LGBT rights in American Samoa
Encyclopedia
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in American Samoa
, being legalized in 1889, but same-sex couples are not eligible for all of the same protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
s in the territory was killed by the Senate
in 2003 after the House judiciary committee recommended for it to be killed. The bill was introduced by Sua Carl Schuster, who hoped to prevent a possible legal battle in the territory similar to recent court battles in the mainland United States
. Many supporters of the bill cited their Christian
faith as their reason for support of the proposed bill.
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, being legalized in 1889, but same-sex couples are not eligible for all of the same protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
Recognition of same-sex relationships
A bill that would have banned the recognition of same-sex marriageSame-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
s in the territory was killed by the Senate
American Samoa Senate
The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term.-List of Senators:* Utu Abe Malae...
in 2003 after the House judiciary committee recommended for it to be killed. The bill was introduced by Sua Carl Schuster, who hoped to prevent a possible legal battle in the territory similar to recent court battles in the mainland United States
Goodridge v. Department of Public Health
Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 , was a landmark state appellate court case dealing with same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. The November 18, 2003, decision was the first by a U.S...
. Many supporters of the bill cited their Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith as their reason for support of the proposed bill.
See also
- Politics of American SamoaPolitics of American SamoaPolitics of American Samoa takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic dependency, whereby the Governor is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States, administered by...
- LGBT rights in the United States
- Rights and responsibilities of marriages in the United StatesRights and responsibilities of marriages in the United StatesAccording to the United States Government Accountability Office , there are 1,138 statutory provisions in which marital status is a factor in determining benefits, rights, and privileges...