Countries allow gay marriage
Marriage Equality Around the World
The Human Rights Campaign tracks developments in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage around the society. Working through a worldwide network of HRC global alumni and partners, we lift up the voices of group, national and regional advocates and split 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 Merged Kingdom, the Merged 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
6 Countries in Africa That Have Legalized Same-Sex Relationships in the Past 10 Years
Editor's note: This article was originally published on Feb. 25, and has been updated to include other countries across Africa that have legalised same-sex relationships since publication.
Nearly half of the countries worldwide where homosexuality is outlawed are in Africa, according to a global review by the International Lesbian, Same-sex attracted, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA).
In fact, out of the 54 African states, only 22 of them have legalized homosexuality. In some countries it is punishable by imprisonment, while it is punishable by death in four — Mauritania, Nigeria (in states where sharia law is applied), Somalia, and South Sudan.
For the majority of African nations, anti-LGBTQIA+ laws outing back to the colonial era. However, LGBTQIA+ communities continue to face stigma, discrimination, and widespread threats and violence as a result of their sexual orientation and gender identities to this day.
In , South Africa became the first and rema
Where Can Same Sex Couples Acquire Married?
Sixteen countries have so far authorised marriages between people of the same sex.
- NETHERLANDS: In April became the first country in the world to legalise marriage equality. Includes the right to adoption.
- BELGIUM: same sex couples in Belgium won the right to marry in June and in April parliament voted into rule a bill allowing same sex couples to adopt children.
- SPAIN: In July became the third member of the European Union to pass a law to let marriage equality. Gay and womxn loving womxn couples can adopt children.
- CANADA: The law allowing same sex couples to marry and adopt children came into force in July
- SOUTH AFRICA: In November became the first African country to legalise marriage equality.
- NORWAY: A January law allows same sex couples to marry and adopt children and permits lesbians to be artificially inseminated.
- SWEDEN: Sweden's same sex couples have been allowed to wed in religious or civil ceremonies since May
- PORTUGAL: Under a June 1, law Portugal legalised marriage equality, while excluding the right to adop
Countries Where Gay Marriage Is Legal
For many years, same-sex marriage has been a hot topic of endless debate. Supporters of same-sex marriage tell that a relationship and subsequent marriage between two people of the similar sex is natural and normal. These supporters consider that a person does not choose to be gay and is instead born this way. Supporters also say that gay couples are just as capable as heterosexual couples when it comes to getting married, living together, and raising children.
On the flip side, there are people that are against gay marriage. These people may have religious convictions that tell them this is wrong. Others utter that same-sex relationships and marriage is abnormal and can have negative effects on children that are raised in a gay household.
However, there are still nations around the earth that outright ban male lover marriage. Even if a wedding ceremony is performed, these couples are not recognized by the government as legally married. Not every country in the world is involved in the conversation surrounding homosexual marriage, but a huge percentage