Same-sex marriage , also known as gay marriage , is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender , entered into in a civil or religious ceremony. There are records of same-sex marriage dating back to the first century. In the modern era, marriage equality was first granted to same-sex couples in the Netherlands on 1 April As of January , same-sex marriage was legally performed and recognized in 29 countries nationwide or in some jurisdictions :. The introduction of same-sex marriage has varied by jurisdiction, and came about through legislative change to marriage law , court rulings based on constitutional guarantees of equality, recognition that it is allowed by existing marriage law, [1] or by direct popular vote via referendums and initiatives.
Challenges and Opportunities for Research on Same-Sex Relationships
Two lesbian couples have become the first to take part in a mass military wedding in Taiwan, the only place in Asia to have legalised gay marriage. Taiwan's army holds mass weddings every year, but this was the first time same-sex couples have taken part in one. One of the couples involved said she hoped it would inspire "more LGBT people in the military [to] stand up". Ms Meng's parents did not come to the celebration, but both Ms Wang's parents and her teacher came in support of the couple.
You never forget your first time being intimate with a partner. So for these individuals, the experience with someone of their same sex can be an affirmation of their sexuality as well as a right of passage. Read below to hear their stories.
Research on same-sex relationships has informed policy debates and legal decisions that greatly affect American families, yet the data and methods available to scholars studying same-sex relationships have been limited. In this article the authors review current approaches to studying same-sex relationships and significant challenges for this research. After exploring how researchers have dealt with these challenges in prior studies, the authors discuss promising strategies and methods to advance future research on same-sex relationships, with particular attention given to gendered contexts and dyadic research designs, quasi-experimental designs, and a relationship biography approach. Innovation and advances in the study of same-sex relationships will further theoretical and empirical knowledge in family studies more broadly and increase understanding of different-sex as well as same-sex relationships. One of the most high-stakes debates in the United States today concerns whether and how same-sex relationships influence the health and well-being of individuals, families, and even society.