Same-sex marriage around the globe

by Ilona Peltz, Posted Sep 19th 2007 3:56PM

Filed Under: Alternative Weddings, Culture Clash

Same-sex marriage passed the House of Commons in Canada on June 28, 2005 and became law on July 20, 2005. We've come a long way since 1965, when a sexually active gay man could be labelled a "dangerous sexual offender."

The debate has been going on for quite a while. Denmark was the first country to give same-sex partnerships the same rights as married heterosexuals, 18 years ago. Italy now allows legal rights to any unmarried couple, regardless of gender. Israel has allowed gay people married in other countries to be recognized as married within Israel. New Zealand recognizes civil unions, regardless of gender. The US still struggles. Spain, Belgium and South Africa allow same-sex marriage.

And here in Canada, two years later, life goes on. People are born, people get up and go to work, children go to school, people die, people get married. Just like every other day before June 28, 2005. Because love is love, a wedding is a wedding, and marriage continues to exist: a way of declaring a life-long commitment to your beloved. Except now, no one is excluded.

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Tags: Canada, gay-marriage, same-sex-marriage