Countries Where Gay Marriage Is Legal8 min read
Since 2001, when the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage, more than a dozen others have followed suit. Here are some of the countries where gay marriage is now legal.
The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage, in 2001. Ever since, a number of other countries have followed suit, including Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, and Denmark.
In the United States, same-sex marriage is now legal in 36 states, as well as in Washington, D.C. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution.
In Mexico, same-sex marriage is legal in all 31 states.
In Brazil, same-sex marriage is legal in all 26 states.
In France, same-sex marriage is legal in all 20 states.
In the United Kingdom, same-sex marriage is legal in all 4 countries (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland).
In Taiwan, same-sex marriage is legal in all counties.
In Uruguay, same-sex marriage is legal in all 19 departments.
In Colombia, same-sex marriage is legal in all 32 states.
In Chile, same-sex marriage is legal in all 16 regions.
In Australia, same-sex marriage is legal in all 8 states and territories.
There are a number of other countries where same-sex marriage is legal in some jurisdictions, but not all. For example, in Italy, same-sex marriage is legal in 10 of the 20 regions. And in Mexico, same-sex marriage is legal in all 31 states, but not at the federal level.
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When did Canada legalize gay marriage?
On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act. The bill was passed by the House of Commons on June 28, 2005 with a vote of 158-133 and the Senate on July 19, 2005 with a vote of 47-21.
The legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada was preceded by a series of court cases in which same-sex couples unsuccessfully sought the right to marry. In the 1995 case of M. v. H., the Ontario Court of Appeal held that the exclusion of same-sex couples from the definition of marriage violated the equality provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, the Court of Appeal did not order the government to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
In the case of Halpern et al. v. Canada (Attorney General), the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled in 2003 that it was unconstitutional to exclude same-sex couples from the definition of marriage. The court ordered the government to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but the order was stayed pending appeal. The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the Superior Court’s ruling in 2004, but the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the case.
In the case of Egan v. Canada (Attorney General), the Federal Court of Canada ruled in 2002 that the denial of spousal benefits to same-sex couples was unconstitutional. The court ordered the government to begin providing benefits to same-sex couples, but the order was stayed pending appeal. The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in 2003, but the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the case.
The Civil Marriage Act was introduced in the House of Commons by then-Justice Minister Irwin Cotler on February 1, 2005. The bill faced opposition from some religious groups, who argued that same-sex marriage went against their beliefs. However, the bill was supported by most of the Canadian public and it passed the House of Commons with a vote of 158-133.
The Senate also faced opposition to the bill, but it passed with a vote of 47-21. Governor General Michaëlle Jean signed the bill into law on July 20, 2005, making Canada the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
What states legalize gay marriage?
What states legalize gay marriage?
As of January 2017, gay marriage is legal in 23 states and Washington, D.C. The states that have legalized gay marriage are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
The legality of gay marriage is determined by the individual state, so the answer to this question can change depending on where you are located. In states where gay marriage is not legal, there are still ways to get married if you are in a same-sex relationship. For example, you could have a commitment ceremony or get married in a state where gay marriage is legal.
When did homosexuality become legal in UK?
homosexuality became legal in the UK in 1967. This followed a number of years of campaigning by LGBT activists, who felt that the existing laws were unjust and discriminatory. The Sexual Offences Act 1967 decriminalised homosexual acts between two men, provided that both parties were over 21 and consented. This was a major step forward for LGBT rights, and it paved the way for further progress in the years to come.
When did homosexuality become legal in Australia?
Homosexuality became legal in Australia on December 21, 2017, when the Australian Parliament passed the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017. This amendment to the Marriage Act 1961 defined marriage as “the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.” The bill also included religious freedom protections for businesses and individuals who do not want to participate in same-sex weddings.
The passage of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 was a major victory for the LGBT community in Australia. Prior to this amendment, same-sex marriage was not recognized under Australian law, and same-sex couples were not able to marry or enter into civil partnerships.
Homosexuality has been decriminalized in Australia since the early 1970s. In September 1972, the Australian Parliament passed the Crimes (Amendment) Act 1972, which repealed the criminalization of homosexual acts. This bill was a result of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Human Relationships, which was established in 1971 to examine the issue of homosexuality in Australia.
The passage of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 was a major victory for the LGBT community in Australia.
Is LGBT marriage is legal in India?
Since September 6, 2018, when the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality, there has been a lot of speculation about the legality of same-sex marriages in India. There is no specific law in India that prohibits or legalizes same-sex marriages. However, Section 2 of the Indian Marriage Act, 1955, defines marriage as “a voluntary union of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others.” This effectively means that same-sex marriages are not recognized in India.
There have been a few court cases in India that have dealt with the issue of same-sex marriages. In 2001, the Delhi High Court ruled that homosexuality was not a crime in India. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court overturned the Delhi High Court’s ruling, stating that homosexuality was a criminal offence. This effectively meant that same-sex marriages were not recognized in India.
However, in September 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality. This ruling effectively means that same-sex marriages are now legal in India. There is still no specific law in India that regulates or legalizes same-sex marriages. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling is a strong indication that same-sex marriages will be eventually be recognized in India.
When did NZ ban homosexuality?
New Zealand did not always have a positive attitude towards homosexuality. In fact, homosexuality was actually illegal in New Zealand until 1986.
The New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Act of 1986 decriminalized homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. This Act also created the Homosexual Law Reform Society, which is still active today.
Since 1986, New Zealand has become much more tolerant of homosexuality. In 2013, the country passed a law allowing same-sex couples to marry, making New Zealand one of the first countries in the world to do so.
New Zealand’s acceptance of homosexuality is a sign of the progress that has been made in recent years towards LGBT rights. Although there is still much work to be done, New Zealand is now a country where people of all sexual orientations are accepted and respected.
When did homosexuality become legal in Ireland?
Homosexuality became legal in Ireland in 1993, with the passage of the decriminalisation bill by the Irish parliament. This bill effectively removed any mention of homosexuality from Irish law, making it legal for two people of the same gender to engage in sexual activity.
The decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland was a long process, and it was not until the early 1990s that the issue was seriously debated in the Irish parliament. In 1988, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) published a report on the decriminalisation of homosexuality, which called for the removal of all references to homosexuality from Irish law. This report was influential in the debate on the decriminalisation bill, and it was argued that the removal of these laws would bring Ireland into line with other European countries.
The decriminalisation bill was introduced in the Irish parliament in October 1992, and it faced strong opposition from some of the conservative members of parliament. However, the bill passed the first stage of debate and it was sent to a committee for further consideration. The bill continued to face opposition in the committee, but it was eventually passed in February 1993. The bill then went to the second stage of debate in the parliament, and it was passed by a majority of 66 votes to 50. The decriminalisation bill was signed into law by the President of Ireland in July 1993.