Marriage not end of gay cause, groups say

NEW YORK, March 14 (UPI) -- Anti-gay discrimination lingers even in the 10 countries that allow same-sex marriage, a rights group said Monday.

The first same-sex marriages took place in the Netherlands April 1, 2001. The Dutch have been followed by Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), Canada (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009), Portugal (2010), Iceland (2010), Argentina (2010), Mexico City and several U.S. states.

Several other countries are considering the step, and many recognize same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships or marriages performed elsewhere.

"The fact that same-sex marriage has been legalized on three continents demonstrates progress in equality," said Boris Dittrich, acting director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. But "legalization does not end discrimination, either by officials or other people," he added.

Human Rights Watch surveyed gay rights groups in the 10 countries with legalized marriage on their next goals.

"In most of the countries, the right of transgender people to be recognized before the law without having to undergo non-reversible sterilization is a high priority," Dittrich said, as is stopping hate violence.