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Recognition Of Same-sex Unions In Europe
Debate has occurred throughout Europe over proposals to legalise same-sex marriage as well as same-sex civil unions. Currently 33 of the 50 countries and the 8 dependent territories in Europe recognise some type of same-sex union, among them most members of the European Union (24/27). Nearly 43% of the European population lives in jurisdictions where same-sex marriage is legal. As of January 2025, 22 European countries legally recognise and perform same-sex marriages: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. An additional ten European countries legally recognise some form of civil union, namely Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, Montenegro, and San Marino. Although they do not recognise same-sex unions themselves, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Sl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage In Liechtenstein
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Liechtenstein since 1 January 2025. In November 2022, the Landtag passed a motion calling on the government to introduce a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, with broad support from across the political spectrum. A bill legalizing same-sex marriage was introduced in February 2024 and passed its final reading in the Landtag on 16 May 2024 by a 24–1 vote. It received royal assent from Prince Alois on 9 July 2024 and took effect on 1 January. Polling suggests that a majority of Liechtensteiners support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Liechtenstein was the third European microstate, the 22nd country in Europe and the 37th in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Liechtenstein has recognized same-sex registered partnerships since 1 September 2011 following approval by voters in a referendum. It was the second country in the world to pass a partnership law by referendum, after Switzerland in 2005. Registered partnerships Backgroun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Recognition Of Same-sex Unions In The Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has offered Civil union, registered partnerships for same-sex couples since 1 July 2006. Registered partnerships grant several of the rights of marriage, including inheritance, the right to declare a same-sex partner as next of kin, hospital visitation rights, jail and prison visitation rights, spousal privilege and alimony rights. The registered partnership law was passed in March 2006 and went into effect on 1 July 2006. The country also grants unregistered cohabitation status to "persons living in a common household" giving couples inheritance and succession rights in housing. A same-sex marriage bill passed its first reading in the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Chamber of Deputies in June 2023, but was rejected at third reading in February 2024 in favor of a bill expanding the rights of registered partnerships. This bill was approved by the Senate of the Czech Republic, Senate in April 2024 and was later signed by President Petr Pavel. The law, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Recognition Of Same-sex Unions In Cyprus
Cyprus has recognised same-sex civil unions since 9 December 2015. Legislation to establish a form of partnership known as civil cohabitation was introduced by the ruling Democratic Rally party in July 2015, and approved by the Cypriot Parliament in a 39–12 vote on 26 November 2015. It was signed by President Nicos Anastasiades, and took effect on 9 December upon publication in the government gazette. Same-sex marriage is not recognized in Cyprus, though President Nikos Christodoulides has expressed support for its legalisation. Civil cohabitations Background In 2010, the Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary, Lazaros Savvides, indicated that the Cypriot Government was considering whether to legalise same-sex marriage in Cyprus. This was followed in 2013 with an announcement by Interior Minister Eleni Mavrou that her ministry was working on a parliamentary bill to establish civil partnerships. The Cypriot Government subsequently gave its official approval to the draft bill. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Recognition Of Same-sex Unions In Croatia
Croatia has recognized life partnerships for same-sex couples since 5 August 2014. The Croatian Parliament passed the ''Life Partnership Act'' on 15 July 2014 by 86 votes to 16, granting same-sex couples equal rights and benefits to married couples in almost all aspects. The legislation took effect on 5 August, though some sections of the law went into force on 1 September 2014. Croatia first recognized same-sex unregistered cohabitation in 2003, providing some inheritance and financial benefits to same-sex partners. Following a 2013 referendum, the Constitution of Croatia has limited marriage to opposite-sex couples. Unregistered cohabitation In 2003, the governing coalition of Prime Minister Ivica Račan, consisting mostly of centre-left parties, passed a law recognizing same-sex unregistered cohabitation (). Initially, the draft bill would have recognized registered partnerships providing most of the rights of marriage, but the Croatian Peasant Party threatened to leave t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage In The United Kingdom
Same-sex marriage is legal in all parts of the United Kingdom. As marriage is a Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved legislative matter, different parts of the United Kingdom legalised at different times; it has been recognised and performed in England and Wales since March 2014, in Scotland since December 2014, and in Northern Ireland since January 2020. Civil partnerships in the United Kingdom, Civil partnerships, which offer most, but not all, of the rights and benefits of marriage, have been recognised since 2005. The United Kingdom was the Legal status of same-sex marriage, 27th country in the world and the sixteenth in Europe to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide. Polling suggests that a majority of British people support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. * Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, Legislation to allow same-sex marriage in England and Wales was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in July 2013 and took effect on 13 March 2014. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage In Switzerland
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Switzerland since 1 July 2022. Legislation to open marriage to same-sex couples passed the Swiss Parliament in December 2020. The law was challenged in a referendum on 26 September 2021 by opponents of same-sex marriage and was approved with the support of 64% of voters and a majority in all 26 cantons. The law went into force on 1 July 2022. A provision of the law permitting same-sex marriages performed abroad to be recognised in Switzerland took effect on 1 January 2022. Switzerland was the seventeenth country in Europe and the 30th in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry. Switzerland allowed registered partnerships for same-sex couples from 1 January 2007, following a 2005 referendum. These partnerships provided most, but not all, of the rights and benefits of marriage. Since the introduction of same-sex marriage on 1 July 2022, registered partnerships are no longer available in Switzerland. Registered partnerships Passage and r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage In Sweden
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Sweden since 1 May 2009 following the adoption of a gender-neutral marriage law by the Riksdag on 1 April 2009. Polling indicates that an overwhelming majority of Swedes support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Sweden was the second Scandinavian country, the fifth in Europe and the seventh in the world to open marriage to same-sex couples nationwide. Existing registered partnerships remain in force and can be converted to marriages if the partners so desire, either through a written application or through a formal ceremony. New registered partnerships are no longer able to be entered into and marriage is now the only legally recognized form of union for couples regardless of sex. On 22 October 2009, the governing board of the Church of Sweden voted 176–62 in favour of allowing its priests to wed same-sex couples in new gender-neutral church ceremonies, [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage In Spain
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Spain since July 3, 2005. In 2004, the nation's newly elected First government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, government, led by Prime Minister of Spain, Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, Socialist Workers' Party, began a campaign to legalize same-sex marriage, including the right of Same-sex adoption, adoption by same-sex couples. After much debate, a law permitting same-sex marriage was passed by the (the Spanish Parliament, composed of the Senate of Spain, Senate and the Congress of Deputies (Spain), Congress of Deputies) by a vote of 187–147 on June 30, 2005, and published on July 2. The law took effect the next day, making Spain the Legal status of same-sex marriage, third country in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry on a national level, after the Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands, Netherlands and Same-sex marriage in Belgium, Belgium, and 17 days ahead of the right ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage In Slovenia
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Slovenia since 9 July 2022, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Slovenia. The court had ruled that the ban on same-sex marriages violated the Constitution of Slovenia and gave the Parliament six months to amend the law to align with the ruling, although the decision took effect immediately after publication. The National Assembly passed legislation to align with the court ruling on 4 October 2022, though it was vetoed by the National Council one week later. This veto was overridden by the National Assembly on 18 October, and the law went into effect on 31 January 2023. Polling suggests that a majority of Slovenes support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Slovenia was the 31st country in the world, the eighteenth in Europe and the first of former Yugoslavia to allow same-sex couples to marry. Previously, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage had been approved by Parliament on 3 March 2015; however, it was rejected in a re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage In Portugal
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Portugal since 5 June 2010. The XVIII Constitutional Government of Portugal under Prime Minister José Sócrates introduced a bill for legalization in December 2009. It was passed by the Assembly of the Republic in February 2010, and was declared legally valid by the Portuguese Constitutional Court in April 2010. On 17 May 2010, President Aníbal Cavaco Silva ratified the law, making Portugal the sixth country in Europe and the eighth in the world to allow same-sex marriage nationwide. The law was published in the '' Diário da República'' on 31 May and became effective on 5 June 2010. Polling suggests that a significant majority of Portuguese people support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Portugal has also recognized same-sex ''de facto'' unions, providing several of the rights and benefits of marriage, since 2001. Background ''De facto'' unions A ''de facto'' union (, ; ) provides opposite-sex and same-sex couples with sim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Same-sex Marriage In Norway
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Norway since 1 January 2009 when a gender-neutral marriage law came into force after being passed by the Storting in June 2008. Norway was the first Scandinavian country, the fourth in Europe, and the sixth in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, after the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada and South Africa. Polling suggests that a majority of Norwegians support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. In 2024, a British wedding planning website named Norway the best marriage destination in the world for same-sex couples. From 1993 to 2008, Norway allowed same-sex couples to enter into registered partnerships, which provided virtually all the protections, responsibilities and benefits of marriage. Norway was the second country in the world to provide some form of recognition to same-sex couples, after Denmark. Registered partnerships Legislative action Norway introduced same-sex registered partnerships on 1 August 1993. The law was i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
