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The Rainbow Wave for Marriage Equality

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The Rainbow Wave for Marriage Equality

Tracking the Progress of Marriage Equality Worldwide

Love wins! The fight for marriage equality has seen incredible progress worldwide, with a recent surge in legalizations. Across the world, 38 out of 195 countries have legalized equal marriage: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay.

In 2024, two new countries legalized same-sex marriage (Liechtenstein and Thailand), and more made progress towards legislation which would decriminalize same-sex unions. These advancements in 2024, on top of the string of legalizations in the last decade chart a hopeful future for same-sex marriage and equal rights for LGBTQ+ people around the world!

The fight for marriage equality isn't over, but the momentum is undeniable. IPPF stands with those working to make love win everywhere.

Thailand

Last year, IPPF welcomed the historic move by Thailand's House of Representatives, passing a marriage equality bill, making the country the first in Southeast Asia to guarantee equal marital rights for same-sex couples.The upper house approved the bill with overwhelming support. Thailand's king signed the bill into law in September 2024, and the law went into effect in January 2025.

Our Member Association, the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT), celebrated this victory:

"This is significant because it legalises what we have been practising and advocating for so long – equal rights, equal treatment, and equal opportunities for all.” said Dr Nanthakan S. Woodham, Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Association Thailand (PPAT). The organization has always been at the forefront of this advocacy, implementing projects to raise awareness about gender equality and providing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to all, with a special focus on the LGBTIQ+ community.

"This legislative success marks a monumental step forward for LGBTIQ+ rights, with Thailand emerging as a regional leader in advancing equality. Bold actions and demonstrations of equality are sending a loud message to other countries in Southeast Asia. IPPF is committed to energising this wave of transformational change, advocating for a world where sexual rights are human rights, free from discrimination and stigma,” said Tomoko Fukuda, IPPF ESEAOR’s Regional Director.

This development makes Thailand as the third country in Asia to embrace marriage equality, following Taiwan's adoption of same-sex marriage laws in 2019 and Nepal's similar legislation in 2023.

Read IPPF press statement here.

 

Photo credits: Canva

Thailand

Liechtenstein

In May 2024, Liechtenstein's parliament voted nearly unanimously to legalize same-sex marriage, becoming the last German-speaking country and the 22nd European country to legalize same-sex marriage.  

Daniel Seger, parliamentary group spokesperson for Lichtenstein's conservative Progressive Citizens' Party said that “We felt the pressure and the expectation that we should be the last German-speaking country to introduce marriage for everyone."

The country legalized registered partnerships for same-sex couples in 2011 which allowed them effectively the same rights as married heterosexual couples. And, in 2023, a ruling by the constitutional court granted LGBTQ+ couples adoption rights. 

 

Photo credits: Canva

Liechtenstein

Andorra

Since 2020, the Andorran Parliament has been debating the legalization of equal marriage. For two years, bill after bill was rejected by the majority of  parliamentarians. In 2022, Andorra finally passed a new law, making marriage accessible to all. This law was finally implemented in 2023.

“Today we vote for a law for all, which includes us all, a law of a modern country that ensures the free development of citizenship and bases its success on the most important nucleus of organization, the family, with all its diversity,” said Carles Enseñat, president of the Democratic Parliamentary Group.

 

Photo credits: Canva

Andorra

The Czech Republic

In May 2024, the Czech Republic passed an amendment to the nation's civil partnership law, granting same-sex couples in registered civil unions rights more similar to those of married heterosexual couples. These changes will grant same-sex couples greater rights in terms of property and inheritance, but does not allow the official status of marriage. Moreover, the law crucially does not allow adoption by same-sex couples unless one partner is the child's biological parent. The original draft of the law aimed to fully legalize same-sex marriage and adoption, and was heavily amended by the Czech Chamber of Deputies.

"It's a sad day for thousands of families with kids who have two mothers or two fathers and for hundreds of thousands of LGBT people... It's a sad day for justice and equality in our country." said the Jsme Fer (We are Fair) group, which campaigns for same-sex marriage in Czechia, according to Reuters.

 

Photo credits: Canva

Czechia

Slovenia

In 2023, Slovenia became the first post-communist country to legalize equal marriage and adoption. This major advancement was made possible by the Constitutional Court’s ruling in 2022 stating that allowing only heterosexual couples to get married was discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional. As a result, the Court suspended the articles and required the parliament to amend the law within six months.

“The Constitutional Court has ordered us to do it, and we will do it with the greatest pleasure,” said Luka Mesec, leader of the eco-socialist Slovenian ‘The Left’ party.

In October 2022, the Parliament amended the family law to legalize equal marriage. 48 deputies voted in favor, 29 against and one abstained.

 

Photo credits: Canva

Slovenia

Estonia

In 2024, Estonia became the first country in the Baltics to legalize equal marriage. The amendment of the 2016 Family Law allows lesbian and gay couples to get married and to adopt children. This was made possible by the growing support for equal marriage among the Estonian population. In 2023, the Estonian Human Rights Centre published the results of a poll conducted by Turu-uuringute AS: 53% of the population supports equal marriage. Support is even stronger among the younger generation: 75% of 20 - 29 year olds support equal marriage. Egert Rünne, Executive director of the Human Rights Centre commented: “This is a clear message to political parties: if they want to attract younger voters, they have to stand up for the human rights of all people in Estonia.”.

In June 2023, the Parliament adopted the amendment of the Family Law making equal marriage legal. “This is a decision that does not take anything away from anyone but gives something important to many. It also shows that our society is caring and respectful towards each other. I am proud of Estonia,“  Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.

 

Photo credits: Canva

Estonia

Japan

March 2024 has been a great month for LGBTQ+ rights in Japan. On 14 March, both Sapporo High Court and Tokyo District Court ruled the governmental ban on equal marriage as unconstitutional. Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher Boram Jang said: “By recognizing that the government’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, these rulings make clear that such discrimination has no place in Japanese society. The Japanese government now needs to be proactive in moving towards the legalisation of same-sex marriage so that couples can fully enjoy the same marriage rights as their heterosexual counterparts.”.

A few days later, on 26 March, for the first time, Japan's top court ruled that same-sex partners of crime victims qualify for government benefits traditionally paid to bereaved family members, marking a landmark decision.

"The recent progress in Japan, where the Supreme Court affirmed the rights of same-sex couples to crime victim benefits, marks a significant milestone. We believe such advancements will inspire further recognition and action across the Asia Pacific, fostering a broader movement for diversity, equality, and inclusion, creating a ripple effect across the region,” said Tomoko Fukuda, IPPF ESEAOR’s Regional Director.

 

Photo credits: Canva

Japan

Nepal

The journey to legalize equal marriage in Nepal began a long time ago. In 2007, the Supreme Court asked the government to form a committee to draft legislation on equal marriage. Eight years later, the committee released its recommendations: “[to] grant legal recognition to same-sex marriage on the basis of the principle of equality.” Unfortunately, the successive governments failed to adopt new legislation reflecting the recommendations. In March 2023, the Supreme Court demanded the recognition of the same-sex marriage of Pokhrel and Volz, which took place in Germany. In November 2023, the municipality of Lamjung recognized the marriage of Maya Gurung, a transgender woman who is still legally registered as male, and Surendra Pandey, a cisgender man. With this recognition, Nepal inches closer to marriage equality.

 

Photo credits: Canva

Nepal

Namibia

In May 2023, the Supreme Court of Namibia ruled that the government must recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the country.

"Today's verdict and outcome clearly indicates that Namibia is moving towards recognising diversity in this country irrespective of people's political or social positioning," LGBTQI+ activist Linda Baumann said to Reuters.

And, in June 2024 Namibia's high court overturned a law which made gay sex illegal, inherited from South Africa when it gained independance in 1990. 

But, this progress also takes place within a context of growing anti-LGBTQI legislation across the region. And, in August 2024, the upper house of parliament passed a new law banning same-sex marriage, with the aim of contradicting the 2023 ruling. 

 

Photo credits: Canva

Namibia

Brazil

In Brazil, same-sex marriage has been legal since 2011, when the Plenary of the Federal Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ+ marriages were equal under the eyes of the law. And, in 2013, the National Council of Justice began to require that Civil Registry Offices across Brazil would perform marriages for same-sex couples. 

Now, activists are trying to codify this ruling into law, and collecting signatures to pressure the Congressional Houses to approve Bill n. 580. This bill, authored by then Congressman Clodovil Hernandes would ensure the equal rights of same-sex marriages. The bill has been in progress since 2007, and has now been taken up by Federal Congresswoman Erika Hilton, and is not expected to reach voting until sometime in 2025, or later, and is sparking controversey among Brazil's Congress. Proposed amendments have been attached to the bill which prohibited same-sex marriage, and faced great protest from members of civil society. 

 

Photo credits: Canva

Brazil

when

country

Brazil, Czech Republic, Japan, Estonia, Namibia, Nepal, Thailand

region

European Network, East and South East Asia and Oceania, South Asia

Subject

LGBTI+

Related Member Association

Eesti Seksuaaltervise Liit / Estonian Sexual Health Association, Family Planning Association of Nepal, Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand

IPPF Advocates for LGBTQI+ Rights

IPPF champions bodily autonomy as a core principle. As part of the intersectional feminist movement, IPPF recognizes that the fight for SRHR is inseparable from addressing other forms of oppression and is a core part of the broader struggle for social justice. IPPF works to ensure freedom, equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people in a society free from violence and discrimination.

IPPF demands LGBTQI+ rights be recognized as fundamental human rights everywhere. IPPF actively fights for the decriminalization of LGBTQI+ identities and dismantles systems that marginalize them. We work to empower LGBTQI+ communities and break down barriers to their full participation in society. We advocate for LGBTQI+ people to have equal rights and access to sexual and reproductive rights.