A BRIEF HISTORY OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Marriage equality is same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples can now legally marry in 17 countries; of course, it is not in all the countries worldwide. Ireland was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. In the United States, 36 states issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, including Washington DC. An individual early tasted it in early 1970. Changes that would have led to the world-first same-sex marriage law in Europe would have happened in 1989. The Netherlands becomes the first country to introduce full legal marriage equality. Denmark was the first to recognize same-sex union; they called it a registered partnership. Below is the history of how it started until it came to be.

Blairs Year

Cooper Z. (2013) explained that in 1997 Tony Blair's government recorded the first gay rights and first openly gay cabinet minister in Britain. Chris Smith and the immediate government set about ending gay and lesbian discrimination by lowering the age of consent for homosexual sex from 18- 16. In 2002, also re-appealing section 28 law prevented schools from teaching and accepting homosexuality as a parenting family relationship.

Civil Partnership

The act was passed in 2004, with the first ceremony in 2005. It was designed to give same-sex couples identity, rights, and responsibility. Partners are entitled to the same exemptions in inheritance tax, insurance, social security, pension benefits, responsibility for parenting, and kin rights. In 2010 it was forbidden to take place in a religious institution. It was a huge step forward for gay rights. Balsam et al. (2008) explained that there were demands that heterosexual couples be entitled to opt for civil partnership rather than marriage.

2002-2010

During this period, marriage equality was largely absent from the political debate in the UK. Civil partnership is seen by most as an acceptable legislative solution. Macintosh et al. (2010) explained that polls during those years showed that most Britons supported same-sex couples' rights to get married if they wanted to. The issue was a source of national opinion and controversy in the United States. Christian groups denounced that it could not be acceptable. In 2012 six states recognized same-sex marriage, New York being among the states. Others, especially southern states, had articles that explicitly defined marriage between men and women. In 2008 California was a legislative initiative that proposed a campaign group that opposed same-sex marriage. It stated that marriage is only between a man and woman. Schacter (2008) explained that earlier in the year supreme court stated that gays and lesbians had the right to marry, and it was passed on November 2, 2008, by 58%; the vote was held the same day as part of the same election that sent Barack Obama to the white house. In 2009 US supreme court began hearing many lawsuits.

2010

Same-sex marriage being the major battleground for the gay rights movement in us, the debates began to generate more interest in the UK. In the run-up to the 2010 election, all major parties signaled their willingness to look at the issue. The leader had different opinions; only lib Dems came out firmly behind marriage equality, but it did not appear in his manifesto. 2010 act paved the way for a willing religious institution to offer partnership. Quakers showed an indication of their readiness to offer partnership.

2011

The new SNP to the Scottish parliament brought forward consultation on marriage equality following a well-published campaign in May. It was a series of questions to be answered by the public online or in writing. Were held between September and December 2011, allowing same-sex civil marriage and burning religious ceremonies for civil partnership. With more than 77000 responses, the consultation was the biggest in the Scottish parliament. 67% opposed same-sex marriage. In Westminster, the lib dem side of the coalition pressed for change. They announced at the lib dem conference that consultations were to begin in March 2012, and at the tory conference, David Cameron said he supported gay marriage in his leadership speech.

2012-Present

March government launched its consultation on same-sex marriage as it was promised. The proposal was to see same-sex marriage entitled to civil rights but make no change to religious marriage rules between a man and woman. Yvette Cooper announced that this did not go far enough, and the religious option should be open to same-sex marriage offered by religious organizations voluntarily. In June, Nick had espoused similar views, and it was closed. In July, the Scottish government announced the results of the consultations. The government pledged to introduce civil and religious same-sex marriage but was stressed that no religious institution should compel to offer it; an individual would put the measure in place to protect the celebrants of any faith who disagree with same-sex marriage. On September 4, the Billy was presented formally as part of the Scottish government's legislative program for the next year. Religious groups in Scotland were offended, the catholic church urging its parishioners to petition against same-sex marriage. Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the head of the catholic church in Scotland, become the public face of the anti-equality movement and is outspoken on his attachment to same-sex marriage. Lib Dem Lynne lost her job as equality minister as she was seen as a champion of equality marriage as a conservative Maria Miller replaced her. Miller has recently voted against gay adoption rights, the racial and religious hatred bill, and a bill that would have given the lesbian couple the right to IVF. In the US, President Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage.

2013

Twelve more countries legalized same-sex marriage in Europe, including Spain and France, where religious opposition was strong through the catholic church. However, there was a bit of a fight over the issue in France. Spain was legalized in 2005 before France in 2013.

2014

In the USA, the number of states that allowed same-sex doubled uprising from 15 to 30. However, some courts decided to uphold some state bans on same-sex marriage. US supreme court agreed to hear the appeal against the ban In Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, and Kentucky. An individual heard the arguments, and they waited for the outcome.

Conclusion

There was a cultural conversation as more countries started allowing same-sex marriage; the images you would see in the news media were of couples who were excited and thrilled to be able to get married. It's all about being happy and not gender.

References

Balsam, K. F., Beauchaine, T. P., Rothblum, E. D., & Solomon, S. E. (2008). Three-year follow-up of same-sex couples who had civil unions in Vermont, same-sex couples, not in civil unions, and heterosexual married couples. Developmental psychology, 44(1), 102.

Cooper, Z. (2013). God in Government: The Impact of Faith on British Politics and Prime Ministers, 1997-2012. Demos, London, UK.

Macintosh, H., Reissing, E. D., & Andruff, H. (2010). Same-sex marriage in Canada: The impact of legal marriage on the first cohort of gay and lesbian Canadians to wed. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 19(3).

Schacter, J. S. (2008). Courts and the politics of backlash: Marriage equality litigation, then and now. S. Cal. L. Rev., 82, 1153.