Love is Love is Love
The USA and the Netherlands both are very similar countries. They consist of a Democracy, with elected officials, and a constitution with amendments that help make up the law. But both citizens in these countries have very different experiences. In my freshman humanities class, we looked at the difference and similarities between sex and gender. We’ve met with many people and visited institutions to get a better understanding of the issues of gender equality. We met with Professor Hewitt from Oakton Community College, and Scout from the Chicago Women's Health Center. We visited the Center on Halsted. Throughout this entire unit we discussed how we see equality and inequality in our lives, and where we commonly see gender inequalities within and throughout media and social media. After going on a field experience, we took time to reflect and understand the information so that we too could build our own views on this issue. What stood out to me was the evolution of the amendment and law on same-sex marriage in the USA and Netherlands.
The history of same-sex marriage in the United States dates from the early 1970's, when the first lawsuits seeking legal recognition of same-sex relationships brought the question of civil marriage rights and benefits for same-sex couples to public attention, though they proved unsuccessful. (Gumbel) Eleven years after same-sex marriage was first made legal in Massachusetts, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protects same-sex marriage throughout the country. (Joseph) The U.S Supreme Court’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment states that limiting marriage only to heterosexual couples violates the amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. (Supreme Court) In the year 2018, there are still many LGBTQIA+ hate groups in America. Many of these groups support and uphold far-right candidates like Donald Trump. (Cooper) The groups call themselves The Family Research Council and The Conservative Christian group. (Oppenheim)
In April of 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislation altered a single sentence in the existing civil marriage statute, which now reads, “A marriage can be contracted by two people of different or the same sex.” About 12% of the country’s population, opposed same-sex marriage. The only opposition in parliament came from the Christian Democratic Party and Muslim Party, which at the time was not part of the governing coalition. Currently, same-sex marriage is widely accepted by the Dutch public. (Masci)
Over time, religious groups within every country have contributed to some aspect of its well being, whether it's positive or negative. By 2017, both The USA and the Netherlands had amendments in their constitutions protecting LGBTQIA+ marriages, adoptions, civil unions, and partnerships. Currently, however, both countries also have religious groups speaking out in opposition to these amendments. Most notably, the Christian Conservative Group opposes constitutional protections of LGBTQIA+ people in both countries. In the United States, apparently “freedom” is increasingly defined as ultraconservative religious groups' freedom to dictate to Americans what they can and can’t do. (Boyd)
In conclusion, LGBTQIA+ groups have fought for civil unions and civil partnerships since the 18th century, all around the world. The fight for same-sex marriage worldwide is still continued today, after 200 years of fighting. Even though the USA and the Netherlands have achieved the inclusion of same-sex marriage in their constitutions, there is still work to do in order to achieve equality between the sexes, genders, and orientations of people across the world.
Europe, 19 Dec. 2017, dispatcheseurope.com/netherlands-vs-the-u-s-two-wildly-different-definitions-of-freedom/.
Cooper, Michael. “Cheney's Marriage Remarks Irk Conservatives.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 10 Oct. 2000, www.nytimes.com/2000/10/10/us/2000-campaign-republican-running-mate-cheney-s-marriage-remarks-irk.html.
Gumbel, Andrew. “The Great Undoing.” ADVOCATE, 20 June 2009, www.advocate.com/news/2009/06/20/great-undoing.
Masci, David. “Countries That Allow Gay Marriage Around The World.” Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, 13 Dec. 2017, www.pewforum.org/2017/08/08/gay-marriage-around-the-world-2013/#netherlands.
Liu, Joseph. “Same-Sex Marriage, State by State.” Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, 16 Sept. 2018, www.pewforum.org/2015/06/26/same-sex-marriage-state-by-state/.
“OBERGEFELL ET AL. v. HODGES.” Edited by OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, Supremecourt.gov, Supreme Court of the United States, Oct. 2014, www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf.
Oppenheim @mayaoppenheim, Maya. “Donald Trump to Be First President to Speak at Anti-LGBT Hate Group's Event.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 13 Oct. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-anti-lgbt-address-hate-group-summit-meeting-first-president-us-homphobia-a7997401.html.
“Rights and Responsibilities of Marriages in the United States.” Wikipedia
“Timeline of LGBT History.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_LGBT_history.
The history of same-sex marriage in the United States dates from the early 1970's, when the first lawsuits seeking legal recognition of same-sex relationships brought the question of civil marriage rights and benefits for same-sex couples to public attention, though they proved unsuccessful. (Gumbel) Eleven years after same-sex marriage was first made legal in Massachusetts, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protects same-sex marriage throughout the country. (Joseph) The U.S Supreme Court’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment states that limiting marriage only to heterosexual couples violates the amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. (Supreme Court) In the year 2018, there are still many LGBTQIA+ hate groups in America. Many of these groups support and uphold far-right candidates like Donald Trump. (Cooper) The groups call themselves The Family Research Council and The Conservative Christian group. (Oppenheim)
 |
| CH, "USA, Equality." Web: Piktochart 2018. |
In April of 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislation altered a single sentence in the existing civil marriage statute, which now reads, “A marriage can be contracted by two people of different or the same sex.” About 12% of the country’s population, opposed same-sex marriage. The only opposition in parliament came from the Christian Democratic Party and Muslim Party, which at the time was not part of the governing coalition. Currently, same-sex marriage is widely accepted by the Dutch public. (Masci)
 |
| CH, "Netherlands, Equality." Web: Piktochart 2018. |
Over time, religious groups within every country have contributed to some aspect of its well being, whether it's positive or negative. By 2017, both The USA and the Netherlands had amendments in their constitutions protecting LGBTQIA+ marriages, adoptions, civil unions, and partnerships. Currently, however, both countries also have religious groups speaking out in opposition to these amendments. Most notably, the Christian Conservative Group opposes constitutional protections of LGBTQIA+ people in both countries. In the United States, apparently “freedom” is increasingly defined as ultraconservative religious groups' freedom to dictate to Americans what they can and can’t do. (Boyd)
In conclusion, LGBTQIA+ groups have fought for civil unions and civil partnerships since the 18th century, all around the world. The fight for same-sex marriage worldwide is still continued today, after 200 years of fighting. Even though the USA and the Netherlands have achieved the inclusion of same-sex marriage in their constitutions, there is still work to do in order to achieve equality between the sexes, genders, and orientations of people across the world.
Works Cited
Boyd, Terry. “Netherlands vs. the U.S.: Two Wildly Different Definitions of 'Freedom'.” Dispatches
Boyd, Terry. “Netherlands vs. the U.S.: Two Wildly Different Definitions of 'Freedom'.” Dispatches
Cooper, Michael. “Cheney's Marriage Remarks Irk Conservatives.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 10 Oct. 2000, www.nytimes.com/2000/10/10/us/2000-campaign-republican-running-mate-cheney-s-marriage-remarks-irk.html.
Gumbel, Andrew. “The Great Undoing.” ADVOCATE, 20 June 2009, www.advocate.com/news/2009/06/20/great-undoing.
Masci, David. “Countries That Allow Gay Marriage Around The World.” Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, 13 Dec. 2017, www.pewforum.org/2017/08/08/gay-marriage-around-the-world-2013/#netherlands.
Liu, Joseph. “Same-Sex Marriage, State by State.” Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, 16 Sept. 2018, www.pewforum.org/2015/06/26/same-sex-marriage-state-by-state/.
“OBERGEFELL ET AL. v. HODGES.” Edited by OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, Supremecourt.gov, Supreme Court of the United States, Oct. 2014, www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf.
Oppenheim @mayaoppenheim, Maya. “Donald Trump to Be First President to Speak at Anti-LGBT Hate Group's Event.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 13 Oct. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-anti-lgbt-address-hate-group-summit-meeting-first-president-us-homphobia-a7997401.html.
“Rights and Responsibilities of Marriages in the United States.” Wikipedia
“Timeline of LGBT History.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_LGBT_history.
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