Key

Key
    Same Sex Marriage
    Civil Unions/Domestic Partnerships
    Foreign Marriage
    Recognition Debated

Around the world

The number of countries around the world that are making a stand for equal marriage rights is growing.

Already same-sex marriage has been legalised in the Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), Canada (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), and in the USA the states of Massachusetts (2003) and Connecticut (2008). Some of these countries also have civil partnership registration, available to mixed-sex and same-sex couples, as an alternative choice to marriage.

Many other countries, states and regions are currently considering the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

Could Scotland be next? Map representing same-sex amrriage rights around the world

Map courtesy of Wikipedia article on Same Sex Marriage