HISTORY OF GAY MARRIAGE

WHAT IS MARRIAGE
A social union or legal contract between two consenting persons for the purpose of creating children may be referred to as a traditional marriage. A marriage, a societal institution, may refer to an interpersonal relationship whereby intimate and sexual engagements are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on where the bond originated. A traditional marriage usually has a formal induction through a wedding ceremony, otherwise known as matrimony. A marriage occurs for one of a number of reasons, including legal, social, libidinal, emotional, economic, religious, and spiritual in essence.

Marriages are often recognized by the state, religious authority, or both institutions. Civil marriage is a legally recognized union recognized by the governmental institution unattached to a religious organization. Marital contracts can also be broken or dissolved through a separative process known as a divorce or annulment. Both definitions carry different connotations from culture to culture with each imposing varying penalties based on the wavering of the legal and/or religious affiliation.

Marriage has been practiced throughout all of recorded history; however the practices, rules, and ceremonies in which the marriage is conducted have changed greatly over the course of human history.

 Homosexuality

Homosexuality, a romantic or purely sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender, has been scrutinized by various cultures throughout history. Homosexuality is just one of the main three definitions of sexual orientation, alongside with heterosexuality and bisexuality. Homosexuality has been established as a normal and positive variation of sexual interaction by the scientific community; however, some religious sects and “ex-gay” organizations have characterized the behavior as a “choice.” Homosexual women identify with the term “lesbian,” while their male counterparts identify with the term “gay” to describe their sexual orientation in concordance with society.

History of Same-Sex Marriages, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships

Same-sex marriage, a legally or socially recognizable union between two consenting adults of the same biological sex or social gender, has been under fire for many years. Since 2001, ten countries and other nation-states have begun to legally formalize same-sex marriages, including Argentina, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal, Mexico City, Spain, South Africa, and some regions within the United States. Same-sex marriages have varied from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, which has resulted in legislative changes of marriage laws in order to meet the constitutional demands of equality established by the Founding Fathers. Other opposing nations recognize same-sex marriages as a civil rights, political, social, moral, or religious taboo.

Same-sex marriage has existed throughout all of history. In ancient times the unions were not sanctioned by any governing body but ceremonies were held in various parts of the world where individuals of the same sex would have arrangements or contracts, binding them to each other. In some cultures, these marriages were culturally acceptable, however in ancient Rome a law was put in place by Constantius II and Constans that condemned marriages between partners of the same sex. The punishment for breaking this law was death.