Same-Sex Marriage Laws Around The Globe (PHOTOS): Nations That Have Approved Gay Marriage

Argentina's same-sex marriage vote Thursday made it the first country in Latin America to give gays and lesbians the full legal rights, responsibilities and protections that marriage brings to heterosexual couples.

Despite an overwhelming Catholic population, Argentine opinion polls consistently showed that citizens supported gay marriage. Though the approval in Argentina's senate was not staggering -- lawmakers voted 33-27 for the proposal, with abstentions -- it is expected to become law within days.

Argentina now joins the ranks of a small number of mostly European nations with similar laws that include many more rights than civil unions, including adopting children and inheriting wealth. Known for its progressive attitude, the Netherlands became the first nation to recognize same-sex marriages in 2001. Earlier this year, Iceland followed suit.

See which nations grant same-sex marriages here:

1 of 9

The Netherlands

1 of 10

First Slide

Previous Slide

@

Year approved: 2001

Venezuela Opposition Protests Maduro Victory

Bolivia's Skull-Revering Cult

Fukushima Nuclear Plant

Pussy Riot Member Freed

The 10 Richest Men (and Woman) In The World, From Hurun Report

Notre Dame Cathedral 850th Anniversary

Year approved: 2001

comments(147)

Total comments: 147 | Post a Comment

1 of 10

Most Progressive Nation

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

Moderate Very liberal

• 
  1
• 
  2
• 
  3
• 
  4
• 
  5
• 
  6
• 
  7
• 
  8
• 
  9
• 
  10

Most Progressive Countries

loading...

Most Progressive Countries

UserName

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Top User Slides

← Prev|Next →

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Users who voted on this slide

← Prev|Next →

loading...

Comments

[Brian Gorrell]

01:51 AM on 07/29/2010

I live in Canada and I'm a happily married gay man.
I could not imagine not being able to marry my husband.
I feel whole.

[hoppingestfrog]

09:42 PM on 07/28/2010

Here is my idea for gay marriage. Let me know what you think... Obama comes on the tv and states that the fed should not mess is marriage, it should be a religious choice. Already, how can a con argue with that? Then push to make it law, pulling away any federal or government involvement with marriage except for recognition of a couple married by a church. Again, it would be hard for a conservative to argue this point. Then, let the institutions marry whoever they want. Sure, a lot of backward churches would not marry homosexuals. But a lot will. Some methodists, and what not, make sure the Humanists can do this as well. Then the argument isn't about anything but religious rights and anyone who loves someone can get married, as they should be able to. Your thoughts?

[omobob]

01:40 AM on 07/29/2010

You have totally misread the argument. Its not about religious recognition but protection by the Feds to step in with a supreme court ruling making same sex marriages the same as heterosexual in the eyes of the Constitution.

[hoppingestfrog]

03:50 PM on 07/29/2010

I'm not saying I disagree that it should be the same, but I highly doubt it's going to happen the way a lot of people want it to in this country. What I am stating is that it may take other methods to start chipping away at this.

[75thRanger]

03:57 PM on 07/28/2010

Can't help who you fall in love with.........so you can't help who you want to marry.

“Sua Sponte”

1917, 1928, 1952, 1990

[Waffen]

08:00 AM on 07/25/2010

The downfall of the west

[Brian Gorrell]

01:51 AM on 07/29/2010

Downfall of America.
Canada is just fine.

[Marc NL]

01:05 PM on 07/29/2010

Explain please.

[JeremiahA]

12:24 PM on 07/24/2010

Argentina has joined the ranks of countries, states, and cities declining representative government to its people. In Washington, D.C., an appeals court has denied D.C. citizens the right to vote, stated in the city charter, on the issue of marriage. Abraham Lincoln is rolling in his grave. However, in the spirit of Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I suspect there will be a rise in cases of civil disobedience if people are not allowed to vote their conscience. As Thomas Jefferson said, "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty."

[superpeople]

01:14 PM on 07/26/2010

Voting on civil rights issues is ridiculous. What exactly is the argument against it again? Religious reasons? Keep your church out of my life I will keep my sex life out of yours.

[JeremiahA]

12:09 PM on 07/27/2010

"Voting on civil rights issues is ridiculous."

So if a vote were held today concerning same sex marriage, you would refuse to vote?

And I'll let the non-religious reasons speak for themselves...but while we are on the topic of religion.

You are aware that there are churches on both sides of the issue of same sex marriage. In other words, some churches actually support it. So if there is a strict separation of church and state, then we cannot put the pro-same sex marriage into law, either. Also, many religions teach that murder, rape, and child abuse are wrong but no one, that I am aware of, claims that the government cannot pass such laws due to a violation of "church and state."

The state should not be running the churches and the churches should not be running the state. However, the separation of church and state "objection" fails because it does not distinguish between religion and morality.

Sorry. I can be long-winded. And I appreciate that you were willing to comment.

[arlandbaee]

10:43 PM on 07/18/2010

sometimes I think that people are starting to do the exact opposite of what we do.

[AirViceMarshalPark]

04:11 PM on 07/18/2010

If all of the disasters forecast by the anti gay marriage crowd don't come to pass (human-horse marriages, destruction of the family, etc.) in these countries, how can the opponents of gay marriage continue to adhere to them?

[Ioan Lightoller]

05:02 AM on 07/19/2010

Ignorance and bigotry need no reason to cling to their beliefs, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

[Marc NL]

02:41 PM on 07/17/2010

Being from the Netherlands I have a hard time understanding why it takes countries that are so proud of there freedom so long to adept basic human rights.

I've been living in the U.S (the south) now for 10 years and I am still amazed by how much religion is against so many things I consider normal.

[mollymac]

08:40 PM on 07/17/2010

faved!

[MsVella]

07:50 AM on 07/19/2010

Cos american isn't the land of freedom many think it is.

[Pandaforum]

05:03 AM on 07/17/2010

Just think gays could have th best revenge by moving to these countries and taking them past everyone else.

[Waffen]

08:01 AM on 07/25/2010

please move to these countries and "advance" them past everyone else.

[Hardyman1966]

04:08 PM on 07/28/2010

You first. It's easier to throw away an empty carton.

[Luke Friesen]

02:18 AM on 07/17/2010

argentina, slovenia, nepal and finland are probably the next countries to join the 21st century, funny how the USA isn't even on the radar. Possibly Colombia and Germany could be there soon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_legislation_around_the_world#National_level

[Luke Friesen]

08:22 AM on 07/18/2010

oops remove argentina and add luxembourg

[Y2KCockroach]

11:29 PM on 07/16/2010

I believe that my God supports gay marriages.

[Jdaddy1951]

11:07 PM on 07/16/2010

I just love seeing a new country's name added to the list of nations who have approve equal marriage rights for all its citizens, regardless of sexual orientation. I wonder if this is kind of like how the Founders of America felt when each of the original 13 colonies started approving the Constitution and joining the Union? As each new state approves gay marriage, it's like American is truly being reborn again in a healthy manner.

[Ioan Lightoller]

05:09 AM on 07/19/2010

Yes, it's a beautiful thing, isn't it? I know I have felt a burst of happiness every time another country, another state joins the list of those in the 21st Century.

Oh, and Y2KCockroach, my Goddess and God support gay marriage, too.

[jasev01]

06:10 PM on 07/16/2010

gay marriage= most progressive now?

[MsVella]

07:51 AM on 07/19/2010

Yes, human rights are an indication of how progressive a country is.

[Hardyman1966]

04:09 PM on 07/28/2010

Yes, considering it's the last boogeyman that is acceptable to rally against daily.

[CanadianinCleveland]

03:40 PM on 07/16/2010

Here's to Argentina, and to Cristina Fernandez and her government who had the guts to stand up against the Catholic Church and other Christian organizations and do the right thing for its gay and lesbian citizens...
I know how proud I felt when Canada stepped up to the plate...
Too bad about the U.S., though....... bogged down in pandering to the religious right , allowing the Catholic and Mormons to sabotage state decisions allowing same sex marriage.....too held under by the Republican Party who are determined to put the U.S. in the back of the class when it comes to progressive thinking....and a current government with no guts to ensure federally that at least 20 to 25 million of its citizens have equal rights...
Shame!

[mollymac]

08:41 PM on 07/17/2010

Pitiful isn't it?

[Ioan Lightoller]

05:10 AM on 07/19/2010

Sadly, where marriage equality is concerned, the US will probably have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. Shame, indeed.

[skye eg]

08:23 PM on 07/24/2010

America is being dragged -kicking and screaming- into the 21st century on a LOT of things (such as environment, urban planning, economics, and health care), not just equal marriage.

[KenClay]

11:53 AM on 07/16/2010

How Does Gay Marriage Destroy your Heterosexual Marriage? Unless you have your own issues with your sexuality!?

[williamklepacki]

01:22 PM on 07/16/2010

My only wish is to live to see the day my Son and his partner have the right to marry. What a tragedy in this day and age. I don't understand why this 'land of the free' has such a problem with this. When did two people in love and totally committed to each other become wrong?

[williamklepacki]

01:31 PM on 07/16/2010

My only wish is to live to see the day my Son and his partner have the right to marry. What a tragedy in this day and age. I don't understand why this 'land of the free' has such a problem with this.When did two people in love and totally committed to each other become wrong?