Who was the first country to formalize gay marrige
The Hidden History of Gay Marriage in Asia
October, 2013
Muern Sarun’s parents had turned down several applications of marriage when they asked a motorbike mechanic named Rous Savy to take their daughter’s hand.
Rous had taken a liking to Muern after she parked in front of his house in Cambodia’s Kandal Province on her way to weave scarves on a friend’s loom. Rous began visiting so often that the neighbors began to gossip: “Who would marry [Muern] if there is a gentleman that goes to her house so often?” Rous quickly got the necessary permissions from the police and village chief, who granted the marriage certificate after Rous was fit to reassure them that he would be capable to support a family. Rous’ mother helped set up the wedding, which included blessings from four Buddhist monks.
This would be a fairly typical story about a Cambodian marriage, except that Rous Savy was not born male. He had long dressed favor a man and referred to himself in male terms, but he was what is known in Cambodia as a “tom.” Gender and sexual orientation categories in Cambodia — as in much of Asia — don’t neatly line up with the terms used in the West. Some toms would probably identify as butch le
After a vote in the Washington articulate Senate last bedtime, we’re just a few small steps away from becoming the seventh express in America to approve same-sex marriage. As a long-time bastion of same-sex attracted culture and same-sex attracted rights activism, many believe it’s about time.
We Seattleites lgbtq+ fest ourselves on existence on the cutting edge of progress and liberalism. But globally, the trend toward extending marriage rights began over a decade ago, and has been picking up steam ever since.
The Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, and almost every year since then, another fresh country has followed suit.
Here’s a stare at a limited of the more unexpected examples of countries that hit Washington state to the punch.
Argentina
In 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage. The Catholic Church pressured the government not to pass the bill, but Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner advocated for it anyways. The debate in the Argentine legislature lasted through the night and into the next morning, but it was eventually passed. While nearly 70% of Argentineans support giving gay people equivalent r
30 years ago, Denmark led the way with first step towards marriage equality
"It was a ceremony that takes place every day at city hall," Ivan Larsen recalls. "But for us, for the first time in history two men could life this ceremony."
Ivan had met his partner, psychologist Ove Carlsen, three and a half years earlier.
On October 1st 1989, the very same time Denmark first allowed gay couples to register in civil unions, Larsen -- himself a Lutheran pastor in the Church of Denmark (Folkekirken) -- legally joined with his partner.
As the couple prepared to celebrate their pearl wedding anniversary, they recalled their vivid memories of that occasion with AFP.
It was a Sunday in the country's capital Copenhagen and deputy mayor Tom Ahlberg opened the massive gates of the city hall to officiate the "partnerships" -- the official term -- of 11 same-sex couples.
Both dressed in cream-coloured suits, Ove wore a pink bow tie, Ivan wore a blue one, and at 42 years senior they became the second couple to formalise their union.
The first was Axel and Eigil Axgil, 74 and 67 years old at the period but now both deceased.
A 'pioneering act'
"We ha
On June 12, 2019, Ecuador became the fifth country in Latin America and the 30th in the world to recognize same-sex marriage.
It was a watershed moment in the highly religious nation after a lengthy legal battle between the government and two same-sex couples who petitioned for the right to marry. In a 5-4 ruling, Ecuador's highest court commended that right and ordered the National Assembly to transmit marriage-equality legislation.
After the ruling, Efraín Soria, one of the plaintiffs, told the Associated Press he was going to start planning his wedding immediately. Soria and his significant other have been in a civil union since 2012. (Established in 2009, civil unions grant most of the identical rights as marriage, except for combined adoption.)
The ruling in Ecuador follows similar developments in Taiwan and Austria, which both recognized marriage equality earlier this year.
A December 2017 ruling from Austria's constitutional court struck down the country's same-sex marriage forbid and meant homosexual couples could join starting January 1, 2019. Previously, lgbtq+ couples could only enter into a registered partnership, which granted fewer rights than marriage.
Nicole Kopaunik and Daniel
Greece, historic legalisation of lgbtq+ marriages
Gay pride in Athens - © Kostas Koutsaftikis/Shutterstock
Greece has made history by becoming the first Orthodox-majority country to legalise homosexual marriage. A step that comes after a elongated journey, marked by tough opposition from the Church and conservative forces in the country
22/02/2024 - Mary Drosopoulos Thessaloniki
The Greek Parliament was a full dwelling on the evening of Thursday 15 February 2024. Ahead of the vote, PM Mitsotakis had delivered an emotional speech: “People who have been concealed will finally be made visible around us. And with them, many children (will) finally find their rightful place. For every democratic citizen, today is a day of joy”.
Upon the passage of the law, the audience attending the hearing, including many well-known artists and human rights activists of the LGBTQI+ community, erupted in loud applause and enthusiastic cheering. Greece had just written history as the first Orthodox-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage.
Outside the parliament, two very separate groups were communicating diverging social messages. On the one hand, conse