Which countries permit same sex marriage? How does Australia stack up?

Which countries permit same sex marriage? How does Australia stack up?

It is embarrassing that, with news that Mexico will likely allow same sex marriage everywhere , that same sex marriage is still not permitted in Australia, and that rather than politicians just doing their job and passing laws to enable same sex marriage, we are likely (if the Turnbull government is re-elected) to have to go through the pain of a $160 million+ plebiscite, at the other end of which after more horrible things are said about LGBTI people (especially after the traumatic events of Orlando), psome conservative politicians will continue to oppose the recognition of equal rights.

So where else is same sex marriage permitted?

I thought it would be good to do a recap- and see which countries we are behind:

Australia prides itself as being a model Western nation- progressive, modern and democratic. A good guide for this is our membership of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, the OECD. How do we stack up against other OECD members? Well, it’s evenly stacked: 17 all  now allow same sex marriage or are soon to do so.

 

Country
Yes
Year
No
Australia
Austria
Belgium
2003
Canada
2005
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
2012
Estonia
Finland
2017
France
2013
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
2010
Ireland
2015
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
2015
Mexico
– part, soon to be all
Netherlands
2001
New Zealand
2013
Norway
2009
Poland
Portugal
2010
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
2005
Sweden
2009
Switzerland
Turkey
UK
– except N. Ireland
2014
USA
2015
 17
 17

 

Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Forced Marriage

On November 1st 2023, Accredited Family Law Specialist and Page Provan Director Stephen Page presented a paper at the Brisbane Zonta Club about forced marriage. I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, on whose lands we meet today, their elders, past, present and emerging. Ruqia Hidari was aged 21 and living in Victoria, when, according to police,… Read More »Forced Marriage

ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

The ACT Government has today introduced a bill to amend the ACT’s surrogacy laws. The proposed changes are more incremental than fundamental. They include allowing a single person to undertake surrogacy, for the surrogate to be single if needed, a requirement for legal advice and counselling beforehand, a written agreement being required, that traditional surrogacy is… Read More »ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

ADR can help resolve disputes in ART cases. ADR is not limited to mediation and arbitration. Other types of informal dispute resolution can resolve disputes. When assisted reproductive treatment cases go off the rails, they can have the next level of bitterness and volatility. There can be a keen sense of betrayal when things don’t… Read More »Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board