© Getty Images

Thailand -

On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Thailand's senate approved a marriage equality bill to legalize same-sex marriage. It was passed overwhelmingly with 130 votes in favor and only four votes against. The final step required is the King's endorsement of the bill, but this is considered a formality. The law will come into effect 120 days later. “The bill represents a monumental step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand," said Panyaphon Phiphatkhunarnon, founder of the LGBTQ+ rights NGO Love Foundation. Thailand is now the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, after Nepal earlier in 2024 and Taiwan in 2019. 

© Getty Images

Nepal -

Same-sex marriage became legal nationwide in Nepal on April 27, 2024, after years of legal battles by queer couples. 

© Getty Images

Greece -

On February 15, 2024, Greece became the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The landmark ruling came after the Greek parliament voted 176 for and 76 against the proposed bill. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted that they are "proud to become the 16th (European Union) country to legislate marriage equality,” and declared it "a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece — a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values.”

© Shutterstock/Getty Images

Estonia -

The first Baltic and central European country joined the list when Estonia's parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage, by 55 votes to 34. Speaking to Reuters after the vote on June 20, 2023, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said her message to central Europe was that “it’s a difficult fight, but marriage and love is something that you have to promote." The law came into effect on January 1, 2024. 

© Shutterstock

Slovenia -

As of October 4, 2022, Slovenia became the first Eastern European country to legalize same-sex marriage following a parliamentary vote. Forty-eight members of parliament voted in favor of the amendment that would allow same-sex couples to marry and have children, while 29 voted against it and one person abstained. The vote was held as a result of a high court ruling in July that determined that the country's previous laws discriminated against same-sex couples and needed to be updated. Before the vote, Slovenia’s State Secretary Simon Maljevac said, “With these changes, we are recognizing the rights of same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time."

© Getty Images

Cuba -

In September of 2022, Cuba finally recognized same-sex marriage rights after a historic national referendum in which Cubans voted in favor of a family code which also increased protections to women, children, and the elderly, while also allowing LGBTQ couples to adopt. The country’s National Electoral Council announced on September 26 that 74.1% of those eligible to vote had turned out to cast their ballot, and the results signaled an overwhelming support for the new law which is a win for so many minorities. 

© Shutterstock

Andorra -

Andorra became the 33rd country to recognize same-sex marriage rights, as lawmakers in the tiny nation of just 77,000 voted unanimously to allow same-sex couples access to civil marriage on July 21. In 2014, same-sex couples were allowed to form civil unions in Andorra, and in 2020 the bill to recognize same-sex marriages was introduced but pushed back in parliament 10 times until it finally passed in 2022. The new law essentially turns civil unions into civil marriages, eliminating the differences between them. The bill also creates a system for transgender people to change names and gender markers on legal documents without having to provide proof of medical care.

© Shutterstock

Chile -

The legalization of same-sex marriage was proposed in Chile back in 2017, and on December 7, 2021, the bill finally passed. It was voted in by the country's congress with an overwhelming majority. Same-sex civil unions had been recognized in Chile since 2015, but this new bill grants same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, including the ability to adopt children.

© Getty Images

Switzerland -

Switzerland joined the list after 64.1% of the country voted to allow same-sex couples to marry in a nationwide referendum on September 26, 2021. Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said on Twitter that the government would implement the “Marriage for All” measure quickly, hopefully taking effect on July 1, 2022. The measure will also put same-sex partners on an equal legal footing with heterosexual couples by allowing them to adopt children and use regulated sperm banks, and by facilitating citizenship for same-sex spouses.

© Getty Images

Costa Rica -

On May 26, 2020, Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to recognize and perform same-sex marriages. This was the result of a Supreme Court ruling.

© Shutterstock

Northern Ireland - On October 22, 2019, Northern Ireland joined the rest of the United Kingdom in legalizing same-sex marriage. The bill making this possible passed in parliament and received royal assent on July 24, 2019.

© Shutterstock

Ecuador -

Following a high court ruling, same-sex marriage is legal across Ecuador as of June 12, 2019.

© Shutterstock

Taiwan - Taiwan became the first Asian country to permit same-sex marriage following a parliamentary vote on May 17, 2019.

© Shutterstock

Austria - Following a high court ruling that was not opposed by parliament, same-sex marriage became legal in Austria on January 1, 2019.

© Shutterstock

Australia -

In December 2017, parliament passed legislation allowing for same-sex marriage. Three weeks earlier, a majority of Australians had voted in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in a nationwide non-binding postal plebiscite.

© Shutterstock

Germany - In June 2017, parliament voted 393-226 in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. By the following October, same-sex marriage was legal in the country.

© Shutterstock

Malta - The country's parliament voted, almost unanimously, to legalize same-sex marriage in July 2017. The decision went into effect the following September.

© Shutterstock

Finland - While a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the country was passed in late 2014, it only went into effect on March 1, 2017.

© Shutterstock

Colombia - In April 2016, Colombia's Constitutional Court voted 6-3 in favor of allowing same-sex marriage.

© Shutterstock

Greenland -

As an autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland was not subject to the former's 2012 decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Instead, legislators in Greenland passed a bill to this effect in May 2015, and same-sex marriage was legal in the country by April 2016.

© Shutterstock

USA - In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision to legalize same-sex marriage across the country.

© Shutterstock

Ireland - Ireland was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage through popular referendum, this in May 2015.

© Shutterstock

Luxembourg - Same-sex marriage has been legal in the country since January 1, 2015, following parliamentary approval of a bill that also allowed same-sex couples to adopt children.

© Shutterstock

Scotland - Same-sex couples have been allowed to wed in Scotland since December 2014, following a February 2014 parliamentary vote.

© Shutterstock

New Zealand -

Following parliamentary approval in April 2013, New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage. The decision came into effect the following August.

© Shutterstock

England and Wales - Same-sex marriage came into force in England and Wales in March 2014. The July 2013 parliamentary win that led to this did not apply to semi-autonomous Scotland, nor Northern Ireland (though both countries have since legalized equal marriage).

© Shutterstock

Brazil - Brazil’s National Council of Justice ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in May 2013.

© Shutterstock

France - In May 2013, France’s highest court ruled that a bill passed by the National Assembly and the Senate, but challenged by the UMP (the conservative opposition party), was, in fact, constitutional. The bill also gave same-sex couples the right to adopt children.

© Shutterstock

Uruguay - Same-sex couples have been able to wed in Uruguay since August 2013, after the country's Senate and Congress passed a bill to this effect several months earlier.

© Shutterstock

Denmark - Same-sex marriage has been legal in Denmark since June 2012, this after parliamentary approval and royal assent.

© Shutterstock

Argentina -

In July 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage, after a bill was passed in both houses of the Argentine legislature. The passage of the law also granted married same-sex couples the right to adopt children.

© Shutterstock

Portugal - Same-sex marriage came into force in Portugal in June 2010. This was after the measure passed in parliament and was reviewed by the Constitutional Court on then-President Anibal Cavaco Silva's request.

© Shutterstock

Iceland - Same-sex marriage has been legal and in effect in Iceland since June 2010. Significantly, no legislator voted against the bill.

© Shutterstock

Sweden - By parliamentary approval a month earlier, same-sex marriage has been legal in Sweden since May 2009.

© Shutterstock

Norway -

Norway was the first Scandinavian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Passed in parliament in June 2008, same-sex marriage officially became legal in the country on January 1, 2009.

© Shutterstock

South Africa -

South Africa was the first and still only African country to legalize same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples have been able to wed in the country since November 2006, thanks to a process that involved the high courts and parliament.

© Shutterstock

Canada -

Canada became the first country in North America to legalize same-sex marriage, this back in July 2005 via parliamentary vote.

© Shutterstock

Spain - Same-sex marriage has been legal in Spain since passing in parliament in June 2005. The law took effect the following month.

© Shutterstock

Belgium - Same-sex marriage went into effect in Belgium in June 2003, this following a successful parliamentary vote several months earlier.

© Shutterstock

Netherlands -

In December 2000, the Netherlands became both the first European country and the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. The parliamentary decision officially went into effect in April 2001, also permitting adoption by same-sex couples.

See also: Same-sex parents and their adorable kids

© Shutterstock