 Since its legalization in 2005 , couples from a cross section of Spanish society have entered into same @-@ sex marriage . Within the first year the law received royal assent , an influential socialist leader and Madrid city councilor Pedro Zerolo married Jesús Santos in January , and popular television presenter Jesús Vázquez married Roberto Cortés in March . In October 2005 , Spain 's prominent anti @-@ terrorism judge Fernando Grande @-@ Marlaska married his fiancé Gorka Gómez . In August 2006 Ourense city councilor and member of the People 's Party Pepe Araujo , whose party originally opposed the law , married his fiancé Nino Crespo . In September 2006 Alberto Linero Marchena and Alberto Sánchez Fernández , both army soldiers assigned to the Morón Air Base near Seville , became Spain 's first military personnel to marry under the new law . In August 2008 , Doña Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo , 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia and three @-@ time Grandee of Spain ( branded the Red Duchess for her socialist activism ) , became the highest ranking Spanish noble to marry in an articulo mortis ( deathbed ) wedding to longtime companion Liliana Maria Dahlmann , now the Dowager Duchess of Medina Sidonia by right of her late wife . In June 2015 the then mayor of the Basque capital Vitoria , Javier Maroto , announced his engagement to longtime partner Josema Rodríguez . The wedding was held on 18 September 2015 at Vitoria 's city hall . Maroto , a member of the conservative People 's Party 's national board , is known for his views contrary to the stance of his own party pertaining the gay marriage in Spain . Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy , who had challenged the law approving same sex marriage when he was Opposition Leader , attended the wedding celebrations as a guest . 
