It is difficult to see laws and regulations that hurt so many people. It is equally good to see how the worldview on same sex weddings is progressing.
Fact: In the USA, the LGBT+ people are targeted for hate crimes – more than any other minority group.
TL;DR Here is a short video of this blog post, “The World's Views On Same Sex Marriages Are Changing” in case you don’t have the time to read it.
Same Sex Marriage Legalization Around The World
Do you know the first country to allow gay marriages? The Netherlands.
In 2001, other parts of Europe followed the lead of the Netherlands. It took until 2015 before the United States allowed legalized marriages between LGBT couples.
In Argentina, you can marry your partner.
While in Singapore, it is illegal for men to have sex with other men. But the law is not enforced.
As the spread of awareness happens, more countries are allowing people to have a choice in being able to legally marry someone of their same gender.
Last year brought a lot of right to the LGBT community. Greenland joined the list of legalized marriage. And in May of 2016, Colombia allowed Jose Manuel Ticora and Diego Fernando Quimbayo to become the first gay couple to exchange legal vows.
Belize ruled that a criminal code banning gay sex was unlawful.
Countries That Allow Gay Marriage
As of today, same-sex marriage is legally recognized (wholly or in part) in the following countries:
• Argentina
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• Colombia
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Luxembourg
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Portugal
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• United States
While we’ve seen headway where Gay Marriage rights are concerned, a struggle remains.
Gay rights have swept Latin America. It has overcome religious and cultural beliefs to have found a strong hold in many Latin countries.
Spain legalized gay marriage in 2005. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and some parts of Mexico followed. Despite the legalization, gay people sometimes face extreme violence in the more remote areas of Latin America.
While 5 Mexican states have legalized gay marriage, an attempt to make gay marriage a federal right was defeated.
A lesbian girl in Mexico City was caused so much grief over who she was, that she left school. While in school, Yoalli Lora, was ordered to wear her hair in a more feminine manner, not to touch any other girls and she could only use the bathroom if a school staff member accompanied her.
In 2015, she protested outside the school gates. The school eventually apologized to her.
The Dark Side of the LGBT+ Fight
Even though 64% of Australians favor legalizing gay marriage rights, the legal rights remain unavailable.
Russia has decriminalized gay sex, in 1993, but tracked back and introduced a law in 2013 banning the promotion of what the parliament calls “non-traditional sexual relations”.
A whopping 72 countries still have criminal penalties for consensual gay sex - despite positive attitudes towards gay rights.
These 10 countries have a death sentence for men caught having gay sex:
• Iran
• Afghanistan
• Saudi Arabia
• Yemen
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Mauritania
• Nigeria
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates
Uganda Lesbians Under Attack
In Uganda, “Corrective Rape” is reported to still be happening to Lesbians. Lesbians are not afraid of the law, but of the attitudes and the Ugandan mob justice.
Uganda holds the most draconian anti-gay laws in Africa. In 2014, the president signed the anti-homosexuality act into law. For the people convicted of homosexuality? Life in prison.
There is also a required “Tell on your neighbor” requirement. Ugandans are supposed to report anyone they think may be gay.
In a few short months after the law was put into rule, the constitutional court declared the anti-homosexuality act null and void due to a procedural error.
Even though the anti-homosexuality law has been dropped, gay sex is still illegal with life in prison under colonial era law. Gay couples hide. They cannot announce their relationship or even sit together. Life should not be like this.
No matter where you identify in the LGBT or LGBTQIA+, I know you have struggled and will struggle.
Check out these related articles:
Changing Six Kinds of Stinkin' Thinking
GetResults
Why Becoming Ugly May Decrease Anxiety
