Internationalprogressforlegalrecognitionofsame-sexcouplerelationshipshastranspiredwithstartlingspeed.In2001（thesameyearthattheChinesePsychiatricAssociationremovedhomosexualityfromitsofficialrosterofmentalillnesses），theNetherlandsbecamethefirstnationtograntsame-sexcouplesequalaccesstolegalmaritalstatus.Inrapidsuccessionsincethen，fourmorenations，Belgium，Canada，Spain，andSouthAfrica，bynomeansthemostpredictable，followedtheDutchlead.ItseemsparticularlyworthnotingthatthisvanguardgroupincludesapredominantlyCatholiccountry（Spain）andanimpoverished，raciallydiversenationfromtheGlobalSouth（SouthAfrica）；bothsocietiesachievedpeacefultransformationsafteralongperiodofrulebyreactionaryregimes.Severalothernationswilllikelysoonjointhisroster，buttheUnitedStatesisnotamongthem.Same-sexmarriagehasbecomeahighlypoliticized，deeplypolarizingissueintheU.S.whererightwingevangelicalChristianorganizationspossessconsiderablepoliticalpower.BecausetheU.S.federalconstitutionreservesprimaryauthorityovermarriageandfamilylawtothestates，statesarefreetoenactwildlydiscrepantpolicies.Atthispoint，onlyonestate（Massachusetts）allowssame-sexcouplestomarry，whilethirty-ninehaveenactedstatewidebansagainstsame-sexmarriage.