// BEGIN editorial data
 var i = 0;
var MarriageRights = new Array();
MarriageRights.sName = "MarriageRights";
MarriageRights.ID = "MarriageRights";
MarriageRights.ID_WB = 4252332;
MarriageRights.sPubDate = "2/25/2004 8:38:44 PM GMT";
MarriageRights.mainsectionID = "NEWS"
MarriageRights.navsectionID = "NEWS"
MarriageRights.appFmt = 2;
MarriageRights.appWidth = 460;
MarriageRights.appHeader = "Timeline|Marriage rights battle";
MarriageRights.appDeck = "Key turns in fight over unions for same-sex couples";
MarriageRights.appFooter = "Source: MSNBC Research";
MarriageRights.appNavStyle = 3;
MarriageRights.appLayout = 1;
MarriageRights.copyHeight = 250;
MarriageRights.copyMargin = 9;
MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","1989","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "Denmark becomes the first nation to legally recognize same-sex unions, offering \"the same legal effects as the contracting of marriage.\" Half a dozen European countries begin moving in the same direction.";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","1996","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "A court in Hawaii overrules a previous state ban on gay marriage, sparking a national debate on the subject. ";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","1996","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "The U.S. House and Senate overwhelmingly pass the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a bill denying federal recognition of same-sex marriages and giving states the right to refuse same-sex marriage licenses from other states and deny benefits associated with marriage. President Bill Clinton signs the bill. Some 38 states have since adopted similar state legislation.";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","2000","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "Vermont creates a new legal relationship status called a \"civil union,\" allowing same-sex couples to obtain all of the rights, responsibilities and benefits available through marriage within the state of Vermont, becoming the first state to do so.";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","April, 2001","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "Netherlands: Gay and lesbian couples who are Dutch are allowed to marry and adopt with the full privileges enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. The law offers the most sweeping rights to same sex couples in the world. By 2002, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Germany, France and Switzerland have all adopted laws allowing registration of same-sex unions, with most or all of the rights enjoyed by married heterosexual couples.";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","May, 2003","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "Rep Marilyn Musgrave, (R-Colo.) and five cosponsors introduce HJ Resolution 56, the Federal Marriage Amendment, a resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman only. The Senate follows suit with its own resolution in November. The amendments state that no state or federal law \"shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.\"";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","June 2003","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a Texas law prohibiting same-sex sodomy. By removing criminal implications for private consensual sexual acts, the ruling changed the legal landscape for an array issues concerning same-sex couples, including the right to marry.";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","June-July, 2003","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "The Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia begin allowing same-sex couples to marry, and obtain full rights of marriage under Canadian law, following a court decision that the law on traditional marriage is unconstitutional. ";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","November, 2003","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules that it is a violation of the state constitution to bar same-sex couples from marriage. The first legal marriages for same-sex couples are due to take place in May.";

MarriageRights[i++] = new Array("","February, 2004","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
MarriageRights[i-1].body = "Massachusetts lawmakers debate amending the state constitution to define marriage as a union only between a man and woman in response to the November court ruling. The amendment fails. At least 20 other states had introduced or were expected to introduce similar state constitutional amendments.<p>On Feb. 12, 2003, San Francisco's newly elected Mayor Gavin Newsom allows the distribution of marriage licenses to same sex couples, prompting the state attorney general to file a constitutional challenge with the state Supreme Court. Thousands of gay and lesbian couples descend on City Hall for wedding ceremonies.";

	// END editorial data