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Gay unions gaining global favor

California creates 'ripple effect'

By Hilary Stohs-Krause | Sunday, August 10, 2008

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If California were an independent country, it would be among a "Group of 10" economic powers, with a population greater than Canada's or Australia's.

So, when California moves on something as controversial as same-sex marriage, it affects not only other U.S. states, but countries around the world.

A California court decision in May establishing a right to same-sex marriages - which faces a ballot challenge in November - is a major battle in a global culture war that is slowly winning legal acceptance for some form of gay union.

"Every year, a new country is joining the club," said Katharina Boele-Woelki, a professor at Utrecht University in the Netherlands who specializes in international and comparative family law.

About 20 countries and 10 U.S. states now allow either same-sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships.

"Worldwide, I think the countries that allow this will increase slowly but steadily," Ms. Boele-Woelki said.

According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 6,300 marriage licenses - more than double the average for that time period - were granted in California in the first week after the state Supreme Court's ruling allowing same-sex marriage went into effect June 16.

However, the issue isn't settled yet. The initiative slated for the November ballot, if passed, would amend the state constitution to define marriage as a union of one man and one woman. While a May 28 Field Poll concluded that a majority of Californians support gay marriage, a first in the state's history, polls since have been inconclusive.

Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, a group that promotes traditional marriage, called the vote the "ninth inning in the World Series of the marriage debate."

Generally, governments that adopt same-sex marriage legislation lean to the left on the political spectrum. They include the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada.