Where in the world are same-sex marriages recognized?

[RichV]

Read in another thread that they are in some parts of Western Europe and elsewhere. Is that right? I admit ignorance on this topic. Where all are they recognized? What countries, etc?

Thanks for any information. I'm just curious. Wasn't aware.

[terrya]

1. Denmark is one.

Terry

[Touchdown]

2. The Netherlands is one that calls it "Marriage"

Most other European countries like Germany, Sweeden, Denmark, Norway, France, and a few others have codified relationships of various names. I'm not sure, but I think New Zealand has some sort of gay relationship protection as well.

[lastknowngood]

3. Canada I think just this year.

n/t

[foreigncorrespondent]

4. Canada last year. (n/t)

[foreigncorrespondent]

5. Currently...

...there are two countries allowing gay marriage; Canada, and the Netherlands. They opened up their civil*** marriage laws to gay and lesbian couples.

People say Denmark has it, but actually they are wrong. In 1989 Denmark was a world leader with its introduction of a register for couples to register their relationships to receive many righs the heterosexual community have.

Many countries have followed in Denmarks footsteps. Includng Australia and New Zealand, who actually have anti discrimination laws protecting the queer communities.

***I say civil marriages because that is exactly what the countries did. Rather than get into a messy religious debate with the churches in those countries, they opened up state sanctioned marriages to the queer communities, and left church sanctioned marriages alone. If churches want to marry queer couples, then that is fine, they can, but if not, they don't have to. And in the U.S. it is civil marriages that the queer community is asking for.