to 31  2011-JUN-01 to 10  2011-JUN-11 to 30 2011-JUL-01 to 15   2011-JUL-16 to 31  2011-AUG-01 to 15  2011-AUG-16 to 31   2011-SEP  2011-OCT 2011-NOV  2011-DEC  Year end review 2012-JAN  2012-FEB Within Native American Nations: Cherokee Nation Coquille Nation Within American states and the District of Columbia Alaska Arizona California *** The Pursuit of equality, a documentary DVD Connecticut * Delaware District of Columbia * Hawaii Illinois Iowa * Maine Maryland ** << SSM being actively debated Massachusetts * New Hampshire * New Jersey << SSM being actively debated New York * New Mexico ** North Carolina Oregon Rhode Island Vermont  * Virginia Washington DC * Washington state << SSM being actively debated Wisconsin Wyoming Issuing of SSM marriage licenses in various states in early 2004 Activity in other states * SSM available now: 6 states and Washington DC. ** Out-of-state SSMs recognized: 3 states. *** SSM once available; lawsuits underway to reinstate SSM: 1 state
	Status of SSM elsewhere in the world: Canada: Ten provincial/territorial court cases and one federal government decision This is a big section! Outside North America: Argentina: SSM bill considered. SSM bill passes parliament Australia Belgium UK: England, Northern Ireland, and Wales, but not including Scotland India Israel Netherlands Norway New Zealand Portugal Scotland: Part 1  Part 2 South Africa Spain Switzerland Sweden Other locations: Albania to England    Germany to Uruguay

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