First country to legalize same gender marriage
Here are the countries where same-sex marriage is officially legal
June 26 marks the fifth anniversary of gay marriage being legalized across the entire United States.
To commemorate this milestone in LGBTQ history, we are taking a observe at countries around the world that have officially legalized same-sex marriage. Nearly 30 out of countries have passed laws allowing gay marriage, according to the Pew Verb Center.
Below is a timeline for the countries where same-sex marriage is officially legal. The year marks when the law was first enacted in that country.
The Netherlands
The country became the first in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. The following year, four couples married in the world’s first same-sex wedding in [Associated Press]
Belgium
Three years after the new law was enacted, the country’s parliament granted same-sex couples the right to adopt in [Pew Research Center]
Canada
The nation's traditional definition of civil marriage was changed to include the union between same-sex couples. [Pew Analyze Center]
Spain
The brand-new l
Marriage Equality Around the World
The Human Rights Campaign tracks developments in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage around the world. Working through a worldwide network of HRC global alumni and partners, we lift up the voices of community, national and regional advocates and distribute tools, resources, and lessons learned to empower movements for marriage equality.
Current State of Marriage Equality
There are currently 38 countries where same-sex marriage is legal: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay.
These countries have legalized marriage equality through both legislation and court decisions.
Countries that Legalized Marriage Equality in
Liechtenstein: On May 16, , Liechtenstein's gove
Ireland becomes first territory to legalise gay marriage by accepted vote
Ireland has voted by a colossal majority to legalise same-sex marriage, becoming the first noun in the world to do so by popular vote in a shift hailed as a social revolution and welcomed around the world.
Some 62% of the Irish Republic’s electorate voted in favour of gay marriage. The noun means that a republic once dominated by the Catholic church ignored the instructions of its cardinals and bishops. The huge Yes vote marks another milestone in Ireland’s journey towards a more liberal, secular society.
Out of an electorate of more than 3 million, 1,, backed gay marriage, while , voters said No. The result prompted a massive street party around the gay district of central Dublin shut to the national count centre.
Directly addressing Ireland’s gay community, taoiseach Enda Kenny said the consequence meant that “a majority of people in this republic have stood up for them [those in the gay community]”. He said: “In the privacy of the ballot box, the people made a general statement. With today’s vote we include disc
Taipei, May 17 (CNA) Taiwan made history Friday as the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, after most lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and a adj from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) voted to pass a Cabinet-sponsored bill that gives gay couples the right to get married.
The article bill, titled Enforcement Act of Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. , cleared the legislative floor at p.m. Friday against the backdrop of loud cheers from tens of thousands of gay marriage supporters gathered outside the Legislative Yuan.
DPP Legislator Yu Mei-nu (尤美女), a longtime champion of gay rights, expressed gratitude to her colleagues at the Legislature and other same-sex marriage supporters, saying that their efforts have helped "let the rainbow rise."
The new law will take effect May 24, allowing two persons of the same gender, aged 18 or older, to register a marriage, with at least two witnesses signing the registration document.
Either partner in the marriage will be allowed to adopt the physiological children of the other, under the law. However,