CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, AND JAPAN

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Same Gender Marriage

Same Gender Marriage

Politically and socially divisive issue

Changing public attitudes

Normative trend development

Same Gender Marriage: The United States

Same sex marriage not recognized by federal government.

Some individual States consider gay marriage legal.

Public opinion shifting

Same Gender Marriage: The United States

•Role of the media – changing public attitudes

Same Gender Marriage: Canada

One of only ten countries in the world that legally recognizes same sex marriage.

Fourth in the world to do so.Prior to the passage of national legislation, it

was already legal in eight provinces.

Same Gender Marriage: Canada

• Political and religious backlash•Recent legal challenges

Same Gender Marriage: Japan

Not allowed under Japanese constitutionMajor step taken – country now allows

Japanese nationals to marry same sex partners who have citizenship from countries where same gender marriage is legal.

Same Gender Marriage: Japan

• Gay activists praise the move.

• Japan a leader among Asian nations

Same Gender Marriage: Comparative Analysis

The United Nations

Same Gender Marriage: Comparative Analysis

Amnesty InternationalHomosexuality a crime in 70 countries.

Same Gender Marriage: Comparative Analysis

Traditional and new mediaLegalPoliticalGlobalReligiousHistoric

Same Gender Marriage: Normative Development

References

Catholic answers (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.catholic.com/library/gay_marriage.asp Google images (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.google.ca/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi In turnaround, U.S. signs U.N. gay rights document (Mar 18, 2009). Retrieved from:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/03/18/us-rights-gay-usa-idUSTRE52H5CK20090318 Pope says gay marriage threat to creation (Jan 11, 2010). Retrieved from:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/07/19/us-un-gays-idUSTRE66I4ZQ20100719?sp=true Religion, politics, and support for same-sex marriage in the United States, 1988–2008 (Jan.

2011). Social Science Research. Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.royalroads.ca/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WX8-50X3TRS-1&_user=1067470&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2011&_rdoc=13&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_origin=browse&_zone=rslt_list_item&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%237152%232011%23999599998%232624740%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=7152&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=30&_acct=C000051250&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1067470&md5=10571fc3f5ffa9cb0b269764fc340943&searchtype=a

Saskatchewan says marriage commissioners must wed same-sex couples (Jan 18, 2011). Retrieved from: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/saskatchewan-says-marriage-commissioners-must-wed-same-sex-couples/article1874896/

Universal decriminalization of homosexuality a human rights imperative – Ban (Dec 10, 2010). Retrieved from: http://www.un.org/apps//news/story.asp?NewsID=37026&Cr=&Cr1=