Equal marriage is part of civil rights.
Equal marriage is the social institution that supports the establishment of a marriage bond between two individuals of the same sex . The characteristics of the bond depend on each legislation.
Also known as gay marriage or homosexual marriage , this conjugal union is usually enabled within the framework of inclusion policies that aim at non-discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation. To be realized, the union must be recognized in marriage laws.
History of equal marriage
The history of equal marriage can be divided into two stages. In ancient years, such as in the times of Mesopotamia and Ancient Rome , homosexual relationships were considered normal and same-sex couples could formalize the bond to a greater or lesser extent. Many Roman emperors, in fact, married men, until the adoption of Christianity as the official religion changed the rules.
Closer in time, starting in the 19th century and throughout the 20th century , homosexuality began to be seen as something negative and even as a pathology in the Western world. In this context, it came to be considered a mental disorder by the World Health Organization ( WHO ), so marriage was not an option available for gays.
Only approximately from the 1970s onwards did a new stage begin with the social (and medical) acceptance of sexual diversity . Thanks to LGBT + activism and the retreat of prejudices and stereotypes, many countries passed legislation on equal marriage, especially in the 21st century , sanctioning legal recognition of same-sex couples.
In 1971 , Blue Earth County ( Minnesota ), in the United States , approved a marriage between two men ( Michael McConnell and Jack Baker ) in what is considered the first record of this type of union made by a civil government. Almost thirty years later, in 2000 , the Queen of the Netherlands enacted the first world law authorizing marriage between homosexuals.
Currently, more than thirty nations in America , Asia , Europe and Oceania have authorized, to different extents, equal marriage. This provides legal protection for gay couples, whose members have access to the marital benefits established by law.
With the sexual revolution and the gay liberation movement, equal marriage became a demand in many societies.
The justifications
The justifications for equal marriage are linked, in a broad sense, to respect for human rights , the recognition of gender equality and the fight against discrimination . Arguably, rather than justifying this union, it would be more logical to try to find arguments against it (or, put another way, to find reasons to only allow marriage between a man and a woman and thus endorse legal inequality).
The LGBT+ movement , defending gay pride and combating homophobia and transphobia , carried out hard work to achieve first civil union and then equal marriage. Thus, the necessary social consensus was built to accept that, after the depathologization of homosexuality , allowing two people of the same sex to marry contributes to equal opportunities and the defense of human dignity.
It cannot be omitted to mention that, before the advancement of equal marriage, the acceptance of homosexuality as a natural expression of sexuality was necessary. Likewise, various studies have shown that gay couples can raise their children in the same way as those made up of a man and a woman.
Children, on the other hand, enjoy greater well-being when their parents maintain a bond recognized by the community, which implies that equal marriage protects the rights of children by favoring minors who grow up in a family of this type. guy.
Marriage equality allows members of sexual minorities to marry.
Rejection of equal marriage
Beyond the struggle of social movements and the new laws enacted in dozens of countries, there is still hate speech that rejects the establishment of equal marriage. Many times this condemnation is framed in religious discrimination: opposition to practices and customs that contradict the rules of the creed.
One of the most common criticisms maintains that marriage is an institution intended for procreation . At this point it should be noted that adoption by same-sex couples is another topic that is usually discussed in discussions of this class, as well as artificial insemination and surrogacy.
On the other hand, there are those who consider that equal marriage violates the right of minors to be raised by a father and a mother, a position that, as we indicated above, is refuted by various studies.
Same-sex celebrity weddings
Many celebrities have made use of their right to marry thanks to marriage equality. These celebrity weddings helped make the issue visible and minimize possible stigma and discrimination.
The musician Elton John and the filmmaker David Furnish , for example, entered into a civil union in 2005 and married in 2014 . The couple has two children.
Also in 2014, actresses Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison married. For her part, TV presenter Ellen DeGeneres married actress and model Portia de Rossi in 2008 .