Countries Where Same-Sex Marriage is Legal

In the 21^st century, gay marriage is a hotly debated topic by politicians and communities. People that oppose it do it on religious and moral grounds while people who promote it may be homosexual themselves, have gay family members or friends, or just see that all people should be treated equally. In this world unfortunately, not everyone is treated equally but there are some countries that allow gay marriage and others taking steps in that direction. The following is a list of countries that have legalized same-sex couples and following, countries that recognize registered partnerships and civil unions.

The first country in the world to legalize gay marriage was the Netherlands on April 1^st 2001. In the first six months after the legislation was approved, 3.6% of all marriages were same-sex. The total amount of gay marriages performed in 2001 was 2,500. More or less, about 1,000 same-sex couples get married in the Netherlands every year. Its legality in the Netherlands, though does not guarantee that it will be recognized by another country unless that country accepts gay marriages as well.

On January 30^th 2003, Belgium became the second country in the world to grant same-sex marriage as legal, with certain restrictions. One of the spouses has had to have lived at least three months in Belgium for the marriage to be permissible. In a span of two years between 2003 and 2005, 2,442 same-sex marriages had taken place. Also, new legislature in 2006 now allows the spouse of a biological parent to legally adopt its spouses' child.

Spain became the third country in the world to legalize gay marriage on June 30^th 2005 by the Socialist government. It also simultaneously granted the right for same-sex couples to adopt. 4,500 homosexual Spaniards wed during the first year of the law's passage. One partner has to have Spanish citizenship, or two non-Spaniards can marry if they can prove that they legally reside in Spain. According to the BBVA Foundation, 60% of the population supports gay marriage.

Not far behind, a month later Canada legalized same-sex marriage on July 20^th 2005. The road to legalization began through provincial court cases where judges ruled already existing bans on gay marriage unconstitutional. Marriage licenses for gay couples then became obtainable. The federal government finally passed a law to include same-sex couples in the definition of marriage upon seeing the results of provincial court decisions.

South Africa became the fifth country in the world and the first country in Africa to allow gay marriage on November 30^th 2006. The Civil Union Act allows same-sex couples to either call their union a marriage partnership or a civil partnership. If they opt for a marriage partnership, they are protected under the Marriage Act and receive the same privileges as heterosexual couples.

The sixth country in the world to legalize gay marriage was Norway on January 1^st 2009. The new legislation makes the definition of a marriage gender neutral and gives same-sex couples the right to adopt and church weddings. According to the Synovate MMI poll, 66% of Norwegians support same-sex marriage.

Sweden became the seventh country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage on May 1^st 2009. Registered partnerships have been around since 1995, but in 2006 the Swedish parliament noticed that its civil union law was outdate and that same-sex marriage should be legalized.

So far, only seven countries have legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, though there are many countries on their way to legalizing it. Countries that allow civil unions include: Andorra, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.