By Emi Gruender
Gay rights, including the right for same-sex couples to marry, have been under the international political spotlight since the 1980s. Despite dramatic leaps in civil rights movements—such as the comparatively recent legalization of gay marriage in America (2016) and motions to more concretely ground this right in our constitution, these rights are not enjoyed globally. In many countries, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, same-sex activity often ilicts the death penalty. But slowly, the world is learning tolerance: and perhaps one day gay rights will be not a privilege, but a right.
In most developed countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and much of Europe, both same-sex activity and marriage is legal. However, in other developed countries like Italy, South Korea, and the Czech Republic, same-sex marriage is not protected under the law. Other countries such as Japan, China, and India also do not criminalize same-sex activity but do not allow marriage.
Despite the fact that gay marriage is not yet a worldwide right, these pushes for change have just begun. Attitudes, despite some fervent backlash, have been changing, and hopefully one day the world will see that it is not a scandalous thing to love someone of the same gender.