Marriage Equality Laws around the World

Here we have summarized the legal status of the marriage equality laws around the world of the nations with embassies supporting Pride House Tokyo. It is basically a list of the names of the laws, the years the laws were enacted, or/and an explanation of any similar laws that have provided same-sex couples legal rights equivalent to same-sex marriage.

Country Law Year

Ireland

The Marriage Act 2015

2015

The United Kingdom

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013

2014

Australia

The Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms)

 

Act 2017 passed the Senate & House of Representatives and went into effect on December 9, 2017. The right to marry in Australia is no longer determined by sex or gender, meaning same-sex couples are entitled to marry.

2017

The Netherlands

Act on on the opening up of Marriage - amending legislation of the civil code
In Dutch: Wet Openstelling Huwelijk

 

https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0012099/2001-04-01 (Dutch only)

2001

Canada

The Civil Marriage Act

2005

Sweden

The Marriage Code

(Amendments and introducing of the concept "Gender-neutral marriage" )

2009

Spain

13/2005 Act

13/2005 Act (2005) Amends the Civil Code to permit same-sex marriage.

 

https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2005-11364 (español)

2005

Denmark

The Act on amendments to the Act on Marriage

2012

Germany

Same-Sex Marriage Law
In German: "Gesetz zur gleichgeschlechtlichen Ehe"

 

Before that same sex couples could conclude a so-called "registered lifepartnership" that is legally widely treated like a marriage under the Civil Partnership Act adopted in 2001

2017

New Zealand

Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act

2013

Norway

The Marriage Act

2008

Finland

An Act to amend the Marriage Act

2017

Mexico

The Civil Code of the State Law

 

19 States (Mexico City, Quintana Roo, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Nayarit, Jalisco, Campeche, Colima, Michoacán, Morelos, Baja California, Puebla, Chiapas, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, Hidalgo, Baja California Sur, Aguascalientes and Oaxaca)

2009〜

European Union

Since there is no uniform civil code in the EU, each member state has its own civil law that governs the issue of marriage between citizens.
There are Member States that have legally recognized same-sex marriage, and that do not recognize legal marriage but accepts Registered partnerships and Civil partnerships which are considered equivalent or comparable to marriage.
All countries that allow same-sex marriages generally recognise same-sex registered partnerships concluded in other countries. In countries which do not allow same-sex marriages but which have introduced some form of registered partnership, a same-sex marriage abroad generally gives you the same rights as a registered partnership.
In the EU, if you prove that you have lived together for a long periods of time your rights as a parnership will be protected even if you are not legally married.

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  • Marriage Equality Laws around the World
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  • Transgender Laws around the World

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