It was not so long ago that the government of Ireland established throughout a popular vote the right to same sex marriage. More than 62.07% of voters approved that law and agreed to add to the Constitution the following statement: "marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex". However, it was not Ireland that first disposed favorably to same marriage couples, since it has its beginning in 2001. Below is the list where gay and lesbian marriage are already legal according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.
Denmark was the first country that offered civil unions for gay couples in 1989. Since 1 July 2010 gay and lesbian couples might apply jointly for adoption and in 2012 same sex people could legally get married.
When it comes do the Netherlands, gay marriage was legalized in 2001 and it was the first country to state that law. Soon after same sex couples were given an opportunity to adopt children, which was previously denied.
According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), UK approved same sex marriage last year, as well as Luxembourg, Finland and Slovenia. However, same sex marriage in Finland will be in force in March 2017.
In US, right to marry the same sex was passed among 37 states, but the Supreme Court's decision spread that law across US and it is guaranteed by Constitution.
Here’s the table of countries that have already legalized gay marriage:
References:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/11621812/Mapped-Where-is-same-sex-marriage-legal-in-the-world.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_constitutional_referendums,_2015
http://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2015/06/29/the-countries-where-gay-marriage-is-legal-map/
Denmark was the first country that offered civil unions for gay couples in 1989. Since 1 July 2010 gay and lesbian couples might apply jointly for adoption and in 2012 same sex people could legally get married.
When it comes do the Netherlands, gay marriage was legalized in 2001 and it was the first country to state that law. Soon after same sex couples were given an opportunity to adopt children, which was previously denied.
According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), UK approved same sex marriage last year, as well as Luxembourg, Finland and Slovenia. However, same sex marriage in Finland will be in force in March 2017.
In US, right to marry the same sex was passed among 37 states, but the Supreme Court's decision spread that law across US and it is guaranteed by Constitution.
Here’s the table of countries that have already legalized gay marriage:
2001
Netherlands
2003
Belgium
2005
Canada
and Spain
2006
South
Africa
2009
Sweden
and Norway
2010
Portugal,
Iceland and Argentina
2012
Denmark
2013
Uruguay,
New Zealand and France
2014
UK
and Estonia
2015
Slovenia,
Finland and Luxembourg. Ireland
References:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/11621812/Mapped-Where-is-same-sex-marriage-legal-in-the-world.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_constitutional_referendums,_2015
http://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2015/06/29/the-countries-where-gay-marriage-is-legal-map/
Comments
This does not mean that in Poland vows of homosexual couples did not occured. Some same-sex couples enter into so-called 'weddings humanities'. These, however, are still not recognized by the Polish law (legislation accepts them in Norway, Scotland and the USA).
The vows of this kind are recognized humanist values such as individual freedom, equality, affirmation of tolerance and diversity, trust in people, cooperation, empathy, friendship. In Poland vows humanities are not relevant to the civil law, but a very high social significance.
Have you heard about Kim Davis? She is a woman that denied marriage licenses to gay couples after the law in United States has changed. It's a pretty famous, recent case. She is a county clerk and it's her job to give out marriage licenses so she even ended up in jail for a little while because she refused to obey the law. What do you think about it? From what I've heard she still has her job and still won't give out licenses because of her faith. Do you think people should be able to refuse to do their job and fulfill their duties just because of personal convictions? In my opinion they should change professions if they are not able to do their jobs. In any job you would be fired if you refused to work - for example sell someone a product just because you don't like it for some reason. Imagine a doctor who would be a Jehovah's Witness and refused to give a blood transfusion to everybody just because he believes it's wrong or a pharmacist that won't sell specific meds. Having strong opinions/convictions is fine but you shouldn’t be able to make choices for other people.
If you haven't heard about it here are videos about Kim Davis:
First Link
Second Link
Never have heard about Kim Davis, but this case is kinda weird. As you said, it is her job and I just don't understand why she is pushing her opinion above the law. This is not really professional and yeah, maybe it would be better if she just change her job? It's not good neither for her health nor other people (additional problems and intolerance)
For now I would complain and point to you a huge lack of partnerships legal law it poland! This is something which we are all missing very much! Be adviced that partnerships legal laws are not only supporting same sex relationships but mainly men-woman once! Nowadays getting meriage is not a popular thing. What about those ppl staying in long term relationships and also having kids? They do not have any safe option when sth bad gonna happen. Visiting in hospital after accident, no rules about child protection and this is only a few!
Personally I have nothing against marriage but I'm not for adoption. I know that so many children are waiting for this but couples mom-mom or dad-dad are so unnatural for me as a parents.
On the other hand I am not so sure about adoptions by same sex couples. I don’t think it is a good idea to make marriages and adoptions legal in the same time. People need time to adapt to the new situation (which is same sex marriage) and teach their children to accept the fact that other children may have two moms or two dads. In my opinion it would be harmful for the adopted children to be the subject of discrimination – I am sure that some of them would blame their parents for such situation.
I think Tomasz Wojda raised some important issues. A few days ago my mom told me a story of two women who raised a child together. One of the women, who was also a biological mother of the child, was more a businesswoman, so she took care of the money in their relationship, while the other one (who was not biologically related to the child) has taken care of their child since it was born - she stayed home, cooked, spent time with the child etc. Of course, both women were equally attached to the child. However, after 10-15 years or so, they decided they no longer want to be a couple. And now, the sad part - according to polish law, the woman who took care of the child, raised it etc. - is not related in any way to the child, she's treated like a stranger. She has no right to see their child, no right to know anything about its health, etc. I think it's definately not right.
As long as they wont force me to found this state of affairs as a completely normal (because it's againt nature for me), im OK with that.
If you introduce same-sex marriage it will cause many problems. They would want to be able to adopt children what is not acceptable for me.
I do not believe that this kind of relationship will not affect on a child. If a same-sex couple want to be together and live together I don't see a problem but the adoption of children is too much.
Lesbian or gay marriage educate their child? It will be grow for? For this type child usual family will be two women or two man? It destroy our society. I hope that it never come to Poland and I hope that we never give consent for lesbian and gay marriage.
I believe that with our new government marriages of same sex won't be allowed so we still have at most 4 years to think about it.
society. In summery I’m completely convinced about gay marriages. But stronger case is to adopt the child by single sex family.
Of course there are always people babblng about sanctity of marriage, but honestly, with the current divorce rate their argument is invalid.
The other problem is adoption and here I can't say I have any strong opinion, I see both some pros and some cons, but I'm aware that our society is definitely not ready fo gay people adopting children.
Also there's one thing that people before me mention that I'd like to agree with. People dressing up, waving sex toys and such just to manifest their sexuality... It's a big step back for homosexuals and they shouldn't do such ridiculous things if they want to be taken seriously.
If we're discussing "if gay marriages should be legal" then the obvious answer is yes. If we're discussing "if gay marriages should be legal in poland" then again, the answer would be yes, however in the current political environment it doesn't seem likely that we'll even see legal partnerships, not even mentioning gay marriages.