New York legalized gay marriage
Gay marriage, despite the increasing social tolerance, still causes great controversy. New countries face them and want to regulate the legal issue. The United States leave the decision on this matter to individual states.
So far, marriage between homosexual persons were legalized in:
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Iowa
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
Now, to this small group joined the New York City. The road to this, however, was not easy. It was made despite the loud objections of conservative circles, as well as many religious groups and churches. New York, on 24 June 2011 adopted a law which allowed its territory to contract gay and lesbian marriages. Thanks to that already in 30 days homosexual couples will be allowed to legalize their unions there.
So far gay couples were forced to engage in so-called wedding tourism. They could choose from only 5 states in which the law was more favorable to them. Since August, for sure New York will become the next capital of homosexuals.
In Europe, as in the United States, there is no legal compliance in this matter. The most liberal are:
- Netherlands,
- Belgium,
- Spain,
- Norway,
- Sweden,
- Portugal,
- Iceland.
Discussion on this topic, however, takes place in all countries of the Old Continent. Gay marriage can also be contracted in Argentina, South Africa and Canada. Still, there are many places in the world where same-sex relationships are not recognized legally. In many African countries are actually illegal and subject to serious consequences - imprisonment and even capital punishment.
October 2011