Same-sex union legislation
Introduction Same-sex marriage is legal in the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay.Same-sex marriage is recognized, but not performed, in Israel and Namibia. Furthermore, same-sex marriages performed in the Netherlands are recognized in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry has been and remains the topic of debate worldwide. 32 countries and four jurisdictions worldwide have passed constitutional amendments that explicitly prohibit the legal recognition of same-sex marriage and sometimes other forms of legal unions as well. Sixteen countries and 34 jurisdictions worldwide have authorized civil unions or unregistered cohabitation for same-sex couples as an alternative to marriage. The legal name of those unions as well as the number of rights that they provide can vary greatly.
Legislative efforts to recognise same-sex unions ===National level===The first legislation of unregistered cohabitation was introduced in the Netherlands in June 1979.However, the first substantial recognition of same-sex couples did not occur before the introduction of a new legal form, that of registered partnerships, which was first enacted in Denmark in June 1989.Many countries have followed with similar legislation since then. Legislation of these forms of legal unions still occur with a variety of different names, even after the introduction of same sex marriage, although sometimes they are overwritten by subsequent legislation of same-sex marriage.There are currently 11 countries that have an alternative form of legal recognition other than marriage on a national level. Those are Bolivia, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro and San Marino.As of , legislation to allow an alternative form of legal recognition of same-sex couples other than marriage is pending, or has passed at least one legislative house on a national level in Lithuania and Ukraine.As of , same-sex marriage has been legal (nationwide or in some parts) in Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay.As of , legislation to allow same-sex marriage is being considered in at least one legislative house on a national level in the Czech Republic, Japan, Liechtenstein, Thailand and Venezuela. Country Date Same-sex union Upper house Lower house Head of state Law enacted? Yes  No  Yes No   Netherlands June 1979 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Netherlands December 1980 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Netherlands November 1984 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Denmark June 1986 Unregistered cohabitation 78 62 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Sweden June 1987 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' Yes Yes  Denmark June 1989 Registered partnership 71 47 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Norway July 1991 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Norway April 1993 Registered partnership 18 16 58 40 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Sweden June 1994 Registered partnership 171  141 Yes Yes  Spain November 1994 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Hungary May 1996 Unregistered cohabitation 207 73 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Iceland June 1996 Confirmed cohabitation 44 1 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Slovakia May 1997 Registered partnership ''Failed'' — No No  Netherlands July 1997 Registered partnership ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Czech Republic June 1998 Registered partnership — — ''Failed'' — No No  France October 1998 Civil solidarity pact — — ''Failed'' — No No  Belgium January 1999 Legal cohabitation 39 8 98 10 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Sweden March 1999 Registered partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' Yes Yes  Denmark June 1999 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights) 61 48 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   France November 1999 Civil Solidarity Pact and Concubinage ''Passed'' 315 249 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Czech Republic December 1999 Registered partnership — — 69 91 — No No  Slovakia February 2000 Registered partnership ''Failed'' — No No link=Canada Canada April 2000 Common-law partnership ''Passed'' 174 72 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Iceland May 2000 Confirmed cohabitation (expansion: adoption and immigration rights) 49 1 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Netherlands December 2000 Marriage 49 26 109 33 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Norway December 2000 Registered partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Germany February 2001 Registered life partnership ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Portugal March 2001 De facto union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   New Zealand April 2001 De facto relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Czech Republic April 2001 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Norway June 2001 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Finland September 2001 Registered partnership 99 84 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Czech Republic October 2001 Registered partnership — — ''Failed'' — No No  Sweden June 2002 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' Yes Yes  Belgium February 2003 Marriage 46 15 91 22 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Denmark May 2003 Registered partnership (expansion) 49 60 — No No  Denmark May 2003 Registered partnership (expansion) 45 60 — No No  Denmark May 2003 Registered partnership (expansion) 43 61 — No No  Denmark June 2003 Registered partnership (expansion) 11 94 — No No  Croatia July 2003 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Luxembourg May 2004 Free union ''Failed'' — No No  Luxembourg May 2004 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Luxembourg July 2004 Partnership 33 7 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Panama September 2004 Civil union ''Failed'' — No No  Germany October 2004 Registered life partnership (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Norway November 2004 Marriage ''Failed''  — No No  United Kingdom November 2004 Civil partnership 251 136 426 49 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   New Zealand November 2004 De facto relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New Zealand December 2004 Civil union 65 55 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Czech Republic February 2005 Registered partnership  — — ''Failed'' — No No  Andorra March 2005 Stable couple union  ''Passed''  ''Signed''  Yes Yes  Slovenia March 2005 Registered partnership  ''Failed''  — No No   New Zealand March 2005 Civil union and de facto relationship (expansion) 76 43 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Sweden June 2005 Registered partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' Yes Yes  Switzerland  Registered partnership ''Passed'' ''Passed'' Yes Yes ''Specific referendum'' (58.04%)  Spain July 2005 Marriage ''Vetoed''  183 136 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Canada July 2005 Marriage 47 21 158 133 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Slovenia July 2005 Partnership 44 3 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Croatia October 2005 Registered partnership ''Failed'' — No No  Czech Republic March 2006 Registered partnership 65 14 86 54 ''Vetoed''  Yes Yes  Belgium May 2006 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) 34 33 77 62 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Spain May 2006 Marriage (expansion: medically assisted reproduction) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Denmark June 2006 Registered partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Iceland June 2006 Confirmed cohabitation (expansion) 41 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   France June 2006 Civil Solidarity Pact (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   South Africa November 2006 Marriage and civil partnership 36 11 229 41 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Portugal December 2006 De facto union (expansion: immigration rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Finland December 2006 Registered partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Spain March 2007 Marriage (expansion: automatic co-parenthood) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Colombia June 2007 Civil union 29 34 62 43 — No No  Hungary December 2007 Registered partnership 185 154 ''Signed'' No No  Uruguay December 2007 Cohabitation union 17 5 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Iceland May 2008 Confirmed cohabitation (expansion) 54 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Norway June 2008 Marriage 23 17 84 41 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Ecuador September 2008 De facto union ''General constitutional referendum'' (69.46%) Yes Yes   Portugal October 2008 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Portugal October 2008 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  United Kingdom November 2008 Civil partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  link=Australia Australia November 2008 De facto relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Sweden April 2009 Marriage 261 22 Yes Yes   Hungary April 2009 Registered partnership 199 159 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   France May 2009 Recognition of unions performed abroad as PACS ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Finland May 2009 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights) 108 29 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Denmark June 2009 Registered partnership (expansion) 107 2 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Portugal August 2009 De facto union (expansion: inheritance rights) ''Passed'' ''Vetoed'' No No  Uruguay September 2009 Cohabitation union (expansion: adoption rights) 17 6 40 13 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Austria December 2009 Registered partnership 44 8 110 64 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Portugal January 2010 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Portugal January 2010 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Portugal January 2010 Registered civil union ''Failed'' — No No link=Australia Australia February 2010 Marriage 5 45 — — — No No  Portugal May 2010 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Denmark May 2010 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights) 60 54 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Denmark June 2010 Marriage 52 57 — No No  Iceland June 2010 Marriage 49 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Ireland July 2010 Civil partnership and unregistered cohabitation 48 4 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Argentina July 2010 Marriage 33 27 126 110 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Luxembourg August 2010 Partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Portugal August 2010 De facto union (expansion: inheritance rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Yes Yes  Germany September 2010 Marriage ''Failed'' — — No No  Germany October 2010 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law) — ''Failed'' — No No  Germany April 2011 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law and adoption rights) ''Failed'' — — No No  Liechtenstein  Registered partnership ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes ''Specific referendum'' (68.76%)  France June 2011 Marriage — — 222 293 — No No  Germany June 2011 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law) ''Failed'' — — No No  Portugal February 2012 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) ''Failed'' — No No  Portugal February 2012 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) ''Failed'' — No No  Slovenia March 2012 Partnership (expansion) ''Specific referendum'' (45.36%) No No  Israel May 2012 Marriage 11 39 — No No  Denmark June 2012 Marriage 85 24 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Germany June 2012 Marriage — — 260 309 — No No  San Marino June 2012 Unregistered cohabitation (only one entitlement) 33 20 ''Signed'' Yes Yes link=Australia Australia September 2012 Marriage — — 42 98 — No No link=Australia Australia September 2012 Marriage 26 41 — — — No No  Germany October 2012 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law) — — 253 288 — No No  Slovakia November 2012 Registered partnership 14 94 — No No  Poland January 2013 Registered partnership — — ''Failed'' — No No  Poland January 2013 Registered partnership — — ''Failed'' — No No  Poland January 2013 Registered partnership — — ''Failed'' — No No  Poland January 2013 Registered partnership — — ''Failed'' — No No  Poland January 2013 Partnership agreement — — ''Failed'' — No No  Germany March 2013 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law) ''Passed'' — — — No No  Germany March 2013 Marriage ''Passed'' — — — No No  New Zealand April 2013 Marriage 77 44 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Colombia April 2013 Marriage 17 51 — — — No No  Uruguay May 2013 Marriage 23 8 71 21 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Portugal May 2013 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) 77 104 — No No  Portugal May 2013 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) ''Failed'' — No No  Portugal May 2013 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) ''Failed'' — No No  France May 2013 Marriage 171 165 331 225 ''Signed'' Yes Yes link=Australia Australia June 2013 Recognition of marriage performed abroad 28 44 — — — No No  Germany July 2013 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  United Kingdom(England and Wales) July 2013 Marriage  ''Passed'' 366 161 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Austria July 2013 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights) 45 8 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Philippines October 2013 Registered partnership ''Failed'' — No No  Netherlands December 2013 Marriage (expansion: automatic co-parenthood) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Portugal March 2014 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) 107  112 — No No  Malta April 2014 Civil union 37 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Belgium May 2014 Marriage (expansion: automatic co-parenthood) 48 2 114 10 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Germany May 2014 Registered life partnership (expansion: adoption rights) — — 111 432 — No No  Andorra May 2014 Marriage  6 21 — No No  Germany June 2014 Registered life partnership (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Romania June 2014 Civil partnership 2 110 4 298 — No No  Luxembourg June 2014 Marriage 56 4 Yes Yes  Croatia July 2014 Life partnership  89 16 Yes Yes  Germany July 2014 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  San Marino September 2014 Recognition of marriage performed abroad 15 35 — No No  Argentina October 2014 Cohabitation union ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Andorra December 2014 Civil union 20 3 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Portugal January 2015 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) 89 119 — No No  Portugal January 2015 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) 91 119 — No No  Portugal January 2015 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) 91 120 — No No  Portugal January 2015 Marriage (expansion: medically assisted reproduction) ''Failed'' — No No  Ireland April 2015 Civil partnership and unregistered cohabitation (expansion: step-adoption rights) 20 2 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Chile April 2015 Civil union agreement 25 6 78 9 ''Signed''  Yes Yes  Ecuador June 2015 De facto union (expansion) 89 1 ''Signed''  Yes Yes  Israel July 2015 Civil union 39 50 — No No  Israel July 2015 Marriage 39 50 — No No  Ireland  Marriage ''(constitutional amendment)'' 29 3 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes ''Specific constitutional referendum'' (62.07%) October 2015 Marriage ''(statutory legislation)'' ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Germany November 2015 Registered life partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Cyprus December 2015 Civil cohabitation 39 12 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Romania December 2015 Civil partnership 8 49 ''Failed'' — No No  Slovenia  Marriage 51 28 — No No ''Specific referendum'' (36.53%)  Greece December 2015 Cohabitation agreement 194 55 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Estonia October 2014 Cohabitation agreement ''(framework law)'' 40 38 ''Signed'' Yes Yes January 2016 Cohabitation agreement ''(implementation law)'' ''Failed'' — No No  Portugal February 2016 Marriage and de facto union (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Vetoed''  Yes Yes  Israel February 2016 Civil union 40 47 — No No  Switzerland March 2016 Registered partnership (expansion: immigration rights) — — 122 62 — No No  Luxembourg April 2016 Recognition of marriage performed abroad before 1 January 2015 50 3 Yes Yes  Slovenia April 2016 Partnership (expansion) 54 15 Yes Yes  Italy May 2016 Civil union and cohabitation agreement 173 71 372 51 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Portugal June 2016 Marriage and de facto union (expansion: medically assisted reproduction) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Switzerland June 2016 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights) 25 14 125 68 Yes Yes  Liechtenstein November 2016 Registered partnership (expansion) 25 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Greece December 2016 Cohabitation agreement (expansion) 201 21 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Austria December 2016 Registered partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Finland February 2015 Marriage (framework law) 101 90 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  April 2016 Marriage (implementation laws) 106 42 ''Signed'' January 2017 128 28 ''Signed''  Malta April 2017 Cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Lithuania June 2017 Partnership 29 59 — No No  Ireland July 2017 Civil partnership and unregistered cohabitation (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Germany July 2017 Marriage ''Passed'' 393 226 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Malta August 2017 Marriage 66 1 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Philippines October 2017 Civil partnership ''Failed'' — No No  Chile November 2017 Civil union agreement (expansion) 15 0 70 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australia December 2017 Marriage 43 12 131 4 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Finland April 2018 Marriage (expansion: automatic co-parenthood) 122 42 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Greece May 2018 Cohabitation agreement (expansion: foster care) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Israel June 2018 Marriage 39 42 — No No  Malta June 2018 Marriage, civil union and cohabitation (expansion: medically assisted reproduction) 34 27 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Slovakia September 2018 Registered partnership ''Failed'' — No No  San Marino November 2018 Civil union 40 4 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Mexico  November 2018 Marriage (codification of federal recognition) 11004150 ''Published'' Yes Yes  Cuba December 2018 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Germany December 2018 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Romania March 2019 Civil partnership 2 68''Failed'' — No No  Taiwan May 2019 Marriage 66 27 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Philippines July 2019 Civil partnership ''Failed'' — No No  Philippines July 2019 Registered partnership ''Failed'' — No No  Austria July 2019 Marriage (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' Yes Yes  United Kingdom(Northern Ireland) July 2019 Marriage ''Passed'' 328 65 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Montenegro July 2019 Life partnership 38 4 — No No  Monaco December 2019 Cohabitation agreement ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Montenegro July 2020 Life partnership 42 5 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Lithuania May 2021 Partnership 63 58 — No No  San Marino June 2021 Civil union (expansion) 31 1 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  France August 2021 Marriage (expansion: medically assisted reproduction) 326 115 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Switzerland September 2021  Marriage 22 15 132 52 Yes Yes''Specific referendum'' (64.10%)  Chile December 2021 Marriage 21  8 80  20 ''Signed''Yes Yes  Costa Rica May 2022 De facto union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Andorra August 2022 Marriage 18 6''Signed'' Yes Yes  Cuba July 2022 Marriage and civil union ''Passed''''Signed''Yes Yes September 2022''Specific Referendum'' (66.87%) SloveniaOctober 2022Marriage and adoption rights (codification)17114829''Suspensory Veto''Yes Yes5124''Published''  Slovakia October 2022 Civil cohabitation3153 —No No United States December 2022 Marriage (codification of federal recognition; requiring states and territories to recognize) 61 36 259 168 ''Signed''Yes Yes  Latvia December 2022 Civil union— ''Failed'' No No  Peru December 2022 Marriage— ''Failed'' No No  Andorra January 2023 Marriage (codification) 23 1''Signed'' Yes Yes  Taiwan June 2023 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)''Passed''''Signed'' Yes Yes  Estonia June 2023 Marriage 55 34''Signed'' Yes Yes  Latvia January 2024 Partnership 53 43 ''Signed''  Yes Yes  Greece February 2024 Marriage 175 77 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Thailand 2024  Marriage ''Proposed'' ''Proposed''   San Marino December 2017 Marriage (for foreign couples - agreement in principle) 25 20 ''Signed'' Unknown Marriage (for foreign couples - statutory legislation)   Czech Republic Unknown Marriage  ''Pending''  Italy Unknown Marriage   Japan Unknown Marriage  ''Proposed''  Liechtenstein Unknown Marriage ''Pending''  Lithuania Unknown  Civil partnership ''Pending''  Peru Unknown Civil union ''Proposed''  Philippines Unknown Civil union ''Proposed'' ''Proposed''  Poland Unknown Civil partnership ''Proposed'' ''Proposed'' Slovakia Unknown  Cohabitation  ''Proposed''  South Korea  Unknown Life partnership ''Proposed''  South Korea  Unknown Marriage ''Proposed''  Ukraine Unknown Civil partnership''Pending''  Venezuela Unknown Marriage ''Proposed'''''Notes:'''===Sub-national level===In countries with a federal system of governance, states and territories often may grant recognition to same-sex couples in their own jurisdictions, although unitary states with a level of devolution, such as Spain or the United Kingdom, also offer such powers to local authorities. The first jurisdiction to enact unregistered cohabitation was British Columbia in Canada in July 1992.The first jurisdiction to legalize registered partnership was Greenland as part of the Kingdom of Denmark in April 1996.Finally, the first sub-national jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage was the Canadian province of Ontario in June 2003.As of , there are 15 sub-national jurisdictions worldwide that have legalized some kind of alternative form of legal union of same-sex couples other than marriage. Those are:* In Japan:**Twelve prefectures of Japan (Akita, Aomori, Fukuoka, Gunma, Ibaraki, Mie, Osaka, Saga, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokyo, and Toyama);* Aruba, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands;* Two British overseas territories (Bermuda, Cayman Islands).For the time being, 61 sub-national jurisdictions worldwide have legalized same-sex marriage in nations where same-sex marriage is not legal throughout the nation's territory. Those are:* Fifty-one Native American Tribal Nations, namely the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Blackfeet Nation, the Blue Lake Rancheria, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the Cherokee Nation, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Hannahville Indian Community, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, the Northern Arapaho Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, the Osage Nation, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, the Prairie Island Indian Community, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, the Suquamish Tribe, the Tulalip, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and the Yavapai-Apache Nation. * The British Overseas Territories of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, the British Antarctic Territory, the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, the Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the British Crown dependencies of Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey, and Guernsey's own dependencies of Alderney and Sark. State/Territory Country Date Same-sex union Upper House Lower house Head of State Law enacted? Yes  No  Yes No  British Columbia link=Canada Canada July 1992 Marriage-like relationship 30 17 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Columbia link=Canada Canada July 1993 Marriage-like relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Columbia link=Canada Canada July 1993 Marriage-like relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Columbia link=Canada Canada July 1993 Marriage-like relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia May 1994 Domestic relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Ontario link=Canada Canada June 1994 Domestic partnership 58 69 — No No  British Columbia link=Canada Canada June 1995 Marriage-like relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Columbia link=Canada Canada July 1995 Marriage-like relationship (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Greenland  Denmark May 1993 Inatsisartut: Registered partnership (resolution) 15 0 Yes Yes April 1996 Folketing: Registered partnership (statutory law) 104 1 ''Signed''  Ceuta  Spain April 1997 De facto union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   British Columbia link=Canada Canada July 1997 Marriage-like relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Catalonia  Spain June 1998 Stable couple union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Yukon link=Canada Canada December 1998 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Aragon  Spain March 1999 Stable non-married couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Yukon link=Canada Canada April 1999 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Alberta link=Canada Canada May 1999 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Quebec link=Canada Canada May 1999 De facto union 80 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia June 1999 De facto relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Columbia link=Canada Canada July 1999 Marriage-like relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Ontario link=Canada Canada October 1999 Conjugal relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Navarre  Spain July 2000 Stable couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Castile-La Mancha  Spain July 2000 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Columbia link=Canada Canada July 2000 Marriage-like relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia August 2000 Domestic relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Nova Scotia link=Canada Canada November 2000 Domestic partnership ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Newfoundland and Labrador link=Canada Canada December 2000 Conjugal relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New Brunswick link=Canada Canada December 2000 Family relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Geneva  Switzerland February 2001 Registered partnership ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Valencia  Spain April 2001 De facto union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Victoria link=Australia Australia June 2001 Domestic relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Manitoba link=Canada Canada July 2001 Common-law relationships ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Saskatchewan link=Canada Canada July 2001 Spousal relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Saskatchewan link=Canada Canada July 2001 Spousal relationship (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Victoria link=Australia Australia November 2001 Domestic relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Newfoundland and Labrador link=Canada Canada December 2001 Conjugal relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Balearic Islands  Spain December 2001 Stable couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Madrid  Spain December 2001 De facto union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Newfoundland and Labrador link=Canada Canada April 2002 Conjugal relationship (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Western Australia link=Australia Australia April 2002 De facto relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Yukon link=Canada Canada May 2002 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Asturias  Spain May 2002 Stable couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Northwest Territories link=Canada Canada June 2002 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Quebec link=Canada Canada June 2002 Civil union 87 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Manitoba link=Canada Canada August 2002 Common-law relationship (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Manitoba link=Canada Canada August 2002 Common-law relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Zürich  Switzerland September 2002 Registered partnership ''Specific cantonal referendum'' (62.70%) Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia October 2002 De facto relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Castile and León  Spain October 2002 De facto union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Alberta link=Canada Canada December 2002 Adult interdependent relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Queensland link=Australia Australia December 2002 De facto relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Andalusia  Spain December 2002 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Prince Edward Island link=Canada Canada December 2002 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Autonomous City of Buenos Aires  Argentina January 2003 Civil union 29 10 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Canary Islands  Spain March 2003 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Extremadura  Spain March 2003 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Basque Country  Spain May 2003 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Río Negro  Argentina May 2003 Civil union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia June 2003 Unregistered cohabitation ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Tasmania link=Australia Australia September 2003 Significant relationship and caring relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia January 2004 Domestic relationship (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Neuchâtel  Switzerland January 2004 Registered partnership 65 38 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Northern Territory link=Australia Australia January 2004 De facto relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Aragon  Spain May 2004 Stable non-married couple (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Fribourg  Switzerland May 2004 Registered partnership ''General cantonal referendum'' (58.03%) Yes Yes 24px City of Sydney link=Australia Australia July 2004 Relationship declaration program ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Quebec link=Canada Canada November 2004 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Ontario link=Canada Canada March 2005 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Northwest Territories link=Canada Canada March 2005 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Catalonia  Spain April 2005 Stable couple union (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Cantabria  Spain May 2005 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Akrotiri and Dhekelia  United Kingdom November 2005 Civil partnership ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Isle of Man  United Kingdom November 2005 Recognition of civil partnership performed in the United Kingdom ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Norfolk Island link=Australia Australia February 2006 De facto relationship ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia June 2006 Civil union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' No No  Mexico City link=Mexico Mexico November 2006 Coexistence partnership 43 17 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia December 2006 Domestic partnership agreement ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Coahuila link=Mexico Mexico January 2007 Civil pact of solidarity 20 13 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Scotland  United Kingdom January 2007 Civil partnership (expansion: adoption rights) 101 6 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia February 2007 Civil partnership ''Passed'' ''Signed'' No No  Alberta link=Canada Canada February 2007 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New Brunswick link=Canada Canada March 2007 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  City of Melbourne link=Australia Australia April 2007 Relationship declaration program ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  City of Yarra link=Australia Australia May 2007 Relationship declaration program ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Villa Carlos Paz  Argentina November 2007 Civil union 12 6 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia November 2007 De facto relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Galicia  Spain December 2007 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Melilla  Spain January 2008 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Victoria link=Australia Australia April 2008 Registered domestic relationship 29 10 54 24 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia May 2008 Civil partnership ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Prince Edward Island link=Canada Canada May 2008 Marriage (codification and expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia June 2008 De facto relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' 64 11 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Manitoba link=Canada Canada October 2008 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Victoria link=Australia Australia December 2008 Registered domestic relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' 47 34 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Municipality of Woollahra link=Australia Australia December 2008 Relationship declaration program ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New Brunswick link=Canada Canada December 2008 Marriage (codification) and family relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes border Río Cuarto  Argentina May 2009 Civil union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Greenland  Denmark May 2009 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New Caledonia  France May 2009 Civil solidarity pact and concubinage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Wallis and Futuna  France May 2009 Civil solidarity pact and concubinage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Newfoundland and Labrador link=Canada Canada May 2009 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Scotland  United Kingdom June 2009 Civil partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Tasmania link=Australia Australia September 2009 Significant relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia November 2009 Civil partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Newfoundland and Labrador link=Canada Canada December 2009 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Mexico City link=Mexico Mexico December 2009 Marriage 39 20 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Queensland link=Australia Australia February 2010 De facto relationship (expansion) 45 36 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  City of Blue Mountains link=Australia Australia March 2010 Relationship declaration program ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia May 2010 Registered relationship 32 5 62 9 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  La Rioja   Spain May 2010 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Vienna  Austria June 2010 Registered partnership (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Catalonia  Spain July 2010 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia September 2010 Registered relationship (expansion: adoption rights) 22 15 45 43 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Tasmania link=Australia Australia October 2010 Out-of-state unions as significant relationship ''Passed'' 22 3 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia November 2010 Registered relationship (expansion: surrogacy) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba  Netherlands December 2010 Recognition of unions performed aboard ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Isle of Man  United Kingdom March 2011 Civil partnership ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia June 2011 Domestic partnership agreement (expansion) 14 5 24 15 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia July 2011 Domestic partnership agreement (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Nunavut link=Canada Canada October 2011 Marriage (codification and expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Columbia link=Canada Canada November 2011 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Queensland link=Australia Australia December 2011 Civil partnership 47 40 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Guernsey  United Kingdom December 2011 Recognition of civil partnership performed in the United Kingdom ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Jersey  United Kingdom  December 2011  Civil partnership 33 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Queensland link=Australia Australia June 2012 Registered relationship 69 8 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia September 2012 Civil union 11 6  ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Tasmania link=Australia Australia September 2012 Marriage 6 8 13 11 — No No  Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba  Netherlands October 2012 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Tasmania link=Australia Australia October 2012 Significant relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  City of Vincent link=Australia Australia December 2012 Relationship declaration program ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Macau  China March 2013 Civil union ''Failed'' — No No  South Australia link=Australia Australia July 2013 Marriage — — ''Failed''  — No No  Tasmania link=Australia Australia July 2013 Significant relationship (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Colima link=Mexico Mexico July 2013 Civil union 17 2 Yes Yes August 2013 ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Tasmania link=Australia Australia October 2013 Marriage 6 8 — — — No No  Australian Capital Territory link=Australia Australia October 2013 Marriage 9 8 ''Signed'' No No  Jalisco link=Mexico Mexico October 2013 Civil union 20 15 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia November 2013 Marriage 19  21 — — — No No  Campeche link=Mexico Mexico December 2013 Civil union ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Coahuila link=Mexico Mexico February 2014 Civil pact of solidarity (expansion: adoption rights) 23 2 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Scotland  United Kingdom March 2014 Marriage  105 18 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Faroe Islands  Denmark March 2014 Marriage 11 20 — No No  Gibraltar  United Kingdom March 2014 Civil partnership 16 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Durango link=Mexico Mexico April 2014 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Akrotiri and Dhekelia  United Kingdom April 2014 Marriage ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Indian Ocean Territory  United Kingdom April 2014 Marriage ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Alberta link=Canada Canada May 2014 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Coahuila link=Mexico Mexico September 2014 Marriage 19 1 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  New South Wales link=Australia Australia November 2014 Out-of-state unions as registered relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Yukon link=Canada Canada December 2014 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Pitcairn Islands  United Kingdom May 2015 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Town of Port Hedland link=Australia Australia August 2015 Relationship declaration program 6 2 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Michoacán link=Mexico Mexico September 2015 Domestic partnership 34 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Alderney  United Kingdom November 2015 Recognition of marriage and civil partnership performed abroad 10 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Guernsey  United Kingdom December 2015 Recognition of marriage performed abroad ''Passed'' aligncenter  Yes Yes  Victoria link=Australia Australia December 2015 Registered domestic relationship and domestic relationship (expansion: adoption rights) 31  8 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Queensland link=Australia Australia December 2015 Civil partnership 64 22 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Nayarit link=Mexico Mexico December 2015 Marriage and concubinage 26 1 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Greenland  Denmark May 2015 Inatsisartut: Marriage (resolution) 27 0 Yes Yes February 2016 Folketing: Marriage (statutory law) 108 0 ''Signed''  Victoria link=Australia Australia February 2016 Out-of-state union as registered domestic relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes 24px Azuay  Ecuador March 2016 Registered symbolic marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Campeche link=Mexico Mexico May 2016 Marriage 34 1 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Guernsey  United Kingdom May 2016 Recognition of marriage and civil partnership performed abroad (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Colima link=Mexico Mexico June 2016 Marriage 24 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Michoacán link=Mexico Mexico June 2016 Marriage and concubinage 27 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Ascension Island  United Kingdom June 2016 Marriage 5 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia July 2016 Domestic partnership agreement (expansion) ''Passed'' 29 12 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Morelos link=Mexico Mexico July 2016 Marriage and concubinage 20 6 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Isle of Man  United Kingdom July 2016 Marriage 6 3 17 3 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Aruba  Netherlands September 2016 Registered partnership 11 5 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  British Antarctic Territory  United Kingdom October 2016 Marriage ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Gibraltar  United Kingdom November 2016 Marriage 15 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Queensland link=Australia Australia November 2016 Civil partnership and de facto relationship (expansion: adoption rights) 44 43 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  San Luis Potosí link=Mexico Mexico November 2016 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Ontario link=Canada Canada December 2016 Marriage and conjugal relationship (expansion: automatic co-parenthood) 79 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Victoria link=Australia Australia December 2016 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals) 19 19 45 35 — No No  South Australia link=Australia Australia December 2016 Registered relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia December 2016 Registered relationship and domestic partnership agreement (expansion: adoption rights) 13 4 27 16 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia December 2016 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals)''Passed''''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Tlaxcala link=Mexico Mexico January 2017 Domestic partnership 18 4 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Durango link=Mexico Mexico January 2017 Marriage 4 15 — No No  Mexico City link=Mexico Mexico January 2017 Marriage (constitutional codification)  ''Passed'' Yes Yes  Northwest Territories link=Canada Canada March 2017 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia March 2017 Registered relationship and domestic partnership agreement (expansion: surrogacy) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  South Australia link=Australia Australia April 2017 Registered relationship (expansion) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Falkland Islands  United Kingdom April 2017 Marriage and civil partnership 7 1 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Guernsey  United Kingdom December 2015 Marriage (agreement in principle) 37 7 Yes Yes December 2016 Marriage (primary legislation) 33 5  ''Signed'' April 2017 Marriage (secondary legislation) ''Passed''   Faroe Islands  Denmark April 2016Løgting: Marriage (resolution) 19 14 aligncenter  Yes Yes May 2017 Folketing: Marriage (statutory law) 108 0 ''Signed'' 24px Tristan da Cunha  United Kingdom August 2017 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Nova Scotia link=Canada Canada October 2017 Marriage (codification) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Saint Helena  United Kingdom December 2017 Marriage 9 2 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Bermuda  United Kingdom February 2018 Domestic partnership 8 3 24 10 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Northern Territory link=Australia Australia April 2018 Marriage and de facto relationship (expansion: adoption rights) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Jersey  United Kingdom September 2015 Marriage (agreement in principle) 37 4 Yes Yes May 2018 Marriage (statutory legislation) 42 1 ''Signed''  Victoria link=Australia Australia May 2018 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Alderney  United Kingdom December 2017 Marriage (primary legislation) 9 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes June 2018 Marriage (secondary legislation) ''Passed''  New South Wales link=Australia Australia June 2018 Marriage (codification and expansion) 34 2 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Queensland link=Australia Australia June 2018 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals) 86 4 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Murcia  Spain July 2018 De facto couple ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Northern Territory link=Australia Australia December 2018 Marriage (codification and expansion) ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Western Australia link=Australia Australia February 2019 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals) ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Tasmania link=Australia Australia May 2019 Marriage (codification and expansion) 7 6 12 11 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  San Luis Potosí link=Mexico Mexico May 2019 Marriage and concubinage 14 12 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Hidalgo link=Mexico Mexico May 2019 Marriage and concubinage 18 2 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Sinaloa link=Mexico Mexico June 2019 Marriage and concubinage 18 20 — No No  Ibaraki Prefecture link=Japan Japan June 2019 Partnership certificate ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Baja California Sur link=Mexico Mexico June 2019 Marriage 14 5 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Zacatecas link=Mexico Mexico August 2019 Marriage 11 13 — No No  Oaxaca link=Mexico Mexico October 2019 Marriage (codification) 25 10 ''Signed'' Yes Yes Sark United Kingdom October 2019 Marriage (agreement in principle)''Passed''Yes Yes March 2020 Marriage (primary legislation)''Passed'' ''Signed''  April 2020 Marriage (secondary legislation) ''Passed''   Cayman Islands  United Kingdom July 2020 Domestic partnership 8 9 — No No  Baja California link=Mexico Mexico July 2020 Marriage (Constitutional codification) 16  9 — No No  Curaçao  Netherlands September 2020 Marriage  ''Withdrawn'' No No  Cayman Islands  United Kingdom September 2020 Civil partnership ''Signed''  Yes Yes Pueblalink=Mexico MexicoNovember 2020Marriage (codification)315''Signed''Yes Yes 24px Gunma Prefecture link=Japan Japan December 2020 Partnership oath ''Signed'' Yes Yes Tlaxcalalink=Mexico MexicoDecember 2020Marriage163''Signed''Yes Yes  Western Australia link=Australia Australia 2020 Marriage and de facto relationship (expansion: surrogacy) -- ''Passed''No No Sinaloalink=Mexico MexicoJune 2021Marriage230''Signed'' Yes Yes  Baja California link=Mexico Mexico June 2021 Marriage (Constitutional codification)184''Ratified by municipalities''Yes Yes Yucatánlink=Mexico MexicoAugust 2021Marriage (Constitutional codification)205''Published''Yes Yes border Saga Prefecture link=Japan Japan August 2021 Partnership certificate ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes border Mie Prefecture link=Japan Japan September 2021 Partnership certificate ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Querétaro link=Mexico Mexico September 2021 Marriage, concubinage, adoption 203''Published''Yes Yes Sonoralink=Mexico MexicoSeptember 2021Marriage258''Signed''Yes Yes  Zacatecas link=Mexico Mexico December 2021 Marriage 18 10''Published''Yes Yes border Aomori Prefecture link=Japan Japan February 2022 Partnership certificate ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Yucatán link=Mexico Mexico March 2022 Marriage 250''Published''Yes Yes 22x22px Akita Prefecture link=Japan Japan April 2022 Partnership certificate ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes 22x22px Fukuoka Prefecture link=Japan Japan April 2022 Partnership certificate ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Jalisco link=Mexico Mexico April 2022 Marriage (codification) 25 8''Published''Yes Yes  Tamaulipas link=Mexico Mexico May 2022 Marriage ''Failed''  — No No  Veracruz link=Mexico Mexico June 2022 Marriage (codification) 38 4''Published''Yes Yes Aguascalientes link=Mexico Mexico August 2022 Marriage ''Failed''  — No No Quintana Roolink=Mexico MexicoAugust 2022Marriage expansion (adoption)''Passed''''Signed''Yes Yes border Tochigi Prefecture  Japan September 2022 Partnership certificate ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Durango link=Mexico Mexico September 2022 Marriage (codification) 159''Signed''Yes Yes Tabascolink=Mexico MexicoOctober 2022Marriage235''Signed''Yes Yes border Tokyo Metropolis link=Japan Japan November 2022 Partnership certificate ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Edomex link=Mexico Mexico November 2022 Marriage and concubinage5016''Signed''Yes Yes Tamaulipaslink=Mexico MexicoNovember 2022Marriage 2312''Signed''Yes Yes Baja California Surlink=Mexico MexicoNovember 2022Marriage (expansion: adoption)120''Signed''Yes Yes Guerrerolink=Mexico MexicoDecember 2022Marriage and concubinage386''Signed''Yes Yes Nuevo Leónlink=Mexico MexicoJune 2023Marriage (codification) and concubinage 2310''Signed''Yes Yes Guanajuatolink=Mexico MexicoUnknownMarriage (codification)  ''Proposed'' Arubalink=Netherlands NetherlandsUnknownMarriage  ''Proposed'''''Note:'''
{{anchor|Bans}}Prohibition of same-sex unions ===Legislative efforts===Various countries have passed (or tried to pass) legislation to prevent same-sex marriage or repeal the existing laws (in some cases including criminalization or fines). Sometimes approving explicit bans or defining marriage as solely the union between a man and a woman, excluding all others.====National level==== Country Date Ban on Upper house Lower house Head of state Finaloutcome Yes  No  Yes No   El Salvador February 1858 Marriage  ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Colombia May 1873 Marriage  ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Costa Rica January 1888 Marriage  ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Eswatini 1952 Adoption   ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Yes Yes   Peru July 1984 Marriage  ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Ecuador July 1984 Marriage  ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Paraguay January 1985 Marriage and free union  ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Cuba 1987 Marriage   ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Yes Yes   Philippines July 1987 Marriage (explicit recognition of only heterosexual marriage) ''Signed'' Yes Yes   China 1992 Adoption  ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Yes Yes  United States September 1996 Marriage (federal recognition and allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states) 85 14  342 67  ''Signed''  Yes Yes   Philippines 1998 Marriage (explicit limitation of marriage to heterosexual cisgender couples) Failed  No No  United States July 1999 Adoption (federal law, ban only for District of Columbia ) 213 215  No No  Kenya July 2001 Adoption (couples and single LGBT person)  ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Philippines July 2004 Marriage (explicit non-recognition of unions performed abroad) Failed  No No  Philippines 2004 Marriage (explicit limitation of marriage to heterosexual cisgender couples) Failed Failed  No No  Australia August 2004 Marriage  38 6 ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Yes Yes   New Zealand May 2005 Marriage  47 73  No No   Canada December 2006 Marriage  123 175  No No  China May 2007 Adoption of Chinese children by LGBT couples and single people in foreign countries   ''Signed''  Yes Yes   Greece July 2008 Civil Union   ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Yes Yes   Philippines December 2009 Marriage (criminalization) Failed   No No  Lesotho 2011 Adoption   ''Passed'' ''Signed''  Yes Yes   Russia September 2012 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Russia June 2013 Adoption of Russian children by LGBT couples and single people in foreign countries that recognise same-sex unions ''Passed'' 400 4 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Nigeria January 2014 All types of same-sex unions and adoption(criminalization)  109 0 ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Malawi April 2015 Marriage (criminalization) 193 0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Nicaragua April 2015 Marriage, free unions and adoption  ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Panama October 2015 Marriage (recognition of foreign unions)  ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Haiti August 2017 Marriage (criminalization) 14 1 ''Failed''  No No  Estonia August 2017 Civil Union  19 47  No No  Bolivia June 2018 Marriage and free union  ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Honduras August 2018 Adoption  ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Nepal August 2018 Marriage  ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   China January 2021 Marriage  2879 2 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Panama March 2021 Adoption  ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Guatemala March 2022 Marriage (criminalization) 152 8  No No   Latvia April 2023 Adoption  ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Uganda June 2023 All types of same-sex unions and adoption (criminalization) 384 1 ''Signed''Yes Yes  Hungary July 2023 Adoption (report same-sex couples which raise children to the state authorities) ''Passed'' ''Vetoed''  No No   Russia July 2023 Marriage, adoption and foster care for trans people. ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed''Yes Yes  Namibia Unknown Marriage (criminalization) and recognition of foreign unions ''Passed'' ''Passed''  ''Failed'' No No  Kenya Unknown Same sex unions (criminalization)  ''Pending'' '''Notes:'''===Constitutional efforts===Thirty-two countries have passed constitutional amendments banning a variety of same-sex unions. These amendments have taken several forms. Some are limited to banning only marriage. Others ban marriage and prohibit legislation providing "similar rights".====National level====Cuba was the first country to prohibit same-sex marriage in February 1976.Paraguay, Honduras and Bolivia are the only cases that not only marriage is prohibited but also de facto unions. Vietnam, Cuba, and Ecuador repealed their same-sex marriage bans in November 2013, April 2019, and June 2019, respectively.As of , thirty-three countries prohibit same-sex marriage on a national level. Those are Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Honduras, Hungary, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Country Date Ban on Upper house Lower house Head of state Finaloutcome Yes  No  Yes No   Cuba February 1976 Marriage ''General referendum (97.7%)'' Yes Yes   Burkina Faso June 1991 Marriage ''General referendum (92.83%)'' Yes Yes   Bulgaria July 1991 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Vietnam April 1992 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Paraguay June 1992 Marriage and de facto union ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Lithuania October 1992 Marriage ''General referendum (78.24)'' Yes Yes  Cambodia September 1993 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Belarus March 1994 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Moldova July 1994 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Ukraine June 1996 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Poland 	 May 1997 Marriage ''General referendum (52.71%)'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Venezuela December 1999 Marriage and de facto union ''General referendum (71.78%)'' Yes Yes  Rwanda May 2003 Marriage ''General referendum (93.42%)''  Yes Yes  United States July 2004 Marriage 48 50 227  186 — No No  Burundi February 2005 Marriage ''General referendum (92.02%)'' Yes Yes   Honduras March 2005 Marriage and de facto union 128  0 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Uganda September 2005 Marriage 111 17 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Latvia December 2005 Marriage 65  5 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   DR Congo December 2005 Marriage ''General referendum (84.31%)'' Yes Yes   United States July 2006 Marriage 49 48 236  187 — No No  Serbia October 2006 Marriage ''General referendum (53.04%)'' Yes Yes   Montenegro October 2007  Marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Ecuador September 2008 Marriage ''General referendum (69.46%)'' Yes Yes  Palau November 2008 Marriage ''Specific referendum (83.56%)'' Yes Yes   Bolivia January 2009 Marriage and free union ''General referendum (61.43%)'' Yes Yes   El Salvador October 2009 Marriage 46 38 — No No  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines November 2009 Marriage ''General referendum (43.71%)'' No No   Dominican Republic January 2010 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Kenya August 2010 Marriage ''General referendum (68.55%)'' Yes Yes   Zambia March 2011 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No   Jamaica April 2011 Marriage and any other similar relationship ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Hungary April 2011 Marriage 262 44 ''Signed'' Yes Yes   South Sudan July 2011 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Liberia June 2012 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Failed''  — No No   Zimbabwe March 2013 Marriage ''General referendum (94.49%)'' Yes Yes   Macedonia September 2013 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No   Croatia December 2013 Marriage ''Specific referendum (65.87%)'' Yes Yes   El Salvador February 2014 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Slovakia June 2014 Marriage  102 18 Yes Yes    Macedonia January 2015 Marriage ''Failed'' — No No  Slovakia February 2015 Marriage ''Specific referendum (94.50%)'' No No  Armenia December 2015 Marriage ''General referendum (63.37%)'' Yes Yes   Switzerland February 2016 Marriage ''Specific referendum (49.16%)'' No No   Central African Republic March 2016 Marriage ''General referendum (93.00%)'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes   Kyrgyzstan December 2016 Marriage ''General referendum (79.59%)'' Yes Yes  Georgia October 2017 Marriage 117 2 ''Vetoed'' Yes Yes   Czech Republic June 2018 Marriage ''Failed'' No No  Romania October 2018 Marriage 107 13 232 22 No No ''Specific referendum (93.40%)''  Panama October 2019 Marriage ''Withdrawn'' No No  Russia July 2020 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  ''General referendum (77.92%) ''  Estonia January 2021 Marriage 29 49 — No No HondurasJanuary 2021Marriage and de facto union (more explicit ban) 90 38 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  BelarusFebruary 2022Marriage (explicit ban)''General referendum (65.2%)''Yes Yes  Singapore November 2022  Marriage (Parliament may define marriage)  83 2 ''Signed'' Yes Yes  MaliJune 2023Marriage (explicit ban)''General referendum (97%)''Yes Yes   Tuvalu November 2023 Marriage  ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes '''Notes:'''====Sub-national level====The first jurisdiction to explicitly ban same-sex marriage in its Constitution was the U.S. state of Alaska in November 1998, however, same-sex marriage was legalised in the state in October 2014.The first jurisdiction to enact such a ban was Yucatán, in July 2009, but since August 2010 the state recognizes same-sex marriages performed in Mexico and in August 2021 local congress removed the heterosexual definition of marriage from the state's constitution. State/Territory Country Date Ban on Upper House Lower house Head ofstate Finaloutcome Yes  No  Yes No  Morelos  Mexico November 1930 Marriage ''Passed'' Yes Yes  Yucatán  Mexico July 2009 Marriage ''Passed'' Yes Yes  Baja California link=Mexico Mexico May 2011 Marriage ''Passed'' ''Signed'' Yes Yes  Colima link=Mexico Mexico July 2013 Marriage 17 2 Yes Yes  Zurich  Switzerland November 2016 Marriage 52 110 No No ''Specific referendum (19.09%)''  Veracruz link=Mexico Mexico July 2018 Marriage 32 10 No No'''Notes:'''
See also * LGBT rights by country or territory* Same-sex union court cases
Notes
References