LGBT community marks 10th anniversary of first gay marriage

[News_Editor]

LGBT community marks 10th anniversary of first gay marriage

2011-04-01 16:28:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

AMSTERDAM (BNO NEWS) -- The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community on Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the first ever same-sex marriage in the world. A decade later, however, it remains a controversial issue.

The Netherlands was the first country in the world to officially recognize and allow same-sex marriages. Queen Beatrix signed the marriage bill into law on December 21, 2000, after it went into effect on April 1, 2001.

The national and international response to the bill was mixed and it remains a highly controversial issue in 2011. But same-sex marriages have come a long way, with same-sex marriages now being performed in 10 countries. Several other countries, such as the United States and Mexico, only perform them in some jurisdictions.

On April 1, 2001, then-Mayor Job Cohen of Amsterdam married four same-sex couples in the town hall of the Dutch capital. It was a historic moment for the LGBT community, giving hope for same-sex couples in other countries around the world.

But even though the Netherlands took a political lead on recognizing same-sex couples, even there struggles remain for the LGBT community. For instance, some marriage officiants still refuse to perform same-sex marriages and gay couples do not always have the same rights when it comes to immigration and adoption.

But also violence directed against the LGBT community remains a serious issue. "Equal rights do unfortunately not automatically lead to emancipation, as is evident from the growing number of registered violence against gays and the serious problems surrounding homosexuality in schools," COC Netherlands, the oldest LGBT organization in the world, said in an open letter.

Most recently, last month, a man was seriously injured in Amsterdam when he was attacked by an unidentified person. He was severely beaten with a bike lock after the suspect yelled anti-gay slurs at him.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first gay marriage in the world, Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan will marry two gay and lesbian couples in the Amsterdam Museum. A multimedia photo exhibition called "Yes, I do - 10 Years Gay Marriage" is also taking place in the city's town hall, as well as other events.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-01