Gay marriage and the World Cup

A couple of years ago, I got a swarm of blog hits (and a link from Andrew Sullivan, no less), when I proffered the theory that on the international stage, legalizing gay marriage led to success on the sporting field. I noted Spain’s success in Euro 2008, and South Africa’s success in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and Canada’s tremendous haul at the 2006 Winter Olympics. All these countries had legalized gay marriage (not domestic partnerships or civil unions) within a short period before winning their titles.

Thirty-two countries played in this year’s World Cup finals. Of those, only four Spain (which legalized it in 2005); Portugal (earlier this year); the Netherlands (2001); and South Africa (2006) offer full marriage equality to gays and lesbians. (Countries like Denmark, the UK and Germany offer versions of civil unions, but not full marriage equality). Portugal lost to Spain in a match between two nations that both offer marriage to all. South Africa, the hosts, did better than expected, shocking the defending championsthe 2006 runners-up, France, by the score of 2-1.

And this year’s final? Between the Netherlands and Spain, the teams whose countries were the first two among the thirty-two contestants to legalize gay marriage. And they shall play their match in the host country, which was the third to do so.

Oh ye stiff-necked unbelievers, can you not read the signs?

UPDATE: Following the principle that when two countries who have both legalized full marriage equality play one another, the country to legalize it first wins (as we saw in Portugal’s loss to Spain), I do predict a win for the Oranje on Sunday. But make no mistake, love hoists the trophy in Joburg, regardless of the outcome.