Out with Dad collaboration

It has been moved to a personal wiki !!

Go to Subtitles on www.cantigneaux.be/OutWiki/

Same-sex marriage in Europe : Constitutional monarchy versus republic

A common observation is that the legal recognition of same-sex couples has a far higher percentage and level among constitutional monarchies, compared to republics. Monarchies were pioneers too at every important legislative steps. This contradicts the opinon, frequently expressed among republicans, that constitutional monarchies are outdated and less democratic than republics.

Monarchies

Hereditary monarchies

Among the 10 hereditary monarchies, there are currently 9 countries (90%) offering legal recognition, including :

• 6 countries (60% : Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Norway & Sweden) celebrating same-sex marriages
• 2 offering "marriage-like" unions, civil unions (United Kingdom, Liechtenstein)
• one partnership with a substantial level of rights (Luxemburg).

Moreover, as seen upper in this page, Luxembourg & United Kingdom consider marriage. Hence, should these legislations be implemented as planned by their respective government, 9 monarchies out of ten (90%) would then all offer to same-sex couples a legal recognition with a "marriage level of granted rights" (including 8 marriages, 80 %). Only Monaco would then be without legislation on the matter.

Non-hereditary monarchies

Among the two non-hereditary monarchies (Andorra and Vatican), Andorra proposes a recognition with a partnership with a moderate level of rights granted.

Pioneers

Moreover, monarchies have always been pioneers : the Netherlands for rights granted to unregistered couples (1979), Denmark for civil unions (1989) and the Netherlands for marriage (2001). See table in " same-sex marriage legislation around the world". And, for not less than 9 years between April 2001 and June 2010, same-sex marriage in Europe was only offered by monarchies.

Republics

In comparison, 12 republics out of 39 offers recognition (30,8%). This includes :

• 2 offering marriages (Portugal, Iceland) = 5 %
• 4 offering civil unions (Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary).

Hence a total of 6 out of 39 with legal recognition with a "marriage-leveled rights" (15,4%)

Should every upper-mentioned proposed legal changes occur, this would lead to :

• 14 republics out of 39 offering recognition (35,9%, + Greece and Malta) including :
  • 4 marriages (Portugal, Iceland, Finland, Slovenia)
  • 3 offering civil unions (Switzerland, Austria, Hungary).

Hence a total of 7 out of 39, offering legal recognition with "marriage-leveled rights" (18%) with 10,25% of marriage.

Moreover, whole of the 9 upper-mentioned countries that constitutionally bars the posibility of marriage are Eastern Europe republics !

Same-sex union in Brazil

My favorite summary about situation in USA

New official map :

My former and outdated map :