Same-sex marriage has come a long way since the Netherlands became the first country to legalize it in 2001. Today, 33 United Nations member states have legalized same-sex marriage, while 34 U.N. states have some other form of civil partnership for same-sex couples. In recent years, several countries have joined the list of nations legalizing same-sex marriage, including Andorra, Mexico, Cuba, and Slovenia. Andorra, in fact, just legalized same-sex marriage in 2023.
However, progress is not universal. In many African countries, having same-sex sexual relations is a crime that can lead to imprisonment or the death penalty. Only South Africa allows same-sex marriage on the continent. Gay marriage also remains hotly contested by many religious groups. In 2022, conservatives in the United Methodist Church formed a breakaway over the issue. The Anglican Church in 2023 said it would uphold a bar on gay marriage but indicated it would not penalize churches that have ignored the ruling.
Despite these challenges, a 2021 survey of 27 countries found that 54% of respondents supported the right of LGBTQ+ people to marry. The poll found a majority backed gay marriage in 16 countries, while only Russia and Malaysia had a majority in opposition. The fight for global marriage equality continues, but the progress made in recent years gives hope for a future where same-sex couples can marry and receive the same legal recognition as their heterosexual counterparts.