Minnesota Methodists resolve to allow officiating of same-sex unions, LGBT ordination
Members of Minnesota’s United Methodist Church voted to commit to full inclusion of LGBT people.
Same-sex marriage
This archive tracks legal victories, policy shifts, and cultural milestones in the global expansion of same-sex marriage rights. From landmark court rulings to new legislation across continents, these 61 articles document how recognition of marriage equality has grown — and what that progress means for families and communities.
Ecuador legalizes same-sex marriage
The highest court in Ecuador has ruled in favor of the legalization of same-sex unions, in a major victory for the LGBTQ community.
Taiwan legalizes same-sex marriage in historic first for Asia
Lawmakers in Taiwan have approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, making it the first place in Asia to pass gay marriage legislation.
In major shift, Mormon Church reverses anti-LGBT policies
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is reversing its controversial 2015 policy that classified people in same-sex marriages as “apostates.” Children of parents who identify as LGBT may now also be blessed as infants and baptized.
Parliament in Germany approves same-sex marriage
Lawmakers in Germany voted on Friday to allow same-sex marriage after a brisk but emotional debate in Parliament, setting the stage for the country to join more than a dozen European nations including Ireland, France and Spain in legalizing such unions.
Teen suicide attempts have declined since legalization of same-sex marriage
Teen suicide attempts in the U.S. declined after same-sex marriage became legal and the biggest impact was among gay, lesbian and bisexual kids, a study found.
Ireland becomes first country to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote
Ireland legalized same-sex marriage by popular vote on May 22, 2015, becoming the first country to enshrine it through a national referendum. More than 1.2 million voters said yes, with only one of the country’s constituencies returning a No majority. In a nation where divorce had been illegal two decades earlier, citizens rewrote their own constitution.
Massachusetts becomes first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that it was unconstitutional under the Massachusetts Constitution to allow only opposite-sex couples to marry.
Belgium becomes second country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Belgium since 1 June 2003, making it the second country in the world to open marriage to same-sex couples, after the Netherlands, and 9 days ahead of the Canadian province of Ontario. Legislation to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples was passed by both chambers of the Federal Parliament in November 2002 and January 2003 with the support of most political parties, and received royal assent on 13 February 2003.
The Netherlands became the world’s first country to legalize same-sex marriage
No country recognized marriage between two people of the same sex prior to the 21st century, but a law to legalize marriage equality passed the Dutch legislature in 2000 and went into effect several months later.