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Do not fill this in! ==Same-sex marriage around the world== {{Main|Legal status of same-sex marriage|Same-sex union legislation|Recognition of same-sex unions by country }} Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized in 36 countries: [[Same-sex marriage in Andorra|Andorra]], [[Same-sex marriage in Argentina|Argentina]], [[Same-sex marriage in Australia|Australia]],{{efn|name=australia|text=Same-sex marriage is performed and recognized by law in continental Australia and in the non-self-governing possessions of [[Norfolk Island]], [[Christmas Island]] and the [[Cocos Islands]], which follow Australian law.}} [[Same-sex marriage in Austria|Austria]], [[Same-sex marriage in Belgium|Belgium]], [[Same-sex marriage in Brazil|Brazil]], [[Same-sex marriage in Canada|Canada]], [[Same-sex marriage in Chile|Chile]], [[Same-sex marriage in Colombia|Colombia]], [[Same-sex marriage in Costa Rica|Costa Rica]], [[Same-sex marriage in Cuba|Cuba]], [[Same-sex marriage in Denmark|Denmark]],{{efn|name=denmark|text=Same-sex marriage is performed and recognized by law in continental Denmark, the [[Same-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]] and [[Same-sex marriage in Greenland|Greenland]], which together make up the [[Realm of Denmark]].}} [[Same-sex marriage in Ecuador|Ecuador]],{{efn|name=ecuador|text=Same-sex marriage is performed and recognized throughout Ecuador, but such couples are not considered married for purposes of adoption and may not adopt children.}} [[Same-sex marriage in Estonia|Estonia]], [[Same-sex marriage in Finland|Finland]], [[Same-sex marriage in France|France]],{{efn|name=france|text=Same-sex marriage is performed and recognized by law in metropolitan France and in all [[Overseas France|French overseas regions and possessions]], which follow a single legal code.}} [[Same-sex marriage in Germany|Germany]], [[Same-sex marriage in Greece|Greece]], [[Same-sex marriage in Iceland|Iceland]], [[Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], [[Same-sex marriage in Luxembourg|Luxembourg]], [[Same-sex marriage in Malta|Malta]], [[Same-sex marriage in Mexico|Mexico]],{{efn|name=mexico|text=Same-sex marriage is available in all jurisdictions, though the process is not everywhere as straightforward as it is for opposite-sex marriage and does not always include adoption rights.}} the [[Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|Netherlands]],{{efn|name=netherlands|text=Same-sex marriage is performed and recognized by law in [[Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|the continental Netherlands]], as well as in the Caribbean municipalities of [[Same-sex marriage in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba|Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba]]. Marriages entered into there have minimal recognition in [[Same-sex marriage in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten|Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten]], which together make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands.}} [[Same-sex marriage in New Zealand|New Zealand]],{{efn|name=nz|text=Same-sex marriage is performed and recognized by law in [[New Zealand|New Zealand proper]], but not in its possession of [[LGBT rights in Tokelau|Tokelau]], nor in the [[LGBT rights in the Cook Islands|Cook Islands]] and [[LGBT rights in Niue|Niue]], which make up the [[Realm of New Zealand]].}} [[Same-sex marriage in Norway|Norway]], [[Same-sex marriage in Portugal|Portugal]], [[Same-sex marriage in Slovenia|Slovenia]], [[Same-sex marriage in South Africa|South Africa]], [[Same-sex marriage in Spain|Spain]], [[Same-sex marriage in Sweden|Sweden]], [[Same-sex marriage in Switzerland|Switzerland]], [[Same-sex marriage in Taiwan|Taiwan]], the [[Same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]],{{efn|name=uk|text= Same-sex marriage is performed and recognized by law in all parts of the United Kingdom and in [[Recognition of same-sex unions in the British Overseas Territories|its non-Caribbean possessions]], but not in its Caribbean possessions, namely [[LGBT rights in Anguilla|Anguilla]], [[LGBT rights in Bermuda|Bermuda]], the [[LGBT rights in the British Virgin Islands|British Virgin Islands]], the [[LGBT rights in the Cayman Islands|Cayman Islands]], [[LGBT rights in Montserrat|Montserrat]] and the [[LGBT rights in the Turks and Caicos Islands|Turks and Caicos Islands]].}} the [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|United States]],{{efn|name=usa|text=Same-sex marriage is performed and recognized by law in all [[Same-sex marriage law in the United States by state|fifty states]] of the US and in the [[Same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia|District of Columbia]], in all overseas territories except [[Same-sex marriage in American Samoa|American Samoa]], and in all [[Same-sex marriage in tribal nations in the United States|tribal nations]] that do not have their own marriage laws, as well as in most nations that do. The largest of the dozen or so known exceptions among the federal reservations are [[LGBT rights in the Navajo Nation|Navajo]] and [[Gila River Indian Community|Gila River]], and the largest among the shared-sovereignty Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas are the [[Creek Nation|Creek]] and [[Citizen Potawatomi]]. These polities ban same-sex marriage and do not recognize marriages from other jurisdictions, though members may still marry under state law and be accorded all the rights of marriage under state and federal law.}} and [[Same-sex marriage in Uruguay|Uruguay]].<ref name="HRC"/> Same-sex marriage performed remotely or abroad is recognized with full marital rights by [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Israel|Israel]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Information for couples marrying outside the Rabbinate |url=http://rackmancenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Marriage-Outside-the-Rabbinate-Halperin-Kaddari-et-al-Rackman-Study-2018.pdf |access-date=November 10, 2023 |website=Rackman Center}}</ref> [[File:World marriage-equality laws.svg|thumb|center|upright=3| {{legend|#025|Marriage open to same-sex couples (rings: individual cases)}} {{legend|#06F|Civil unions or domestic partnerships}} {{legend|#71C837|Legislation or binding domestic court ruling establishing same-sex marriage, but marriage is not yet provided for}} {{legend|#90C|Same-sex marriage recognized with full rights when performed remotely or abroad}} {{legend|#9CF|Neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions allowed; allows unregistered cohabitation, legal guardianship}} {{legend striped|#9CF|#EEE|Nonbinding certification|up=yes}} {{legend|#CAF|Limited recognition of marriage performed in certain other jurisdictions (residency rights for spouses)}} {{legend|#C6E9AF|Country subject to an international court ruling to recognize same-sex marriage}} {{legend|#EEE|Same-sex unions not legally recognized}} ]] Same-sex marriage is under [[Same-sex union legislation|consideration by the legislature]] or the courts in [[Same-sex marriage in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten|Aruba]], [[Same-sex marriage in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten|Curaçao]], [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Honduras|Honduras]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 May 2022 |title=Presentarán iniciativa de ley para que el matrimonio igualitario sea legal en Honduras |url=https://www.latribuna.hn/2022/05/18/presentaran-iniciativa-de-ley-para-que-el-matrimonio-igualitario-sea-legal-en-honduras/}}</ref> [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Japan|Japan]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Japan opposition party submits bill for same-sex marriage |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/61f05630333c-japan-opposition-party-submits-bill-for-same-sex-marriage.html|publisher=[[Kyodo News]]|date=6 March 2023|accessdate=31 May 2023}}</ref> [[Same-sex marriage in Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]],<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1587852184925806592 |user=LGBTMarriage |title=#LIECHTENSTEIN: Parliament votes 23-2 in support of motion calling on government to introduce #EqualMarriage. Government will now respond, possibly bringing in bill with consultation period, and likely eventually a referendum. #lgbt https://t.co/9b3zKXsYP8 |author=LGBT Marriage News |date=2 November 2022 |access-date=13 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> the [[LGBT rights in the Navajo Nation|Navajo Nation]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Damon introduces legislation to recognize same-sex marriages on Navajo Nation |url=https://www.nhonews.com/news/2023/jun/27/damon-introduces-legislation-recognize-same-sex-ma/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Navajo-Hopi Observer News |language=en}}</ref> [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Nepal|Nepal]], [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Thailand|Thailand]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/thailand-samesex-marriage-lgbtq-f14aa589cb91ce5f8d973f570ebbb065 | title=Thailand's Cabinet approves a marriage equality bill to grant same-sex couples equal rights | website=[[Associated Press News]] | date=21 November 2023 }}</ref> and [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Venezuela|Venezuela]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 February 2022 |title=Diputada plantea iniciativa para el matrimonio civil igualitario en la Asamblea Nacional |url=https://elacarigueno.com/ini/diputada-plantea-iniciativa-para-el-matrimonio-civil-igualitario-en-la-asamblea-nacional/ |website=El Acarigueño |language=es |access-date=17 April 2022 |archive-date=20 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520104213/https://elacarigueno.com/ini/diputada-plantea-iniciativa-para-el-matrimonio-civil-igualitario-en-la-asamblea-nacional/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Civil union]]s, as a first step toward same-sex marriage, are being considered in a number of countries, including [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Lithuania|Lithuania]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lithuanian MPs propose civil union as compromise on same-sex partnership |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/lithuanian_mps_propose_civil_union_as_compromise_on_same-sex_partnership/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.baltictimes.com}}</ref> [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Peru|Peru]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 October 2021 |title=Presentan proyecto de ley sobre el matrimonio igualitario entre personas del mismo sexo |newspaper=El Comercio |url=https://elcomercio.pe/politica/congreso/congreso-de-la-republica-presentan-proyecto-de-ley-sobre-el-matrimonio-igualitario-entre-personas-del-mismo-sexo-juntos-por-el-peru-somos-peru-partido-morado-nndc-noticia/?ref=ecr |access-date=2022-06-28 |publisher=elcomercio.pe}}</ref> [[Recognition of same-sex unions in the Philippines|the Philippines]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padilla wants same-sex unions institutionalized |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/841251/padilla-wants-same-sex-unions-institutionalized/story/ |first=HANA|last=BORDEY|website=GMA News Online|date=11 August 2022}}</ref> [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Poland|Poland]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tilles |first=Daniel |date=2023-12-18 |title=New Polish ruling coalition outlines plans to introduce same-sex unions |url=https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/12/18/new-polish-ruling-coalition-outlines-plans-to-introduce-same-sex-unions/ |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=Notes From Poland |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Ukraine|Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kholodnova |first=Anna |date=2 August 2022 |title=Zelensky responded to the petition on the legalization of same-sex marriages in Ukraine. |url=https://babel.ua/en/news/82388-zelensky-responded-to-the-petition-on-the-legalization-of-same-sex-marriages-in-ukraine |website=Бабель}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavers |first=Michael K. |date=2023-03-07 |title=Ukrainian MP introduces bill to legally recognize same-sex couples |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/03/07/ukrainian-mp-introduces-bill-to-legally-recognize-same-sex-couples/,%20https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/03/07/ukrainian-mp-introduces-bill-to-legally-recognize-same-sex-couples/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=www.washingtonblade.com |language=en-US}}</ref> On 12 March 2015, the [[European Parliament]] passed a non-binding resolution encouraging EU institutions and member states to "[reflect] on the recognition of same-sex marriage or same-sex civil union as a political, social and human and civil rights issue".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Nick |date=13 March 2015 |title=UKIP and Tories abstain on EU motion to recognise same-sex marriage |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/03/13/ukip-and-tories-abstain-on-eu-motion-to-recognise-same-sex-marriage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809064225/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/03/13/ukip-and-tories-abstain-on-eu-motion-to-recognise-same-sex-marriage/ |archive-date=9 August 2015 |access-date=26 July 2015 |website=PinkNews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Texts adopted – Thursday, 12 March 2015 – Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2013 and the EU policy on the matter |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P8-TA-2015-0076+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807122729/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2F%2FEP%2F%2FTEXT+TA+P8-TA-2015-0076+0+DOC+XML+V0%2F%2FEN&language=EN |archive-date=7 August 2015 |access-date=26 July 2015 |publisher=European Parliament}}</ref> In 2018, the [[Inter-American Court of Human Rights]] ruled that all signatory countries must allow same-sex marriage. In response to the international spread of same-sex marriage, a number of countries have enacted preventative [[Same-sex union legislation#Bans|constitutional bans]], with the most recent being [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Russia|Russia]] in 2020 and [[LGBT rights in Mali|Mali]] and [[LGBT rights in Tuvalu|Tuvalu]] in 2023. In other countries, such restrictions and limitations are effected through legislation. Even before same-sex marriage was first legislated, some countries had constitutions that specified that marriage was between a man and a woman. [[File:Constitutional bans on same-sex unions by country.svg|thumb|center|upright=3| {{legend|#D40000|Same-sex marriage [[Same-sex union legislation#Bans|banned]] by secular constitution}} {{legend|#800000|Same-sex marriage banned by constitutionally mandated Islamic law or morality}} {{legend striped|#800000|#DCDCDC|Same-sex marriage banned for Muslims|up=yes}} {{legend|#CCCCCC|No constitutional ban}} ]] ===International court rulings=== ==== European Court of Human Rights ==== In 2010, the [[European Court of Human Rights]] (ECHR) ruled in ''[[Schalk and Kopf v Austria]]'', a case involving an Austrian same-sex couple who were denied the right to marry.<ref name="CASE OF SCHALK AND KOPF v. AUSTRIA">{{Cite web |title=HUDOC – European Court of Human Rights |url=http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-99605 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911221342/http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-99605 |archive-date=11 September 2015 |access-date=26 July 2015}}</ref> The court found, by a vote of 4 to 3, that their human rights had not been violated.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buyse |first=Antoine |date=24 June 2010 |title=Strasbourg court rules that states are not obliged to allow gay marriage |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2010/jun/24/european-court-of-human-rights-civil-partnerships |url-status=live |access-date=8 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213205714/http://www.theguardian.com/law/2010/jun/24/european-court-of-human-rights-civil-partnerships |archive-date=13 December 2013}}</ref> The court further stated that same-sex unions are not protected under art. 12 of ECHR ("Right to marry"), which exclusively protects the right to marry of opposite-sex couples (without regard if the sex of the partners is the result of birth or of sex change), but they are protected under art. 8 of ECHR ("Right to respect for private and family life") and art. 14 ("Prohibition of discrimination").<ref>{{Cite book |last=Avram |first=Marieta |title=Drept civil Familia |date=2016 |publisher=Editura Hamangiu |isbn=978-606-27-0609-8 |location=Bucharest |language=Romanian |trans-title=Civil law Family}}</ref> [[Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights]] states that: "Men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and to found a family, according to the national laws governing the exercise of this right",<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Convention on Human Rights |url=http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703060501/http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.pdf |archive-date=3 July 2014 |access-date=25 July 2015 |website=ECHR.coe.int |publisher=European Court of Human Rights}}</ref> not limiting marriage to those in a heterosexual relationship. However, the ECHR stated in ''Schalk and Kopf v Austria'' that this provision was intended to limit marriage to heterosexual relationships, as it used the term "men and women" instead of "everyone".<ref name="CASE OF SCHALK AND KOPF v. AUSTRIA" /> Nevertheless, the court accepted and is considering cases concerning same-sex marriage recognition, e.g. Andersen v. Poland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-218104 |website=ECHR |access-date=21 July 2022 |language=English|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights }}</ref> In 2021, the court ruled in ''[[Fedotova and Others v. Russia]]''—followed by later judgements concerning other member states—that countries must provide some sort of legal recognition to same-sex couples, although not necessarily marriage.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Palazzo |first1=Nausica |title=Fedotova and Others v. Russia : Dawn of a new era for European LGBTQ families? |journal=Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law |date=April 2023 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=216–228 |doi=10.1177/1023263X231195455|s2cid=261655476 }}</ref> ==== European Union ==== {{further|Coman and Others v General Inspectorate for Immigration and Ministry of the Interior}} On 5 June 2018, the [[European Court of Justice]] ruled, in a case from [[Same-sex marriage in Romania|Romania]], that, under the specific conditions of the couple in question, married same-sex couples have the same residency rights as other married couples in an EU country, even if that country does not permit or recognize same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU court backs residency rights for gay couple in Romania |url=https://apnews.com/561b1bb4ecff48b598eb1c2c20db2735 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142617/https://apnews.com/561b1bb4ecff48b598eb1c2c20db2735 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |access-date=6 June 2018 |website=[[Associated Press]]|date=5 June 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=5 June 2018 |title=Same-sex spouses have EU residence rights, top court rules – BBC |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44366898 |url-status=live |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508223531/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44366898 |archive-date=8 May 2019}}</ref> However, the ruling was not implemented in Romania and on 14 September 2021 the [[European Parliament]] passed a resolution calling on the [[European Commission]] to ensure that the ruling is respected across the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Texts adopted – LGBTIQ rights in the EU – Tuesday, 14 September 2021 |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0366_EN.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916211040/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0366_EN.html |archive-date=16 September 2021 |access-date=16 September 2021 |website=European Parliament |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 September 2021 |title=MEPs condemn failure to respect rights of same-sex partners in EU |language=en |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/14/meps-condemn-failure-respect-rights-same-sex-partners-eu |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914132153/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/14/meps-condemn-failure-respect-rights-same-sex-partners-eu |archive-date=14 September 2021}}</ref> ==== Inter-American Court of Human Rights ==== [[File:María Alexandra Chávez y Michelle Pamela Avilés - Primer matrimonio entre dos mujeres en Ecuador.jpg|thumb|right|Alexandra Chávez and Michelle Avilés, the first same-sex couple to marry in Ecuador]] On 8 January 2018, the [[Inter-American Court of Human Rights]] (IACHR) ruled that the [[American Convention on Human Rights]] mandates and requires the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. The landmark ruling was fully binding on [[Same-sex marriage in Costa Rica|Costa Rica]] and set binding precedent in the other signatory countries. The Court recommended that governments issue temporary decrees recognizing same-sex marriage until new legislation is brought in. Among states without same-sex marriage, the ruling applies to [[LGBT rights in Barbados|Barbados]], [[LGBT rights in Bolivia|Bolivia]], the [[LGBT rights in the Dominican Republic|Dominican Republic]], [[LGBT rights in El Salvador|El Salvador]], [[LGBT rights in Guatemala|Guatemala]], [[LGBT rights in Haiti|Haiti]], [[LGBT rights in Honduras|Honduras]], [[LGBT rights in Nicaragua|Nicaragua]], [[LGBT rights in Panama|Panama]], [[LGBT rights in Paraguay|Paraguay]], [[LGBT rights in Peru|Peru]] and [[LGBT rights in Suriname|Suriname]].{{cn|date=December 2023}} The Court said that governments "must recognize and guarantee all the rights that are derived from a family bond between people of the same sex". They also said that it was inadmissible and discriminatory for a separate legal provision to be established (such as [[civil union]]s) instead of same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2018 |title=Major Advance for Marriage Equality and Gender Identity Rights in Latin America |work=San Francisco Bay Times |url=http://sfbaytimes.com/major-advance-marriage-equality-gender-identity-rights-latin-america/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129141726/http://sfbaytimes.com/major-advance-marriage-equality-gender-identity-rights-latin-america/ |archive-date=29 January 2018 |access-date=13 April 2018 |publisher=Sfbaytimes.com}}</ref> The ruling has directly led to the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in [[Costa Rica]] and [[Ecuador]].{{cn|date=December 2023}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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