marked them as "homosexual" in the modern sense served openly. Although Roman law did not recognize marriage between men, and in general Romans regarded marriage as a heterosexual union with the primary purpose of producing children, in the early Imperial period some male couples were celebrating traditional marriage rites. Juvenal remarks with disapproval that his friends often attended such ceremonies. The emperor Nero had two marriages to men, once as the bride (with a freedman Pythagoras) and once as the groom. His consort Sporus appeared in public as Nero's wife wearing the regalia that was customary for the Roman empress. Apart from measures to protect the prerogatives of citizens, the prosecution of homosexuality as a general crime began in the 3rd century of the Christian era when male prostitution was banned by Philip the Arab. By the end of the 4th century, after the Roman Empire had come under Christian rule, passive homosexuality was punishable by burning. "Death by sword" was the punishment for a "man coupling like a woman" under the Theodosian Code. Under Justinian, all same-sex acts, passive or active, no matter who the partners, were declared contrary to nature and punishable by death. British Empire The United Kingdom introduced anti-homosexuality laws throughout its colonies, particularly in the 19th century when the British Empire was at its peak. As of 2018, more than half of the 71 countries that criminalised homosexuality were former British colonies or protectorates. Netherlands In 2001, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage. Global LGBT rights maps Timeline LGBT-related laws by country or territory Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania See also Human rights Legal status of transgender people Legality of conversion therapy LGBT people in prison Minority rights Societal attitudes toward homosexuality Notes References External links International Lesbian and Gay Association State-sponsored Homophobia report (2015 edition) Lesbian and Gay Rights in the World map (2015 edition) Amnesty International USA: LGBT legal status around the world – interactive map Pride Legal – information by country Human Rights Watch on LGBT Rights International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission resource links – for researching legal information International Commission of Jurists, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Justice – A Comparative Law Casebook United Nations Human Rights Council, Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, an annual report The United Nations,