Sweden Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

Why is this article so possitve in tone yet the article about Iowa legalizing gay marriage is so negative? In the Iowa article, the writer cautious us not to get too excited. In this article, however, we're told it's the greatest thing to hit the news since McCaine's defeat. I don't get it. Why is the gay media always such debbie downers when anything victorious happens in the US regarding gay rights. I'm still waiting for the gay US media to celebrate the Supreme Court Lawrence decision from 2003 (we all know what the decision is, don't we??). I fear that the gay media in the US adheres to the same teachings as the US media in general: If you can't say anything negative about the Great Satan, don't say anything.....

Are there not several US states that permit same-sex marriage??? How do you classify a nation such as the US where the government is a federalist representative republic and the states can make their own laws without a national law? when people say the US does not legalize gay marriage, I say, what about Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa, and Connecticut? When people say what doesn't the US legalize prostitution, I say, what about Nevada? There are 13 states that legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, and one that legalizes it for personal use. The US is a very diverse nation with very diverse laws. You people are so knee-jerk anti-American it's mind boggling.

I am from Sweden and have been together with my partner for 12 years. We have waited for this day and I cried tears of joy when the decision was final! I also travel frequently to the US both for business and pleasure and last time while visiting NYC me and my partner were ridiculed by an immigration officer as we had filled in one customs form instead of two as we are indeed one family. The US immigration officer looked at us and said; "oh, you are one of those European gay couples, just remember we do not consider you family over here in the US" What humiliation and a warm "welcome to the US" :-( If I didn't know better or if this was my first time visiting I would never return and choose to spend my money in other more embracing and open nations when I go on vacation next time around.

Katie, The COUNTRY of South Africa allows equal marriage not the continent of Africa. Many countries in Africa hate gays with a passion.

The polygamists also deserve equal rights in this matter.

I'v been with my partner for 48 years and counting. Our love for each other has grown stronger with time. While I don't need the blessing of the hetero world and my straight brothers and sisters, it would be nice to have the same legal rights and privilages they have. I have to worry that the state will make our life harder in the event one of us passes away. Who needs that when they are grieving over the loss of a lifelong partner. We worked for anything we have. No one gave it to us. We did it with no support. We served our country. Me 6 years and her 8 years. We paid our fair share of taxes, and helped our neighbors. We live sober and clean and donate to many worthwhile causes. We are not church goers...but we are spiritual in our beliefs. I hope someday this country lives up to creed. Separation of Church and State is the foundation of our Democracy. It a shame our country no longer leads. Our democracy is in trouble. Congratulations Sweden!!

I'm reading a lot of comments about the religious right and other garbage. First off, most of my friends who voted Yes on Prop 8 were left-leaning or Democrats. If you are a true Conservative (like I am), regardless of how you feel personally about an issue, then you must reject goverment intervention in something like a contract between two consenting adults.

In the United States, the Constitution does not and should not take a position on marraige. It is a State's rights issue and should remain that way. If it is legal in one state, it must be accepted in another. The Constitution does have verbiage related to equal protection clause. It is because of this, that California's Prop 8 (I voted no and I'm a Republican) cannot stand because it cannot trump the Constitution's equal protection clause. It is just a matter of time.

Wow, South Africa is ahead of the U.S.? In parts of Africa you can be imprisoned and worse for being gay, but in South Africa i could get married? Way to go U.S., what an epic fail.

As an American, I am ashamed that seven countries have taken a crucial step in eradicating discrimination against significant portions of their citizens, prior to such action being taken by the USA. It is a bit disheartening that such milestone legislation has already been approved in a country in which apartheid existed until 1994, prior to such justice prevailing in the greatest beacon of democracy on this planet. Should the Democratic Party fail to legalize gay marriage and to repeal the short-sighted and immoral "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, it will definitely not receive my future support. Frankly, I will encourage all of my colleagues to change their party affiliation to the GOP in order to create a powerful wing of that party. Such action would enable us to seize control of the GOP from the destructive Right Wing and empower us to return it to the principles of the party of Abraham Lincoln.