It 's not just the United States grappling with the issue of same-sex marriage . Many countries around the world are re-examining their laws , and some appear to be on the brink of changing them . Senators in Uruguay approved a marriage equality bill Tuesday that puts them on course to be the 12th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage . And this week , senators in France will begin weighing a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children . The bill , which has the support of President Francois Hollande , has cleared the lower house of Parliament . It `` would be a major advance for our country in terms of equality of rights , '' said the French gay , lesbian and transgender rights group Inter-LGBT . `` The law must allow all couples to unite themselves as they wish and must protect all families , without discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity . '' But like the United States , France is far from united on the issue . In January , hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Paris to protest same-sex marriage . Most of France is Catholic , and the Roman Catholic Church strongly opposes the bill , along with social conservatives and other religious groups . `` I do not personally agree with gay marriage , as I am a Christian and believe what the Bible says about marriage being between one woman and one man for a lifetime , '' said CNN iReporter Oluwasegun Olowu-Davies , who shot video of the Paris march on his phone . `` If your lifestyle does n't allow you to conceive , there is a reason . '' Across the English Channel , the United Kingdom is also considering legalization . In February , lawmakers in the House of Commons approved the second reading of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales . ( Scotland has its own legalization bill in the works , while Northern Ireland rejected a similar measure in October . ) More debate and more votes are still necessary before the bill can become law , but the wide margin of February 's vote -- 400-175 -- suggests that it may have the support it needs to eventually pass . Prime Minister David Cameron is also in favor of the bill , despite opposition within his own party . `` I am a great supporter of marriage , '' Cameron said in the House of Commons . `` I want to promote marriage , defend marriage , encourage marriage . `` The great thing about ( February 's ) vote is that two gay people who love each other will now be able to get married , and I think that is an important advance . I think we should be promoting marriage rather than looking at any other way of weakening it . '' A former British colony , New Zealand , could legalize same-sex marriage this month . After a marriage equality bill passed two readings in Parliament -- the latest in March by a 77-44 margin -- the third and final vote is widely expected to be a formality . The public , however , might be more split than its lawmakers . According to a survey conducted last month by the country 's largest newspaper , the New Zealand Herald , opposition to same-sex marriage has increased to 48 % . That sentiment is more in line with nearby Australia , where lawmakers overwhelmingly voted against a legalization bill in September . In Uruguay , the bill approved Tuesday by a 23-8 margin now goes back to lawmakers in the lower house of parliament . That house approved a different version of the bill in December . In 2009 , Uruguay became the first Latin American country to allow same-sex couples to adopt children . It was also one of the first Latin American countries to allow civil unions . Same-sex marriage is backed by President Jose Mujica and , according to one poll , the majority of the public . But Argentina is the only country in Latin America that has legalized same-sex marriage , doing so in 2010 . Brazil and Mexico , like the United States , have same-sex marriages only in certain states . Of the 11 countries where same-sex marriage is legal , eight are in Europe . The Netherlands was the first , in 2001 , and it was later joined by Belgium , Spain , Norway , Sweden , Iceland , Portugal and Denmark . Argentina , Canada and South Africa are the three non-European countries in the group . There are no Asian countries where same-sex marriage is legal , but perhaps that might soon change . Last year , a same-sex Buddhist couple married in Taiwan , where a legalization bill has been pending since 2003 . Taipei is also home to Asia 's largest annual gay pride parade , according to organizers . The Supreme Court of Nepal ruled in favor of legalization in 2008 , but those rights have n't been put into effect because the country 's new constitution has been stuck in limbo for years . In July , the Justice Ministry in Vietnam said it would consider a provision for same-sex marriage rights in an amendment to the country 's marriage laws . `` It 's time for us to look at the reality , '' Minister Ha Hung Cuong said in an online debate at the time . `` The number of homosexuals has mounted to hundreds of thousands . It 's not a small figure . ... They may own property . We , of course , have to handle these issues legally . ''
The Netherlands was first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001 . Several countries have pending legislation and may join that group soon . Uruguay and Vietnam are among the leading candidates .