Canada is the fourth country to introduce same-sex marriage laws, following Spain, the Netherlands in 2001 and Belgium in 2003.

Massachusetts became the first US state to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples, in May 2004. Opponents are proposing a state constitutional challenge in 2006, but even if carried, same-sex marriages will remain legally valid.

The legal position in the rest of the US is mixed, with many states having passed state constitutional amendments to block judicial rulings that same-sex marriage should be allowed.

Some states retain laws “banning” consenting gay sex between men. It was not till 2003 that the US Supreme Court ruled such laws unconstitutional, but some states have not repealed their homophobic laws.

From Green Left Weekly, August 10, 2005.
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