Lgbtq civil union
Denmark's Civil Unions: One Massive Leap for Mankind
ON OCTOBER 1, 1989, AN EVENT UNLIKE ANY BEFORE in historytook place at the Copenhagen town hall in Denmark. That Sunday, a national law went into effect that allowed homosexual couples to be connected in a civil union, and 11 gay male couples did just that — a school psychologist, a Lutheran minister, and a high school educator among them. One of the grooms, Eigil Axgil (né Eskildsen), then 67 years old, told Rex Wockner, an American correspondent who was there covering it, “We just never could have dreamed that we would get this far.”
They had plenty of reason for doubt. Four decades earlier, Eigil’s match, Axel Axgil (né Lundahl-Madsen), launched Denmark’s first gay rights management, the League of 1948 (whose name was later changed to the less-discreet Danish National Organization for Gays and Lesbians, or LBL for short.) Out of the closet, Axel was fired from his bookkeeping job and evicted by his landlord, but forged ahead. It was his group’s tireless lobbying over the years that eventually laid the groundwork that led to that historic evening in 1989.
Wockner, who syndicated his breaking news stories to the gay force for
Pope Francis allows blessings for same-sex couples under certain conditions
The Vatican has approved a landmark decree to allow Roman Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies, nor given in contexts related to civil unions or weddings.
A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office approved by Pope Francis on Monday said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.
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end of listThe document backed “the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the matching sex” but “this blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them”.
It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not
The Journey to Marriage Equality in the United States
The road to nationwide marriage equality was a extended one, spanning decades of United States history and culminating in victory in June 2015. Throughout the long combat for marriage equality, HRC was at the forefront.
Volunteer with HRC
From gathering supporters in small towns across the state to rallying in front of the Supreme Court of the United States, we gave our all to guarantee every person, regardless of whom they love, is commended equally under the law.
A Growing Summon for Equality
Efforts to legalize same-sex marriage began to pop up across the country in the 1990s, and with it challenges on the state and national levels. Civil unions for homosexual couples existed in many states but created a separate but equal accepted. At the federal level, couples were denied access to more than 1,100 federal rights and responsibilities associated with the institution, as well as those denied by their given state. The Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law in 1996 and defined marriage by the federal government as between a gentleman and woman, thereby allowing states to deny marriage equality.
New Century &
Marriage Equality Around the World
The Human Rights Campaign tracks developments in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage around the world. Working through a worldwide network of HRC global alumni and partners, we lift up the voices of community, national and regional advocates and share tools, resources, and lessons learned to enable movements for marriage equality.
Current State of Marriage Equality
There are currently 38 countries where same-sex marriage is legal: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay.
These countries have legalized marriage equality through both legislation and court decisions.
Countries that Legalized Marriage Equality in 2025
Liechtenstein: On May 16, 2024, Liechtenstein's government passed a bill in favor of marriage equality. The law went into effect January 1, 2025.
civil union
A civil union is a marriage-like relationship, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. In other words, civil union is a legal relationship between two people that provides legal protection to the couple at the state level. If a couple is in a civil union they get inheritance rights, employment benefits, property, parental rights, etc.
Vermont was the first state in the U.S. to recognize civil unions. The state supreme court ruled in Baker v. State of Vermont that the state had to extend to same-sex couples the common benefits and protections granted to those who marry under Vermont law. The Vermont legislature passed legislation creating the opportunity for same-sex couples to obtain a “civil union” license.
However, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is legal in every state and each state must distinguish a same-sex marriage performed in other states. In light of this U.S. Supreme Court decision, civil unions may now develop less common.
[Last reviewed in August of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]
Wex
Источник: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/civil_union
Marriage Equality Around the World
The Human Rights Campaign tracks developments in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage around the world. Working through a worldwide network of HRC global alumni and partners, we lift up the voices of community, national and regional advocates and share tools, resources, and lessons learned to enable movements for marriage equality.
Current State of Marriage Equality
There are currently 38 countries where same-sex marriage is legal: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay.
These countries have legalized marriage equality through both legislation and court decisions.
Countries that Legalized Marriage Equality in 2025
Liechtenstein: On May 16, 2024, Liechtenstein's government passed a bill in favor of marriage equality. The law went into effect January 1, 2025.
civil union
A civil union is a marriage-like relationship, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. In other words, civil union is a legal relationship between two people that provides legal protection to the couple at the state level. If a couple is in a civil union they get inheritance rights, employment benefits, property, parental rights, etc.
Vermont was the first state in the U.S. to recognize civil unions. The state supreme court ruled in Baker v. State of Vermont that the state had to extend to same-sex couples the common benefits and protections granted to those who marry under Vermont law. The Vermont legislature passed legislation creating the opportunity for same-sex couples to obtain a “civil union” license.
However, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is legal in every state and each state must distinguish a same-sex marriage performed in other states. In light of this U.S. Supreme Court decision, civil unions may now develop less common.
[Last reviewed in August of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]
Wex