Same-sex marriage around the world as Swiss vote in favour

NEW DELHI: Switzerland has became the latest country to allow same-sex couples to wed and adopt children

The Swiss voted overwhelmingly in a referendum on Sunday, making it one of the last countries in Western Europe to legalise gay civil marriage.

An estimated 34 countries recognise some form of civil partnership for same-sex couples.

However in many countries, same-sex sexual relations is a crime punishable by imprisonment or death penalty.

We take a look at how, from being taboo, same sex marriage has gradually gained legal recognition over time, and the first countries in various regions to legalise sane-sex union.


Europe

More than 20 years ago, one lesbian couple and three gay pairs tied the knot in Amsterdam's city hall - making history as the Netherlands became the first country to allow

same-sex marriage

.

In July 2020, Montenegro became the first European country outside of Western Europe and the European Union to legalise same-sex civil partnerships.

Northern Ireland became the last part of the United Kingdom to introduce equal marriage rights in February 2020.

Central America

Costa Rica marked a first in Central America by giving the go-ahead to same-sex marriages in May 2020, when a landmark constitutional court ruling came into effect.

Africa

In Africa, only South Africa allows same-sex marriage, and the law to this effect was passed in 2006.

Asia

Taiwan was the first in Asia to allow gay marriages in 2019.

The complete list

Same-sex marriage is legal in these countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and the United States.

The overall global opinion

Almost a third of adults globally think people of the same sex should be allowed to marry, a survey by global LGBT+ advocacy group ILGA and research firm RIWI of almost 100,000 people in 65 countries found in 2016.

Same-sex marriages are not legally recognised in India nor are same-sex couples offered limited rights such as a civil union or a domestic partnership.

The Vatican's stand

Pope Francis said same-sex couples should be protected by civil union laws in a film released in October 2020, but the Vatican ruled in March that priests are not permitted to bless these unions.

(With inputs from Reuters)