Equality in Minnesota

[Tomas]

Minnesota has approved marriage equality after several hours of debate in the state Senate and a vote of 37-30. It will become the 12th state in the nation (with the District of Columbia) to offer its citizens the freedom to marry.

 

The House passed the bill last week in a 75-59 vote and Governor Mark Dayton has said he will sign the bill.

[Thorn Wilde]

Congratulations, Minnesota! Welcome to the civilised world.

[Benji]

Congratulations, Minnesota! Welcome to the civilised world.

 

 

........ An another one, an another one BITES THE DUST!  Congrats to MN I would have never thought that in that state!

[C J]

Good news, but be careful, this subject could become political pretty easy.     

[wildone]

Good point Ghostboy.

 

Right now congrats are okay, but if it goes anywhere political it will need to be closed.

 

Please everyone keep this in mind!

 

Thanks

[Slytherin]

Cool - congratulations Minnesota

[Zombie]

Congrats Minnesota
It might be useful to look at some facts about gay unions - and facts are above politics

GAY MARRIAGE / UNIONS BEFORE 2001
Ancient world
- Rome until Christianity
- Mesopotania
Middle Ages
- Spain
- some Middle East countries through to the early 20th century
20th century
- Belgium [civil unions with full rights 2000]
- Denmark [civil unions with full rights 1989 - first country in the world]
- France [civil unions with full rights 1999]
- Iceland [civil unions with full rights 1996]
- Netherlands [limited civil unions 1979; full rights from 1998; full marriage from 2000]
- Norway [civil unions with full rights 1993]
- Sweden [civil unions with full rights 1995]
- USA California [civil unions with limited rights 1999]
- USA Vermont [civil unions with full rights 2000]

GAY MARRIAGE / UNIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Nations / States where same sex unions are performed
- Argentina [gay marriage: 2009 Tierra del Fuego; 2010 throughout Argentina]
- Austria [civil unions with full rights 2009]
- Australia [civil unions with full rights: 2008 ACT and Victoria; 2010 New South Wales; 2012 Queensland]
- Belgium [full marriage 2003]
- Brazil [civil unions with full rights 2011 - gay marriage: Alagoas 2011; four other states 2012; seven more states 2013]
- Colombia [gay marriage 2009]
- Canada [gay marriage: 2003 Ontario; 2004 Saskatchewan; 2005 throughout Canada]
- Czech Republic [civil unions with full rights 2006]
- Denmark [gay marriage 2012]
- Ecuador [civil unions with full rights 2009]
- Finland [civil unions with full rights 2002]
- France [gay marriage 2013 - awaiting President signature]
- Hungary [civil unions with full rights 2009]
- Iceland [gay marriage 2010]
- Ireland [civil unions with full rights 2011]
- Luxembourg [civil unions with full rights 2004]
- Mexico [civil unions with full rights: 2006 Mexico City; 2007 Coahuila - gay marriage: 2010 Mexico City; 2011 Quintana Roo]
- New Zealand [civil unions with full rights 2005 - gay marriage 2013]
- Norway [gay marriage 2009]
- Portugal [gay marriage 2010]
- Slovenia [civil unions with limited rights 2006]
- South Africa [gay marriage 2006]
- Spain [gay marriage 2005]
- Sweden [gay marriage 2009]
- Switzerland [civil unions with full rights 2007]
- Tasmania [civil unions with full rights 2004]
- UK [civil unions with full rights 2005 - same sex marriage is permitted under Gender Recognition Act also in 2005]
- Uruguay [civil unions with full rights 2007 - gay marriage 2012]
- USA California [gay marriage 2008 but banned 2009, the only time in modern history gay marriage reversed]
- USA Colorado [civil unions with full rights 2013]
- USA Connecticut [civil unions with full rights 2005 - gay marriage 2009]
- USA Delaware [civil unions with full rights 2012 - gay marriage 2013]
- USA DC [gay marriage 2009]
- USA Hawaii [civil unions with full rights 2012]
- USA Illinois [civil unions with full rights 2011]
- USA Iowa [gay marriage 2009]
- USA Maine [civil unions with full rights 2004 - gay marriage 2012]
- USA Maryland [civil unions with full rights 2008 - gay marriage 2012]
- USA Massachusetts [gay marriage 2004]
- USA Michigan [gay marriage for Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians 2013]
- USA Minnesota [gay marriage 2013]
- USA Nevada [civil unions with full rights 2009]
- USA New Hampshire [civil unions with full rights 2007 - gay marriage 2009]
- USA New Jersey [civil unions with full rights 2004]
- USA New York [gay marriage 2011]
- USA Oregon [civil unions with full rights 2007]
- USA Rhode Island [civil unions with full rights 2011 - gay marriage 2013]
- USA Vermont [gay marriage 2009]
- USA Washington [civil unions with full rights 2007 - gay marriage: for Suquamish tribe 2011; statewide 2012]
- USA Wisconsin [civil unions with full rights 2009]

Nations / States where same sex unions are recognised but not allowed
- Israel [all foreign gay marriage recognised 2006]
- USA California [gay marriage recognised 2009]

Phew - looks like an unstoppable tide

Recognising but not allowing same sex unions is interesting. It means gay unions are accepted as valid and therefore entitled to the same legal status as male / female unions even though not permitted within a nation / state. In the case of three US states, recognition has progressed to allowing gay marriage. And if you like analysing trends ... well, you can make up your own mind about the trend direction and when there will be a tipping point.

It's human instinct to fear the unknown, but we're all global travellers now and as the numbers of same sex unions increase so their recognition is going to become a commonplace and ordinary activity in those nations / states that recognise them but don't allow them. And when something becomes commonplace and ordinary what is there left to fear?
 

Edited May 14, 2013 by Zombie

[Thorn Wilde]

Awesome list, Zombie! I'd like to add that some forms of same-sex marriage have been allowed throughout history on a technicality. In the Middle Ages, for instance, the church technically recognised marriage between a man and a eunuch. 

 

Also, some Native American tribes have recognised same-sex unions through the concept of people with two souls, technically a form of transsexuality, where a person of one sex could take on the gender roles of the opposite sex, to the point of marrying a person of the same physical sex as themselves.

 

Out of curiosity, is there anywhere on these forums where one is permitted to discuss politics?

Edited May 14, 2013 by Thorn Wilde

[Zombie]

Out of curiosity, is there anywhere on these forums where one is permitted to discuss politics?

 

No - but you can do it in your blog

Edited May 14, 2013 by Zombie

[Tomas]

At one time there were forums for political discussions, but things got so bad in them, they turned into "flame wars" instead of discussions so they were closed and are not likely to be brought back.

Edited May 15, 2013 by Tomas

[Thorn Wilde]

That's sad. I've never been able to understand why people can't discuss matters like politics and religion in a civilised manner. Thanks for your answers!

[C J]

That's sad. I've never been able to understand why people can't discuss matters like politics and religion in a civilised manner. Thanks for your answers!

It's all good.  There are other sites dedicated to political discussions, just like this one is dedicated to gay authors.  There's always some place to go for whatever anyone is looking for. 

[wildone]

While we are happy about Minnesota passing Gay Marriage, we are closing this topic due to the the political leanings of anything beyond a simple congrats.  If you wish to discuss this further, please do so in a blog.

 

Forum Moderation Team