8 Countries That Allow Same Sex Marriage

J.G. Taruc

February 25, 2016

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  The Netherlands

  In December 2000, Netherlands made history by becoming the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by a three-to-one margin between the Dutch parliament and the Christian Democratic Party.

  The legislation allowed same-sex couples the right to marry, divorce and adopt children.

  Canada

  Way back ’99, Canada has already given same-sex couples the most of the legal benefits of marriage.

  After a series of court trials since 2003, same-sex marriage gradually became legal in some provinces.

  In 2005, same-sex marriage passed legislation making it legal nationwide.

  Spain

  The Spanish parliament was closely divided when they legalized same-sex marriage in 2005 which reads, “marriage will have the same requirements and results when the two people entering into the contract are of the same sex or of different sexes.”

  The law was strongly criticized by the Catholic Spanish Bishops, the Vatican officials and as well as the people of Madrid but failed to lobby its passage.

  The passage granted same-sex couples identical rights of married couples regardless of their sexual orientation.

  Norway

  Gay couples have been able to marry, adopt children and undergo artificial insemination since January 2009.

  The 2009 bill was passed despite opposition from members of the Christian Democratic Party, the Progress Party and a public controversy on state funding for fertility treatments for lesbian couples.

  Some church leaders prohibits its pastors from conducting such marriage but the Church of Norway allows clergy to bless same-sex marriages.

  Luxembourg

  On June 18, 2015,  the Luxembourg’s parliament, approved the law that allows same-sex couples to wed and adopt children.

  The passage of the bill was spearheaded by the country’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel who is openly gay.

  It was also part of the first major overhaul of the country’s marriage laws.

  Iceland

  In June 2010, same-sex marriage was legalized through public opinion polls and the Icelandic legislature.

  After the new law took effect in late June 2010, the first openly gay prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir married her longtime partner, Jonina Leosdottir, becoming the first couples to marry under the new legislation.

  Argentina

  Argentina is the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage in July 2010.  The law was passed in spite of the opposition from certain religious entities but the measure still passed the Argentine legislature and was signed into bill by then President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

  The law granted gay couples all the rights and responsibilities enjoyed by heterosexual couples, including the right to adopt children.

  United States of America

  U.S. is the latest country to legalize same-sex marriage throughout the country after a 5-4 decision in 2015.

  Same-sex marriage became legal after the supreme court’s ruling declared that limiting marriage only to heterosexual couples violates the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection of the Law.

  References:

  time.com
  pewforum.org

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