GAY MARRIAGE DEBATE GOES GLOBAL--SLOWLY: From the Washington Post

[Lots of links; very basic roundup.--ed.]

As gay marriage emerges as an issue in the 2004 U.S. presidential election, Australia and Canada share America's preoccupation with the issue, according to leading online news sites. In both countries, the issue divides public opinion and influences party politics. But in much of the rest of the world, the issue of gay marriage is only just beginning to surface.

The debate in Australia most closely resembles the controversy in America. Like President Bush, Prime Minister John Howard, leader of a conservative coalition, strongly opposes gay marriage. Like the U.S. Democrats, the more liberal Labor party is divided. The party's new leader Mark Latham has made a name for himself with a campaign message out of Bill Clinton's political playbook that emphasizes values over rights. ...

In Canada, the public is divided, according to a poll cited earlier this month by CTV, the Canadian Television news site. The poll found 48 percent opposed gay marriage while 47 percent support it. Support for gay marriage was strongest among women, younger people, those with higher incomes and those with more education, according to the poll. ...

In Africa, opponents of gay marriage, and homosexuality in general, dominate public discussion. The issue is more religious than political, with leaders of the Anglican church voicing strong opposition to the U.S. Episcopal Church's support of same-sex unions. Those Anglicans who express toleration of homosexuality face ostracism from fellow Anglicans, according to African news sites, and there is little public discussion of extending legal recognition for same-sex couples. ...

There are signs that the debate over gay marriage is spreading to other countries. In northwestern Europe, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium extend legal protection to same-sex couples without much opposition. In Poland, columnist Bronislaw Wildstein warned in Rzeczpospolita (in Polish), a centrist daily in Warsaw, that the country's entry into the European Union will require acceptance of the EU constitution, including its prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation. ...

In India, the idea of gay marriage got a boost recently when a prominent fashion designer, Wendell Rodricks, held a very public "commitment ceremony" with his partner in the state of Goa. "Isn't it too early to be talking about gay marriages in a country where the law still criminalizes the act of homosexuality?" a reporter from Indian Express asked a group of gay and lesbian activists.

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posted by Eve at 4:41 PM | link

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