Behntasha Passes the Freedom of Marriage Act

[Behntasha]

Official Statement from Prime Minister Bentus Arcadius
The Social Democratic Union of Behntasha

Subject: The Freedom of Marriage Act

Fellow Nations,

It is no secret that Behntasha's embracing of Ponyism and the Coalition of Ponyist States has conjured a lot of controversy. Several doubt the existence of such creatures, many others deny them equal rights, and a few even deport or execute their pony populations. We have received a lot of pressure from anti-Ponyist nations to reverse our position on equality of all sapient beings. As of 20:00, October 18th, the Behntashan Parliament has decided that our response will be to pursue an even more equal society and further embrace our non-human citizens.

The Freedom of Marriage Act expands the definition of marriage to include the following partnerships as officially recognized by the Behntashan government:

• Between a man and a woman
• Between a stallion and a mare
• Between individuals of the same gender
• Between individuals of different sapient species, regardless of gender

Any partnerships not recognized explicitly in this act will be subject to review on a case-by-case basis to examine the legitimacy of a possible union and to grant marriage licenses upon approval.

Behntasha releases such a position is again controversial. But the Behntashan way has to always place the freedoms of our citizens first. I personally applaud the parliament's decision, which passed with a 77% majority, as a hallmark of a civilized society. Behntasha will continue to strive to be a model nation for the world in its civic freedoms.

Signed,
Prime Minister Bentus Arcadius
2800 Solidarity Square
Behngazha, BFD

[Dolvia]

To: The Great Nation of Behntasha

We are very glad other nations are opening up to complete freedom of marriage for all sentient beings. I also applaud your parliament. 77% is a high number, especially for a topic that has been getting a lot of international heat from less tolerable nations. Glad to see we are not alone on our stance on non-human sentient beings, and hopefully similar acts will be passed around the globe. Hopefully nations like yours, passing acts like this, will be a catalyst for a worldwide change.

Sincerely,

President Nathanael II

[Klowr]

FROM THE DESK OF Her Grand Chancellery, Baroness of Cardon, Head Governor, of the Navgo Islands, Forochela, Walesia. Protecter of the Sultanate of lama Johor. Commander of Klowr Armed forces, the Chancellor of the states of Klowr, Watson Hermione Smith.

To: Prime Minister Bentus Arcadius, The Social Democratic Union of Behntasha

Sub: Concerning Freedom of Marriage Act

We congratulate Behntasha for passing, the Freedom of marriage act, although the Pony population is low here in Klowr, we have seen an unprecedented growth growth in recent years, and in thirty years time, our sociologist believe, Ponies will no longer be classified as minority group here in Klowr. Hence, we are inspired by you recent passing of the Freedom of Marriage Act, and the Chancellory, has put in place, the first few step's to embracing our non-human friend's, and will use your country as a fine example, for our policies.

Sincerely,

[Adun]

To: Prime Minister Bentus Arcadius
From: His Royal Highness Emperor Mutt

Thank you for passing The Freedom of Marriage Act. As a homosexual myself, I am glad that more nations are embracing the path of equality for marriage.

Thank you very much.

[Edlefuelle]

The Weise Council of the Kirche des Hochreich condemns the Freedom of Marriage Act as a bill of state-sanctioned rape, and insists that it either be repealled, or that the nation's minimum age laws be amended to consider the different rates of aging for different sapient species.

[Behntasha]

The Weise Council of the Kirche des Hochreich condemns the Freedom of Marriage Act as a bill of state-sanctioned rape, and insists that it either be repealled, or that the nation's minimum age laws be amended to consider the different rates of aging for different sapient species.

The Behntashan government understands Edlefuelle's concerns, and would like to inform you that the Freedom of Marriage Act does NOT modify preexisting laws regarding age of consent or marriageable age (both of which are equal in Behntasha). Both members of a potential union would need to be at or above the marriageable age for the marriage to be valid. The Freedom of Marriage Act only modifies which types of partnerships are explicitly recognized by the Behntashan federal government.

We would like to apologize for any confusion caused on this matter.

-Minister of International Relations Minami Umayama

[Edlefuelle]

To: Minister of International Relations Minami Umayama
From: Office of the Weise Council

With all due respect, given the content of your response were are skeptical of your understanding of our concerns, so we shall spell it out more clearly: What is the age of consent/marriage for each sapient species in Behntasha that your government recognizes as such? As tragic as it is for shorter-lived species, not all species have the same average life expectancy, and as such have different rates of beginning and completing puberty. To ignore this can be crippling to the populations of shorter-lived species, or make longer-lived species vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

[Behntasha]

To: Minister of International Relations Minami Umayama
From: Office of the Weise Council

With all due respect, given the content of your response were are skeptical of your understanding of our concerns, so we shall spell it out more clearly: What is the age of consent/marriage for each sapient species in Behntasha that your government recognizes as such? As tragic as it is for shorter-lived species, not all species have the same average life expectancy, and as such have different rates of beginning and completing puberty. To ignore this can be crippling to the populations of shorter-lived species, or make longer-lived species vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

We currently have only humans and ponies in our nation to any measurable degree. For humans it is 16 years of age. All other species will have their lifespan and growth rates evaluated and placed at an equivalent age.

No I don't know how fast unicorn/pegasi/earth ponies grow or age. Hasn't been mentioned afaik, and I'm not going to make too early/too late of a guess.

[Edlefuelle]

The Weise Council of the Kirche des Hochreich condemns the Behntashan Parliament, either for depraved neglect or criminal inefficiency, for not having addressed the issue the moment a nonhuman sapient was legally recognized as such.

[Behntasha]

The Weise Council of the Kirche des Hochreich condemns the Behntashan Parliament, either for depraved neglect or criminal inefficiency, for not having addressed the issue the moment a nonhuman sapient was legally recognized as such.

We do not appreciate your government attempting to dictate national policy. If you should be so curious, we have adjusted it to be 16 for both humans and ponies as per YellowApple's research, and to be determined as new species emerge.

We hope this settles the matter.

[Crystal Spires]

To the Nation of Behntasha,

We of Crystal Spires feel it is important if you are to have this law that you clarify age of consent to protect minors, we had a similar proposal brought forth in our high council, but we felt we had to take into account the distinctions in our society. We already have Statutory rape laws in place, and Marriage is the celebration of the starting of a family together (whether it involves a couple intending to have children or not which means we have same sex marriage) So this means that we have to consider the relative age of the two spouses. This caused a conundrum in our High Council and we ultimately did not pass the proposal.

Here's why:

Humans naturally reach sexual maturity at 12-13, and then can live up to 100 years, but are protected with statutory rape laws until age 17.

Elven to human lifespan ratio is about ten years to one, which means a 200 year old elf looks 20 years old in human age and can live up to 1,000 years, so Elven young need to be protected with statutory rape laws until they reach age 170 years old.

Dwarves have a fairly long adolescence and reach age 85 before sexual maturity, and live up to two hundred and fifty years on average and so must be protected from Statutory rape until they reach age 90.

Changelings age quickly and fully mature at age 7 but a 7 year old changeling has the appearance of a 20 year old person and stops visible signs of aging and live up to age 50 on average, and so must be protected with Statutory rape laws until age 7 and 8 months.

Treefolk reach maturity at differing ages but the range can be that they mature fully in 1 year and then live for several thousands years, and thus they must be protected by Statutory rape laws until age 2 in that circumstance.

Beastlings reach maturity at age 16 and live up to 60-70 years on average, and thus are protected by statutory rape laws until age 17

Saurians vary on the age to reach maturity, but their ages are known by law, but they hardly ever show a sexual interest outside their own race so this has never been an issue.

Ponies and Kossith mature at relatively the same rates as humans, but they are protected with statutory rape laws until age 17.

and these represent only a fraction of the population represented in our beloved Crystal Spires,

These are some examples to keep in mind. So if a Changeling and an elf were to fall in love before the elf reaches sexual maturity, it is unlikely that they will ever get to marry, as the Changeling will die before they can (not that such things are unheard of), and this bogs the system of Marriage down, and to say Race X can never Marry Race X is racial barring and so is illegal due to anti-discrimination protections. So we leave Marriages up to the discretion of the churches, and if a church grants their marriage, we accept it in our database and confer the privileges of marriage, but we submit no law, because it's unfeasible and doesn't protect minors adequately. Not to mention the age gap can be IMMENSE. It is just too much of a foggy practice to grant state recognition unless a church does.

Warm Regards,

[Behntasha]

To the Nation of Behntasha,

(Image)

We of Crystal Spires feel it is important if you are to have this law that you clarify age of consent to protect minors, we had a similar proposal brought forth in our high council, but we felt we had to take into account the distinctions in our society. We already have Statutory rape laws in place, and Marriage is the celebration of the starting of a family together (whether it involves a couple intending to have children or not which means we have same sex marriage) So this means that we have to consider the relative age of the two spouses. This caused a conundrum in our High Council and we ultimately did not pass the proposal.

Here's why:

Humans naturally reach sexual maturity at 12-13, and then can live up to 100 years, but are protected with statutory rape laws until age 17.

Elven to human lifespan ratio is about ten years to one, which means a 200 year old elf looks 20 years old in human age and can live up to 1,000 years, so Elven young need to be protected with statutory rape laws until they reach age 170 years old.

Dwarves have a fairly long adolescence and reach age 85 before sexual maturity, and live up to two hundred and fifty years on average and so must be protected from Statutory rape until they reach age 90.

Changelings age quickly and fully mature at age 7 but a 7 year old changeling has the appearance of a 20 year old person and stops visible signs of aging and live up to age 50 on average, and so must be protected with Statutory rape laws until age 7 and 8 months.

Treefolk reach maturity at differing ages but the range can be that they mature fully in 1 year and then live for several thousands years, and thus they must be protected by Statutory rape laws until age 2 in that circumstance.

Beastlings reach maturity at age 16 and live up to 60-70 years on average, and thus are protected by statutory rape laws until age 17

Saurians vary on the age to reach maturity, but their ages are known by law, but they hardly ever show a sexual interest outside their own race so this has never been an issue.

Ponies and Kossith mature at relatively the same rates as humans, but they are protected with statutory rape laws until age 17.

and these represent only a fraction of the population represented in our beloved Crystal Spires,

These are some examples to keep in mind. So if a Changeling and an elf were to fall in love before the elf reaches sexual maturity, it is unlikely that they will ever get to marry, as the Changeling will die before they can (not that such things are unheard of), and this bogs the system of Marriage down, and to say Race X can never Marry Race X is racial barring and so is illegal due to anti-discrimination protections. So we leave Marriages up to the discretion of the churches, and if a church grants their marriage, we accept it in our database and confer the privileges of marriage, but we submit no law, because it's unfeasible and doesn't protect minors adequately. Not to mention the age gap can be IMMENSE. It is just too much of a foggy practice to grant state recognition unless a church does.

Warm Regards,

(Image)

(Image)

We only have ponies and humans to any measurable populations. Considering similar maturity and lifespans, we did not find that an issue. For any other sapient species, we established the age of consent to be the "equivalent of 16 years for a human". Marriage between humans, ponies, and these species is still allowed provided both partners meet the age of consent requirement. We make no attempt to limit such a union; such an issue is better left to the actual couple.

[Marcheria]

The United Socialist States of Marcheria
Official Diplomatic Statement

With Behntasha's passing of this act, another addition to the growing number of truly free-"smart" in my personal view- nation has been made. Prime Minister Arcadius, I personally congratulate you and your people's seeing that the time for a change has come. Although the USSM's population of ponies and furries is relatively small, glasses will be raised in pubs across Marcheria tonight, as we celebrate more beings moving toward a bright new future.

Signed,
Premier Maxwell P. Alben,
The USSM