Map: Countries that recognize same-sex marriage
By Meg Martin, Public Insight Network
Minnesota this month became the 12th state in America to legalize same-sex marriage. In the U.S., it's up to each individual state to decide the issue on its own. But other countries have adopted nationwide laws allowing same-sex marriage. We've compiled a map which illustrates the status of same-sex marriage around the world.
As in the United States, in Brazil and Mexico issues of marriage are governed on a state-by-state basis. They are shown in orange on the map below.
Fourteen countries, shown in green on the map, have established laws at the federal level allowing citizens to marry regardless of gender since the Netherlands was first to do so in 2001. Many have related laws allowing for civil unions, registered partnerships and other such classifications.
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A handful of other nations, shown in gold on the map, have changes to marriage laws pending, whether through constitutional, judicial or legislative action.
Click on an individual country for more information about how it has acted on the issue of same-sex marriage.
MAP KEY:
GREEN: Marriage, regardless of gender, is governed at the federal level
ORANGE: Issues of marriage are decided on a state-by-state basis.
GOLD: Same-sex marriage is pending, either through legislation, in the courts or in the constitution.