Countries allow gay marriage
Countries Where Lgbtq+ Marriage Is Legal
For many years, same-sex marriage has been a warm topic of endless debate. Supporters of same-sex marriage tell that a association and subsequent marriage between two people of the matching sex is spontaneous and normal. These supporters believe that a person does not choose to be gay and is instead born this way. Supporters also say that same-sex 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 lgbtq+ marriage. These people may have religious beliefs that explain them this is wrong. Others declare that same-sex relationships and marriage is abnormal and can have negative effects on children that are raised in a same-sex household.
However, there are still nations around the world that outright ban gay marriage. Even if a wedding ceremony is performed, these couples are not known by the government as legally married. Not every nation in the earth is involved in the conversation surrounding gay marriage, but a large percentage
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 share tools, resources, and lessons learned to enable 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
Where Can Same Sex Couples Receive 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 regulation 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 enable marriage equality. Gay and female homosexual 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
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, Homosexual, 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