Same-Sex Marriage Internationally

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September 17, 2003: Canadian Members of Parliament defeat an Opposition motion reaffirming the heterosexual definition of marriage by a vote of 137-132.

March 19, 2004:The Quebec Court of Appeal, the province's high court, holds that same-sex couples have the right to marry.

March 31, 2004: A new bill unveiled by Britain and expected to be passed by year's end gives legal recognition for the first time to same-sex couples who register their partnerships.

May 27, 2004: Australian Prime Minister John Howard pushes forward legislation today that would ban same sex marriage in Australia and would stop gay couples from adopting foreign children.

June 5, 2004: In the southwestern French town of Begles, two men are wed by the town's mayor in the first same-sex marriage in France.

June 15, 2004: French Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin suspends Noel Mamere, the mayor of Begles, from his job for one month for conducting a gay marriage without proper authority.

July 27, 2004: A French court declared the country's first same-sex marriage "null and void."

August 13, 2004: The Australian Senate votes in favor of a bill banning same-sex marriage, with supporters saying the bill was in line with the common law definition of marriage.

September 13, 2004: The Washington Post includes a piece on Pope John Paul II, weighing in on gay marriage, telling bishops that efforts to equate marriage between man and woman to other forms of cohabitation violated "God's plan for humanity."

Also, Ontario Superior Court Justice Ruth Mesbur strikes down as contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms a section of the Canadian federal Divorce Act that had defined spouse as "either a man or woman who are married to each other," allowing a same-sex lesbian couple married under provincial law to divorce.

September 16, 2004: Manitoba becomes the fourth province in Canada to legalize same-sex marriage, following Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.

September 24, 2004: The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia rules that same-sex marriages are legal, making it the sixth province to do so.

October 1, 2004: The Spanish government approves a draft law to legalize same-sex marriage.

October 30, 2004: The upper house of the German Parliament passes legislation that greatly expands the rights of same-sex couples.

November 5, 2004: A Saskatchewan judge rules that a Canadian federal law on marriage is unconstitutional, making it the seventh jurisdiction in the country to approve same-sex marriages.

November 9, 2004: An Irish judge rules that a lesbian couple who were married in Canada can seek state recognition of their marriage.

November 15, 2004: Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern says that Ireland should give greater rights to same-sex couples.

November 20, 2004: Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell says that Ireland should pursue civil partnerships for unwed couples, both heterosexual and homosexual, but should not institute a full process for 'gay marriage.'

December 5, 2005: Registration for same-sex couples to apply for a civil partnership ceremony under the UK Civil Partnership Act 2004 begins.

December 9, 2004: The Supreme Court of Canada approves a proposed federal law that would make same-sex marriage legal across Canada.

December 10, 2004: The New Zealand Parliament approves legislation recognizing same-sex civil unions, giving same-sex couples the same rights, entitlements, and obligations as married couples.

January 19, 2005: Two Russian men unsuccessfully try to register for a marriage certificate in Moscow in an effort to provide legal grounds to challenge the Russian family code.

February 1, 2005: Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler introduces what he terms "landmark legislation" to legalize same-sex marriage in Canadian federal law.

February 10, 2005: Some Canadian MPs report that they have been lobbied by US citizens and advocacy groups over pending federal legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage.

February 15, 2005: The Russian Supreme Court rejects a petition for the legalization of same-sex marriage, holding that it cannot alter the Russian Family Code to allow for same-sex marriages.

February 21, 2005: The British government announces that same-sex partners will be able to enter into civil unions starting in December.

April 22, 2005: The lower house of the Spanish Parliament approves a bill to legalize same-sex marriages.

May 5, 2005: The Canadian House of Commons votes to give a second reading to Bill C-38, a measure to implement the Civil Marriage Act and extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.

June 6, 2006: Pope Benedict XVI speaks out against same-sex marriage while addressing a group at Rome's St. John's Cathedral.

June 19, 2005: Hundreds of thousands of protesters converge on Madrid to protest proposed legislation that would recognize same sex marriage.

June 28, 2005: Canada's House of Commons passes a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage across Canada.

June 30, 2005: Despite being voted down in the Senate, the Spanish parliament passes a law legalizing same-sex marriage and allowing same-sex couples to adopt and inherit each other's property.

Also, the Spanish Catholic Bishops Conference call for citizens to publicly oppose the law "through all legitimate means".

July 20, 2005: In the absence of the Canadian Governor General, Canadian Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin signs Bill C-38 into law, making Canada the fourth nation in the world to legalize gay marriage.

August 24, 2005: Aruba's Superior Court rules that a lesbian couple legally married in the Netherlands has the right to register their marriage in the autonomous Caribbean republic that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands even though same-sex marriage is not authorized under Aruba's civil code.

September 30, 2005: Spain's conservative Popular Party files a constitutional challenge against a law passed earlier in the year which legalizes gay marriage.

November 1, 2005: A same-sex couple petitions the Israeli High Court of Justice to force the country's Population Registry to recognize their same-sex marriage, performed legally in Toronto, Canada.

December 1, 2005: The South African Constitutional Court rules that it is unconstitutional to prohibit gay couples from marrying, giving parliament one year to amend the 1961 Marriage Act to allow same-sex marriage.

December 15, 2005: The unicameral Latvian parliament overwhelmingly passes a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, effectively blocking the recognition of same-sex marriage.

December 22, 2005: Nearly 700 same-sex couples in Britain take part in civil partnership ceremonies on the first day of eligibility under Britain's Civil Partnership Act.

January 19, 2006: Nigeria's government announces plans to ban same-sex marriage and any protests urging same-sex unions.

April 7, 2006: Canadian Conservative Party Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that he intends to hold a free vote in the Canadian Parliament about whether to revive debate on a federal law permitting same-sex marriages that was passed by the Liberal Party government of former Prime Minister Paul Martin.

May 11, 2006: Pope Benedict explicitly condemns same-sex marriage or any legal recognition of same-sex couples as Italy's new center-left government prepares to take office in the coming week.

May 12, 2006: A new report by the Irish Human Rights Commission is released that finds that Ireland may be in breach of international human rights laws because the country does not currently recognize same-sex marriages.

May 31, 2006: Costa Rica's Supreme Court upholds a law forbidding same-sex marriage, rejecting arguments that the law is unconstitutional.

June 6, 2006: A British lesbian couple married in British Columbia, Canada, argue in the High Court in London that their same-sex marriage should be recognized in British law, challenging the Civil Partnership Act 2004 which only accords same-sex couples who legally marry overseas the recognition of a civil union.

June 7, 2006: Australian Prime Minister John Howard and his Cabinet announce that the federal government will set aside legislation allowing same-sex civil unions in the Australian Capital Territory, the federal district that includes Canberra.

July 31, 2006: The UK High Court denies a bid by a British lesbian couple married in Canada to have their marriage recognized by British law.

August 24, 2006: South Africa's cabinet sends a civil unions bill to the parliament that would place same-sex partnerships on equal footing with traditional marriages.

September 17, 2006: Thousands of protesters take to the streets across South Africa demonstrating against same-sex marriage as South Africa's parliament prepares to hold hearings on a bill that would place same-sex partnerships on equal footing with traditional marriage.

November 14, 2006: The South African National Assembly passes the Civil Unions Bill.

November 21, 2006: The Supreme Court of Israel rules that same-sex marriages ordained abroad must be recognized by the state.

November 30, 2006: South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka approves the country's Civil Unions Bill, becoming the first African nation to recognize same-sex unions.

December 7, 2006: Canada's House of Commons votes against reopening debate on same-sex marriage, effectively upholding Canada's 2005 law allowing equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.

December 8, 2006: Italian Senate officials say that lawmakers are planning to draft legislation that would give some legal recognition to same-sex unions.

December 12, 2006: The government of the Australian Capital Territory introduces revised legislation that would grant legal recognition to same-sex partnerships but would stop short of authorizing same-sex marriage.

December 15, 2006: Ireland's High Court refuses to recognize the same-sex marriage of a lesbian couple married in Canada in 2003.

December 22, 2006: Pope Benedict XVI condemns proposed Italian legislation that would recognize civil unions for unmarried couples, including same-sex couples.

January 10, 2007: Northern Ireland must abide by a gay rights bill that came into effect January 1 after the House of Lords votes to keep the regulations in place.

January 23, 2007: The head of Catholic bishops in Italy denounces a plan by the Italian government to give same-sex couples many of the rights that heterosexual couples enjoy.

January 29, 2007: Italian Justice Minister Clemente Mastella says that he will refuse to vote for a proposed law that would give same-sex couples many of the rights of heterosexual couples.

February 9, 2007: Italy's Cabinet approves a controversial proposal that would give legal rights to unmarried heterosexual and same-sex couples.

Also, the Constitutional Court of Colombia rules that same-sex couples must be accorded the same property rights as other unmarried couples.

February 23, 2007: UN human rights experts say a proposed Nigerian law banning gay marriage and tightening laws criminalizing homosexuality in the country, which authorizes a maximum five-year sentence for any person found to be openly gay, will make persons engaging in same sex relationships more susceptible to arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and ill-treatment.

March 1, 2007: The Supreme Court of Canada rules that the Canadian Parliament’s 2000 decision to deny survivor pension benefits to persons in same-sex relationships was unconstitutional discrimination.

March 13, 2007: The high court of France holds that same-sex marriages are not valid under French law and that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

June 15, 2007: Colombia's Congress approves legislation giving same-sex couples who have cohabited for over two years similar rights as regular common law marriages.

June 20, 2007: The Colombian Senate votes against legislation giving certain same-sex couples rights similar to common law marriage.

September 4, 2007: A Malaysian judge rules that a five-year marriage between two local citizens is void after finding that the husband is actually a woman.

November 1, 2007: Ireland says it will introduce new legislation next year recognizing the rights of both same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples to enter into civil unions. [Features video]

December 18, 2007: The Hungarian parliament votes to recognize civil partnerships between same-sex couples, giving them certain rights in common with married heterosexual couples.

March 15, 2008: The Norwegian government proposes a law that would grant same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples.

March 31, 2008: The Greek Ministry of Justice agrees to establish a working group to analyze the potential impact of recognizing same-sex civil marriages in Greece.

April 1, 2008: The European Court of Justice rules that a person in a same-sex partnership has the right to collect their partner's pension benefits after that partner's death.

April 19, 2008: The Constitutional Court of Colombia holds that same-sex couples should be given the same pension and health benefits as those held by opposite-sex couples.

May 5, 2008: The Australian Capital Territory abandons a proposal to legally recognize same-sex civil union ceremonies.

May 9, 2008: The Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory passes a law that will enable same-sex domestic partners to register their relationships with the government, minus a portion of the legislation which would have legalized same-sex civil union ceremonies.

October 11, 2008: The Portuguese Assembly of the Republic votes overwhelmingly against two proposals to legalize same-sex marriage.

November 19, 2008: The Supreme Court of Nepal directs the government to extend equal rights to gender minorities, including same-sex marriage.

November 20, 2008: The Supreme Court of California agrees to hear challenges to Proposition 8.

November 22, 2008: The parliament of Burundi votes in favor of a law criminalizing homosexuality.

November 25, 2008: The Australian Senate approves legislation allowing same-sex couples to enjoy most of the same rights as heterosexual couples, but not the right to marry.

December 19, 2008: The UN General Assembly splits over the issue of decriminalizing homosexuality with 66 nations signing a statement calling for decriminalization, and nearly 60 nations signing an opposing statement.