Adam and Adam: Or Eve and Eve?

The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. From an historical perspective this article shows that this is truly a legal innovation. Reasons for this conclusion are summarized. A court case pressing for a legal same-sex marriage ceremony is described. A later piece of advice, based on the principle of equal treatment, to legalize same-sex marriage is described. Official reactions from Dutch church bodies are examined. Some same-sex marriages have received church blessings following a legal marriage. No Pentecostal body has reacted positively or negatively. No churches or pastors have found themselves in legal trouble for failing to perform such a ceremony. Registrars whose conscience precludes their performing such a legal marriage are currently being excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]