Same-sex Union Legislation
Same-sex marriage is legal in the following countries: 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, The Netherlands proper, Aruba, and Curaçao. Same-sex marriages performed there are recognized in Sint Maarten. New Zealand, New Zealand proper. Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; the overseas territories of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, the British Antarctic Territory, the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, the Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; the Crown dependencies of Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey. the United States,50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Nor ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In Finland
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Finland since 1 March 2017. A bill for the legalisation of same-sex marriages was approved by the Finnish Parliament in a vote of 101–90 on 12 December 2014, and signed into law by President Sauli Niinistö on 20 February 2015. Further legislation to harmonise other laws with the legalisation of same-sex marriage was passed in 2016. The law took effect on 1 March 2017. Polling suggests that a majority of Finns support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Finland was the last Nordic sovereign state, the twelfth country in Europe and the twentieth in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide. From 2002 until 2017, Finland recognized registered partnerships for same-sex couples, which provided the same rights and responsibilities as marriage with the exception of joint adoption rights and the right to a joint last name. Registered partnerships Legislation introducing registered partnerships (, ; , ) for same-sex coupl ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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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]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In New Zealand
Same-sex marriage has been legal in New Zealand since 19 August 2013. A Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013, bill for legalisation was passed by the New Zealand House of Representatives, House of Representatives on 17 April 2013 by 77 votes to 44 and received royal assent on 19 April. It entered into force on 19 August, to allow time for the Department of Internal Affairs to make the necessary changes for marriage licensing and related documentation. New Zealand was the first country in Oceania, the fourth in the Southern Hemisphere, and the Legal status of same-sex marriage, fifteenth in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry. Civil union in New Zealand, Civil unions have also been available for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples since 2005. The New Zealand Parliament can enact marriage laws only in regard to New Zealand proper and the Ross Dependency in Antarctica. The three other territories making up the Realm of New Zealand—the Cook Islands, Ni ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In Aruba, Curaçao And Sint Maarten
Same-sex marriage is legal in Aruba and Curaçao, two constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in accordance with a ruling from the Supreme Court of the Netherlands issued on 12 July 2024. On that date, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling from the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba that the same-sex marriage bans in these two islands were unconstitutional. This legalized same-sex marriage in Aruba and Curaçao with immediate effect. The final constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sint Maarten, does not perform same-sex marriages, though marriages performed elsewhere in the Kingdom can be recognized there. Aruba has also recognized registered partnerships, providing many of the rights and benefits of marriage, since September 2021. Registered partnerships Registered partnerships (, ; , ) offering several of the rights, benefits and obligations of marriage have been recognized ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In The Netherlands
Same-sex marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 1 April 2001. A bill for the legalisation of same-sex marriage was passed in the House of Representatives by 109 votes to 33 on 12 September 2000 and by the Senate by 49 votes to 26 on 19 December 2000. The law received royal assent by Queen Beatrix on 21 December 2000 and took effect on 1 April 2001. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Polling suggests that a significant majority of Dutch people support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, special municipalities of the Netherlands, since 10 October 2012, and in the constituent countries of Aruba and Curaçao since 12 July 2024. The other constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sint Maarten, does not perform or fully recognize same-sex marriages. Unregistered partnerships Unregistered cohabitation () occurs when a same-sex or opposite ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In Mexico
Same-sex marriage is legally recognized and performed throughout Mexico since 2022. On 10 August 2010 the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation ruled that same-sex marriages performed anywhere within Mexico must be recognized by the 31 states without exception, and fundamental spousal rights except for adoption (such as alimony payments, inheritance rights, and the coverage of spouses by the federal social security system) have also applied to same-sex couples across the country. Mexico was the fifth country in North America and the 33rd worldwide to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide. Only civil marriages are recognized by Mexican law, and all proceedings fall under state legislation. On 12 June 2015, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation ruled that state bans on same-sex marriage violate the federal constitution. The court's ruling is considered a "jurisprudential thesis" and did not invalidate any state laws, but required judges and courts throughout Mexico ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In Malta
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Malta since 1 September 2017 following the 66–1 passage of legislation in the Parliament of Malta, Parliament on 12 July 2017. The bill was signed into law by President of Malta, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca on 1 August 2017. On 25 August 2017, the Minister for Equality, Helena Dalli, issued a legal notice to commence the law on 1 September. Malta was the first European microstate, the thirteenth country in Europe and the Legal status of same-sex marriage, 21st in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide. Polling suggests that a majority of Maltese people support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. In 2024, a British wedding planning website named Malta one of the best marriage destinations in the world for same-sex couples. Malta has allowed civil unions for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples since 2014 following the enactment of the ''Civil Unions Act''. It grants couples in civil unions the same rights, r ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In Luxembourg
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Luxembourg since 1 January 2015. A bill for the legalisation of same-sex marriages was approved 56–4 by the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg), Chamber of Deputies on 18 June 2014 and signed into law by Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Grand Duke Henri on 4 July. Polling suggests that a majority of Luxembourgers support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Luxembourg was the last Benelux country, the tenth in Europe and the Legal status of same-sex marriage, sixteenth in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide. Civil union, Partnerships have also been available in Luxembourg since November 2004. Partnerships Legislative action On 7 December 1995, Deputy Lydie Err introduced a private member's bill to create Civil union, free unions (, ; , ; , ) granting same-sex couples some of the rights and benefits of marriage. Her party, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), was part of the Juncker–Poos Ministry, Juncker� ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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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]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In The Republic Of Ireland
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since 16 November 2015. A referendum on 22 May 2015 amended the Constitution of Ireland to provide that marriage is recognised irrespective of the sex of the partners. The measure was signed into law by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, as the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland on 29 August 2015. The '' Marriage Act 2015'', passed by the Oireachtas on 22 October 2015 and signed into law by the Presidential Commission on 29 October 2015, gave legislative effect to the amendment. Same-sex marriages in Ireland began being recognised from 16 November 2015, and the first marriage ceremonies of same-sex couples in Ireland occurred the following day. Ireland was the eleventh country in Europe and the eighteenth in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide. Civil partnerships, granted under the '' Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010'', gave same-sex c ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Same-sex Marriage In Iceland
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Iceland since 27 June 2010. A bill providing for a gender-neutral marriage definition was passed 49–0 by the Althing on 11 June 2010. No members of Parliament voted against the bill, and polling suggested that it was very popular among Icelanders. Iceland was the third Nordic country, after Norway and Sweden, the seventh in Europe, and the ninth in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Iceland has become a popular marriage destination for same-sex couples and was listed as number eight in the "Top 10 Gay Wedding Destinations" by Lonely Planet in 2014. Registered partnerships Legislative action Registered partnerships (, ) for same-sex couples were introduced in Iceland in 1996. The law was adopted by the Althing on 4 June by a vote of 44–1 and entered into force on 27 June 1996. This legislation was repealed with the passing of the gender-neutral marriage law in 2010. The legislation granted the same range of protections, responsibil ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |