Marriage has been practiced throughout all of recorded history; however

the practices, rules, and ceremonies in which the marriage is conducted have
changed greatly over the course of human history.
Same-sex marriage, a legally or socially recognizable union between two
consenting adults of the same biological sex or social gender, has been under
fire for many years. Since 2001, ten countries and other nation-states have
begun to legally formalize same-sex marriages, including Argentina, Canada,
Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal, Mexico City, Spain,
South Africa, and some regions within the United States. Same-sex marriages
have varied from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, which has resulted in legislative
changes of marriage laws in order to meet the constitutional demands of
equality established by the founding fathers.
The first five countries to recognize and legalize same sex marriage are:
The Netherlands where in December of 2000, the Dutch parliament passed by a
three-to-one margin a bill allowing such. The first legal gay marriage in the
world was in Amsterdam on April 1, 2001. (Pew Research Center)
On January 31, 2003, Belgium became the second country to go for
such, after the parliament overwhelmingly adopted a law giving gay couples
almost the same nuptial rights as heterosexuals. Mentalities have changed.

There is no longer any reason not to open marriage to people of the same-sex
said Justice Minister Marc Verwilghen before the law was voted through and
green member Kristen Grauwels said that the law makes it clear that any
enduring and loving relationship is appreciated in the same way in our modern
society. (Harding, 2003)
In Canada, Legislators provided common-law marriages to same-sex
couples starting in 1999. Gradually the practice was made legal in nine of the 13
provinces and territories, but in 2005 Parliament passed legislation making the
marriages legal throughout the nation.
Moreover, On July 3, 2005, Spain a predominantly Catholic country
legalized same-sex marriage. Since the introduction of same-sex marriage,
Spain has ranked among the best countries in the world for gay rights. The law
made Spain only the third country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage,
after the Netherlands and Belgium and 17 days ahead of Canada. The first
Spanish same-sex couple married in 2005 after the parliament passed a
measure in the midst of large protests from Vatican officials and large
demonstrations in Madrid. However, the law has since faced fierce opposition
from conservative politicians, including a court challenge that was defeated in
2012. In March, interior minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz remarked the gay

marriage should be banned because it does not guarantee the Survival of

Species (Wagstaff, 2013)
In 2006, one year after their highest court decided heterosexual-only
marriage policy violated the constitutions equal rights guarantee, South Africa
was the first in Africa to legalize gay marriage.
Furthermore, on the evening of July 21, 2010 the president of Argentina,
Crista Fernandez de Kirchner, convened a ceremony at the Casa Rosada
government to formally sign into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. In
signing the law, Kirchner made the South American country the 10th in the
world and the first in Latin America to codify same-sex marriage. This
breakthrough sent shock waves through the Americas. Several conservative
magistrates in Argentina have said they would refuse to conduct same-sex
marriage, even in the face of warnings from officials that such would be
grounds for dismissal. While in a sign of solidarity, the tourism board of Mexico
City where gay marriage has also been legal has offered an all-expenses-paid
vacation to the first wedded Argentine gay couple. For a region in the thrall of
progressive leadership, left-leaning legislators have been conceded in interviews
with the local press that Argentinas legalization of gay marriage could make
their countries appear conservative: by comparison. (Waxman, 2015) The law
grants same-sex couples who marry, including all the rights and

responsibilities enjoyed by heterosexual couples and it also includes the right

to adopt children. (Barrionuevo, 2010)
Other nations to have legalized same-sex marriages include Norway,
Sweden, Iceland, Portugal, Argentina, Denmark, Uruguay,New Zealand, France,
Brazil, England, Wales, Scotland, Luxembourg, and Finland.
Contrary to the countries stated above which legalized same-sex
marriage, the Philippines has not adopted the same view point with regard to
same-sex marriage. There is none yet a positivity of same-sex marriage that lies
under the law.
The Philippines is a country where its people are predominantly
Christians specifically Roman Catholics. The issue about the legalization of
same-sex marriage is one of the biggest problems that a Christian country like
the Philippines, is facing today. Same-sex marriage is not yet accepted by most
Filipinos because of the strong influence of their religion and traditional views.
For a Catholic faith, same-sex marriage which is a marriage between two
persons with the same biological gender is inexcusable because based on the
bible; a woman is created for a man; the bible says that in Corinthians 6: 9-10,
same-sex marriage is a form of immorality and the God will not let this

happen to His people. If the issue of same-sex marriage will become legalized,
the image as a dominant Christian country of the Philippines will be destroyed.
Philippines is also prevented by legalizing same-sex marriage because of
the strong opposition that A marriage is a special contract of permanent union
between a man and a woman entered in accordance with the law for the
establishment of conjugal and family life of Article 1 of the Family Code of the
Philippines but in the 1987 Constitution it does not define marriage solely
between a man and woman. However, equality is recognized under Section 1,
Article III of the 1987 Constitution No person shall be deprived of life, liberty,
property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal
protection of the laws. and Article 7) of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights states that All are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to equal protection of the law. Thus, all are entitled to equal
protection of the law. All are entitled against any discrimination in violation of
this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Since The 1987 Constitution does not clearly say that marriage is only
between a man and a woman, there is a strong chance and possibility that
same-sex marriage may be recognized and legalized in the Philippines in the
near future. The future law-makers which is composed of the new generation

where there is more open-minded type of people may push for the amendment
of the Family Code defining marriage and refurbishment of our laws with
regard to same-sex marriage. The future legislators will then address our
countrys national needs, which same-sex marriage is an obvious one because
of the growing number of LGBTs which is not only limited to their count, but
also to their endless fights for their rights including marriage to their same sex;
in our modern time, we also see how the nation accepts and count in the LGBT
community, unlike those times that they were discriminated and displaced. In
the near future, legal realism will spread all over the nation, where same-sex
marriage is a part of it.
Same-sex marriage in the Philippines should be legalized for the good of
all. There is no sensible reason why this law will not be passed. Religion is not
a problem and we need not to convince the Church, for we are not clamoring
for the blessing of the Church for same-sex marriage; hence, we clamor for its
legalization in the civil aspect. Our obsolete laws must be amended if not
repealed where the provisions on marriage should be taken care of which in
our present time, same-sex marriage is achievable.

REFERENCES:

Barrionuevo, A. (2010, July 15). Argentina approves gay marriage, in a first for
region. Retrieved May 5, 2016, from The Newyork times:
mobile.nytimes.com
Harding, G. (2003, January 31). Belgium legalizes same-sex marriage. Retrieved
May 5, 2016, from UPI: www.upi.com
Wagstaff, K. (2013, July 17). 13 Countries where gay marriage is legal.
Retrieved May 5, 2016, from The week: theweek.com
Waxman, O. B. (2015, June 26). 21 other countries where same-sex marriage is
legal nationwide. Retrieved May 5, 2016, from Time: time.com