Same-sex Marriage Legislation In Britain-Analysis On The Factors That Brought The Change

Since same-sex marriage has been a disputable issue in recent days, more and more countries pass relative laws to protect homosexual rights. The passage of the Marriage (Same-sex Couples) Act 2013, which came to force on 13 March 2014 makes Britain one of the 20 countries in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. The legalization of same-sex marriage lasted almost sixty years from 1957 to 2013. There are three paramount steps:the Wolfenden Report in 1957 which recommended that homosexual behaviour between consenting adults should no longer be a criminal offence; the Civil Partnership in 2004 which allowed same-sex partners to form a civil partnership; and the Marriage Act 2013 which allowed same-sex couples to marry just like heterosexual couples.The focus of this thesis lays on the social factors promoting the legalization. It first delineates the historical developments of homosexual rights from ancient time to the beginning of 20th century and then analyzes the social factors during the Wolfenden Report period. The major part elaborates the social factors promoting the passage of Civil Partnership 2004 including the legalization of other European countries, the gay-rights movements in the United States, the efforts of British LGBT groups and British celebrities who have came out to the public. The Marriage Act 2013 is also promoted by similar reasons but Cameron's political purpose and the prevention of HIV/AIDS play an important role.Sexual minorities have entered the mainstream of the public culture and the protection of lesbians and gay men's right has been put on many countries'agenda, there are still many difficulties and hardships remain. The experience of Britian's legalization of same-sex marriage might be helpful for other countries to refer to.