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2007 Alslandic same-sex Marriage referendum
| 2007 Alslandic same-sex Marriage referendum | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Should the United Provinces of Alsland allow marriage between same-sex couples? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location |  Alsland | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | 15 June 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: Alslandic Government | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes
No
The 2007 Alslandic Same-Sex Marriage referendum took place on 15 June 2007 in Alsland to ask the electorate whether Alsland should legalise same-sex marriages. Prior to the referendum same-sex couples were allowed to enter civil unions and foreign marriages were recognised. The government of Jabik Nieuwenhuis promised a referendum on same-sex marriage in their manifesto for the 2006 legislative election. The referendum resulted in 59.3% of votes being cast in favour of legalising same-sex marriage. The resulting Marriage Act 2007, commonely known as the Metyller Law, was passed nearly unanimously in the Folkssenaat and was signed by President Onne Monsma on 11 August 2007. The first same-sex marriage ceremony in Alsland occurred on 29 December 2007.
Background
History
Support and Opposition
Party positions
Yes Campaign
No Campaign
Public opinion
| Date | Firm | Yes | No | Undecided | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11–14 June 2007 | ANS | 55% | 42% | 3% | 1,000 |
| 2–8 June 2007 | Hjoed | 62% | 38% | - | 1,200 |
| 25–30 May 2007 | TBD | 56% | 42% | 2% | 1,200 |
| 26–29 May 2007 | Hjoed | 60% | 40% | - | 1,000 |
| 19–24 May 2007 | TBD | 54% | 46% | - | 1,730 |
| 10–14 May 2007 | JaAlslân | 59% | 39% | 2% | 1,500 |
| 2–6 May 2007 | Yndyktinkt | 66% | 30% | 4% | 1,800 |
| 15-20 April 2007 | TBD | 52% | 45% | 3% | 1,000 |
| 4-8 April 2007 | TBD | 56% | 44% | - | 1,200 |
| 25-27 March 2007 | TBD | 57% | 40% | 3% | 1,250 |
| 20-23 March 2007 | Hjoed | 60% | 40% | - | 1,500 |
Campaign
Advertising
* Dispute between Church of Delland and Yes voters over pride flag on Televyzjetoer
Abuse and vandalism
Mental health
Result
National result
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes
|
3,935,311 | 59.3 |
| No | 2,705,508 | 40.7 |
| Valid votes | 6,640,819 | 99.6 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 29,151 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | 6,669,970 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters and turnout | 7,963,944 | 83.8 |
| Yes: 3,935,311 (59.3%) |
No: 2,705,508 (40.7%) | ||
| ▲ | |||
Result by Province
| Province | Yes | No | Invalid | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Delland | 950,928 | 63.2% | 541,668 | 36% | 0.8% |
| Fawkhamshire | 378,737 | 54.8% | 310,315 | 44.9% | 0.3% |
| Garz | 580,737 | 55.4% | 480,104 | 45.8% | 0.8% |
| Hamptonshire | 591,191 | 61.2% | 364,181 | 37.7% | 1.1% |
| Martiland | 284,287 | 51.8% | 260,688 | 47.5% | 0.7% |
| Middewald | 352,279 | 65.3% | 185,040 | 34.3% | 0.4% |
| Yndyk | 378,286 | 71.3% | 149,086 | 28.1% | 0.6% |
| Zittau | 418,866 | 49.8% | 420,592 | 50% | 0.2% |
Aftermath
Marriage Act 2007
Reactions
Upon the announcement that the yes campaign had won, Premier Jabik Nieuwenhuis said "The message is clear and we as a nation have decided to agree that all humans no matter who they love deserve the same rights as everyone else. I urge both campaigns to come together and work together to pass legislation ensuring same-sex marriage is legalised." Nieuwenhuis later addressed a Yes campaign rally in Yndyk congratulating staff members involved in the campaign.
Head of the Federal Presidency Onne Monsma said "The people and voters have spoken and they have made it quite clear that they wish to legalise same-sex marriage in Alsland. I look forward to working with the legislature to deliver the results of this referendum."
Talk show host Alker Groen proposed to his partner live on air after the results were announced. Groen and his partner converted their civil union to a marriage in December 2007.
Lennard Bernauer who led the No campaign said in a television interview with ANS on the day following the referendum "I'm obviously disappointed with the result but we live in a democratic society and this was a democratic vote. But any law to legalise homosexual marriage must take into account people's religious views, we cannot force churches for example to go against church teachings and practice these acts."
Journalist Gabriel Weiskopf suggested that Zittau should refuse to practice same-sex marriages following the result. Weiskopf said "the voters in Zittau do not agree with same-sex marriage being implemented and [Jabik] Nieuwenhuis should affirm this and allow for the current practice of civil unions for same-sex couples to continue in Zittau." Minister-President of Zittau Konrad Dünhaupt said that the provincial government would respect the referendum result.
The Church of Delland acknowledged the result but reaffirmed it's position that marriage was between a man and a woman. The Reformed Church of Holsteen's Moderator said "The RKH will continue to believe that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman, any changes to the teachings of the church must be voted on by the General Assembly." The Church of Martiland and Lanekirik said "the church is deeply disappointed that the institution of marriage will no longer reflect the Sotirian interpretation that it is between a man and a woman." In 2016 the Church of Martiland and Lanekirik began allowing same-sex marriages.
Criticism
Plans to hold a referendum were criticised by several LGBT rights advocacy groups who called the decision to have the majority vote on the rights of a minority group. During initial debates on holding a referendum, Senator Emo Akkerman who is openly Bisexual said that holding a referendum could set a dangerous precedence for other countries to deny LGBT citizens their rights if a referendum is held. Akkerman voted to hold the referendum during the vote on the issue.
In 2011, Premier Jonathan Fraser criticised the move to hold a referendum saying that the process would have been much faster had the Marriage Act 2007 been voted on in the Folkssenaat where there was overwhelming support for it. Fraser was outed as Gay in 2003 and was one of the most prominent figures within the 'Yes' campaign.
Alsland in the Great War
Despite declaring neutrality upon the outbreak of the Great War, Alsland was invaded by Gaullica from occupied Estmere in August 1929. In a period of 29 days much of Alsland was invaded and occupied by the advancing Gaullican army with little to no resistance. Members of the Alslandic government, led by Villem Mand, fled the country for Werania on 29 August. Later that day the remaining government in Yndyk surrendered to the Gaullican army to prevent the destruction of the city. Before the surrender, thousands of Alslandic refugees crossed into Kirenia and Werania.
Whilst initially the civilian government was allowed to remain albeit with a functionalist presence, it was overthrown by functionalist paramilitaries. Alsland was figuratively split into 4 varyingly autonomous zones controlled by the Gaullican army from Rahu representing each language group in Alsland. Passive resistance grew during the occupation and played a key role in opposing the Gaullican occupation. After conscription was introduced by the collaborationist government, a general strike was declared.
Alsland was liberated by primarily Kirenian forces in late 1934 after the battles of Yndyk and Wottested.
Background
Neutrality
- Immediate declaration of neutrality
- Border defences
- Estmerish refugees
Fears of a Weranian invasion
- Government fearing a Weranian invasion and spending significant resources defending northern border
- Closer ties to Kirenia
Gaullican invasion
Neeves campaign
- Initial invasion
- Neeves defence
- Battle of Ilfracombe
- Air raids over Yndyk and Hurdegaryp
- Weranian army enters Alsland
Collapse of the armed forces and government
- Neeves breakthrough
- Refugee crisis
- Blitz to Yndyk
- Mand flees, government surrenders and resigns
Gaullican occupation
Coup
- Civilian government overthrown by functionalists
- Functionalist government
- Occupation zones
Collaboration
- Functionalist movements
- Armed forces participation
Resistance
- Councilist resistance
- Acts of sabotage
- Resistance acts
- Assassinations of government and occupation figures
- 'Free Zittau'
Alslandic government in exile
- Mand's government
- Disagreements with Werania
- Sidelined
Liberation
- Kirenian involvement
- Weranian counter-offensive through Alsland
Wottested campaign
- Battle of Yndyk
- Kirenian advance towards Wottested
- Linking up with resistance
- Battle of Wottested
- Surrender of Gaullicans in Alsland
Casualties
- Casualties
- Liberation casualties
Post-war
- Attempts to get reparations
- Closer ties to Kirenia than Estmere etc
- Language laws and federalisation