DECEMBER 21: The world’s first same-sex marriage bill is signed into law (2000)

[Mimy]

DECEMBER 21: The world’s first same-sex marriage bill is signed into law (2000)

On this day in 2000, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands signed into the law the world’s very first same-sex marriage bill! The law would not go into effect, however, until April 1, 2001. 

 

Following the historic 2000 decision, spin-offs of the classic blue porcelain marriage figurines were created to depict two Dutch girls or two Dutch boys kissing. They were frequently passed out at LGBT celebrations or marriage ceremonies (x).

The same-sex marriage debate began in the Netherlands roughly in the mid-80s and was spearheaded by the magazine Gay Krant and its editor-in-chief Henk Krol. There was much push-back on the idea, most notably from the Christian Democratic party, but in 1995 the Parliament finally submitted and created a “special commission” which was tasked with investigating how legal same-sex marriages would affect the nation. In 1997, the special commission declared that its work was done and that there was no tangible legal or cultural barrier to providing lesbian and gay couples the right to marry.

The final draft of the legislation was not completed until September of 2000 and then was passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 33-12. Finally, on December 21, 2000, Queen Beatrix signed the bill into law.During the first six months of same-sex marriage being legal, over 2,000 lesbian and gay couples were married in the Netherlands.

~ LC

[kimi]

1 hour ago, Mimy said:

There was much push-back on the idea, most notably from the Christian Democratic party, but in 1995 the Parliament finally submitted and created a “special commission” which was tasked with investigating how legal same-sex marriages would affect the nation.  

What a progressive and intelligent way of handling push-backs! 

[Michelle]

Ah my home away from home. Their gay pride week is the best by far.

[Mimy]

On 12/22/2018 at 8:01 AM, kimi said:

What a progressive and intelligent way of handling push-backs! 

I really admire these free democratic nations and their civility. We have a lot to learn from them. 

I hope for when my country will learn to implore reason, logic and civility in dealing with civic rights rid of sentiments, religion, culture and bigotry.