With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I thought it would be nice to focus on a little love, baby, love—and politics and the law and how it is and will affect queer people around the world.
While the churning maelstrom of Proposition 8 in California has been experiencing high-profile coverage (and the ensuing nastiness that accompanies it), there have been a few advances and breakthroughs in the fight for equal marriage for gays in other parts of the world.
Countries around the world where same sex marriage is legal:
Belgium • Canada • Netherlands • Norway • South Africa • Spain • Sweden
We can now add a trinity of countries to the slowly growing list:
Argentina • Portugal • Nepal
Argentina’s province of Tierra del Fuego welcomed its first gay marriage in December while the issue of same sex marriage goes through the courts. A friend of mine (who is from Buenos Aires) told me Argentina will make gay marriage legal!
Portugal’s parliament voted to approve same sex marriage. The bill is before committee and expected to pass without anything standing in its way.
Nepal’s Supreme Court found laws against homosexuality to be unconstitutional and is expected to pass queer-positive laws this spring that would legalize same sex marriage by May. If that isn’t sweet enough, a tourist organization is offering gay weddings on elephant-back procession up Mt. Everest.
While it’s easy to get lost in the mud slinging of big-mouthed conservatives who scream homophobia from the rooftops when it comes to gay rights (human rights), it’s nice to have a look around the world to see where great strides are being made—and in some of the most unlikely places. These stories are heartening and inspirational.
With World Pride coming to Toronto in 2014, there is a terrific opportunity to shine a light on our own successes and the successes of these countries as an example that anything is possible if you believe and dedicate yourself as an individual and a community. Now that’s something to love!
