The Netherlands made world history in December 2000, becoming the first country to legalize same-sex marriage and paving a path for nearly two dozen countries over the next two decades.
The Dutch Parliament passed a landmark bill overwriting the nation's civil marriage statute to legally grant couples of the same sex the right to marry, divorce and adopt children. And the major change only took just one sentence: "A marriage can be contracted by two people of different or the same sex."
As of November 2017, 27 countries had officially legalized same-sex marriage nationwide or in some regions. Still more recognized same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, but did not have a legal framework to approve same-sex marriages in country. But the number of countries officially backing the political, social and often religious issue is expected to grow.
The Americas and most of Europe have backed legalization, and Australia is expected to soon follow suit. Aussies showed a strong turnout in a recent postal survey on same-sex marriage reform, and on Nov. 15 ensured lawmakers will introduce a bill in Parliament seeking legalization.
But not all countries share similar widespread support. South Africa stands alone as the only African country where same-sex marriage is legally recognized. And Tawain could become the first country in Asia to do the same following a May 2017 constitutional court ruling against prohibition.
Here are the countries that have legally recognized same-sex marriage, according to Pew Research Center and other sources.
Maltese lawmakers voted to legalize same-sex marriage across the Mediterranean island. The decision was in line with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's campaign promise to make such a law the first brought before Parliament in his first term.
German lawmakers voted in favor of same-sex marriage in late June 2017 in a move that was widely supported across the country. German Chancellor Angela Merkel voted against the measure, but allowed members of the conservative party to vote in favor in accordance with their conscience.
Same-sex marriage became legal in Colombia in late April 2016 after the country's top court ruled such marriages constitutional. Previously, same-sex couples were permitted to enter civil partnerships.
In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment requires states to grant marriages to gay couples and/or recognize those marriages performed by other states. The split decision followed a shift in American public opinion in support of such marriages.
Greenland passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in May 2015. The island, which is a semi-autonomous region of Denmark, was not previously subject to that country's same-sex marriage law passed in June 2012.
Ireland legalized same-sex marriage through a popular referendum in late May 2015, making it the first country to legalize such marriages by popular vote. In 2017, Leo Varadkar was elected as the country's first openly gay Irish Prime Minister.
Finland's Parliament passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in November 2014, and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto signed the bill into law in February 2015.
Same-sex marriage became legal in Luxembourg on Jan. 1, 2015, following a bill passed by the country's Chamber of Deputies in June 2014. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, who is openly gay, supported the measure and became the first leader of the European Union to marry his partner.
The Scottish Parliament passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage in February 2014 and the law took effect later that year. Same-sex couples, who were previously permitted to enter civil partnerships, began to marry in late December. The measure was passed by a separate legislative body than that of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
England and Wales: July 2013
Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal assent to a provision legalizing same-sex marriage in England and Wales in July 2013. The British Parliament had passed the measure the day before her approval. The law was a priority for then-Prime Minister David Cameron.
Brazil's National Council of Justice decided that same-sex couples should be permitted to obtain marriage licenses just days before France's highest court followed suit. With the approval, Brazil became the largest Latin American country to legalize such marriages.
Former French President Francois Hollande gave final approval to a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in May 2013, signing the measure that had met great challenges from the country's conservative opposition party. The country's high court ruled the bill was constitutional in the lead-up to his signature.
New Zealand's Parliament officially approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriages in April 2013. The measure received royal assent days later, and the approval made the country the first in the Asia-Pacific region to allow same-sex couples to marry.
Uruguay followed Argentina as the second country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage when former President Jose Mujica signed the country's bill into law in early May 2013. Previously, the nation had allowed same-sex couples to enter civil unions.
Denmark's Queen Margerethe II gave her royal assent to the country's same-sex marriage bill days after Denmark's legislature passed the legislation in June 2012. The country was the first to recognize same-sex domestic partnerships in 1989.
Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage in July 2010. Buenos Aires, the nation's capital, had previously enforced laws allowing same-sex couples to enter civil unions.
Portugal officially legalized same-sex marriage in June 2010 when its law took effect. That law was first passed by the Portuguese Parliament in February 2010, reviewed by the country's high court in April and ratified by the nation's then-president in May of that year.
Iceland's Parliament unanimously approved a bill legalizing gender-neutral marriages in early June 2010, and the bill was officially enacted by the end of the month. Icelandic former Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir made history in February 2009 when she became the country's first female prime minister and the world's first openly gay head of government.
Same-sex marriage became legal in Sweden on May 1, 2009, following the enactment of a marriage law passed by the Swedish Parliament in early April 2009. The country had permitted civil unions for same-sex couples since 1995.
While not nationwide, same-sex marriage is performed without restriction in Mexico City, where Mexico's Supreme Court issued a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage in 2010, saying the unions validated in the city were legal and must be accepted throughout the nation. The city had legalized gay marriage late the year before. A number of other states have followed suit, and the Mexican Supreme Court in 2015 issued a ruling making it easier for same-sex couples to marry.
Same-sex marriage became legal in Norway on Jan. 1, 2009, following the enactment of a bill passed by the Norwegian Parliament in June the year before. That 2008 law replaced a 1993 law that permitted civil unions for same-sex couples.
South Africa: November 2006
The South African Parliament legalized same-sex marriage by late November 2006, nearly one year after the country's Constitutional Court ruled that previous marriage laws were unconstitutional. South Africa became the first country in Africa and the first country in the Southern Hemisphere to legalize such marriages.
The push for legalized same-sex marriage in Spain largely began in 2004 under the nation's government led by then-Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The next year, the country's Parliament passed an approval bill in late June 2005 and the law officially took effect in early July.
Same-sex marriage legalization spread throughout Canada beginning in 2003 in a series of court cases. The country, though, legally recognized such marriages nationwide in late July 2005 with the Civil Marriage Act. Same-sex marriage is now widely supported.
Belgium became the second country to legalize same-sex marriage in late January 2003 after its Parliament overwhelmingly supported a new law granting same-sex couples rights similar to those of heterosexual couples. The legislation took effect the following summer.
Netherlands: December 2000
Same-sex Dutch couples gained marriage and adoption rights in late December 2000. Parliament approved two laws, but all 20 senators from the opposition Christian Democrats voted it down. Nevertheless, the groundbreaking laws took effect the following April and set the tone for future legislation across the globe.
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