MARRIAGE

Past Newswire Headlines

RECENT ARTICLES ON MARRIAGE

Czech Parliament Divided About Same-Sex Marriage. The Czech parliament was not able to decide whether the present civil partnership should be broadened to same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

European Rights Court Rules Against Ukraine in Same-Sex Union Case. A same-sex couple who tried unsuccessfully to get married at seven different register offices in Ukraine suffered discrimination, the European Court of Human Rights ruled. Read more here.

 

Japan Gov’t Should Move Quickly to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage. Citing a court ruling banning same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, the Japanese publication Mainichi called it a “harsh and continuous rebuke of Japan’s current lack of recognition for same-sex couples.” Read more here.

 

Thailand’s Move Forward Party Prioritizes Marriage. The Move Forward Party that won a majority in last month’s election is prioritizing a same-sex marriage bill with the support of Thailand’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Pita Limjaroenrat. If he can form a new government. Read more here.

 

Japanese Court Rules Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Is Unconstitutional. The Nagoya District Court in Japan ruled that the nation’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Read more here.

 

Namibian Govt Seeks Legal Advice on Same-Sex Marriage Ruling. The Namibian government is conducting a legal assessment on the recent Supreme Court ruling directing it to recognize same-sex marriages validly concluded abroad before deciding on a course of action. Read more here.

 

South Korea’s First-Ever Same-Sex Marriage Bill Goes to Parliament. Lawmakers in South Korea have proposed the country’s first same-sex marriage bill which seeks to amend the country’s civil code to recognize marriage between people of the same sex. Read more here.

 

Romania Fails to Uphold Rights of Same-Sex Couples, EU Court Rules. Romania has failed to enforce the rights of same-sex couples by refusing to recognize their relationships, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. Read more here.

 

Lithuania and Estonia Move Toward Expanding Marriage Rights of Same-Sex Couples. The legislative bodies of Estonia and Lithuania are considering bills to legalize civil unions and marriage rights for same-sex couples. Read more here.

 

Biden Admin Pushes Same-Sex Marriage as a Binding Human Right. The Biden administration is pressing countries to adopt homosexual marriage as a human right, claiming it is required “to guarantee equal protection under the law for members of same-sex couples.” Read more here.

 

Namibia’s Top Court Recognizes Same-Sex Marriages Formed Elsewhere. Namibia’s Supreme Court ruled that the government must recognize the unions of same-sex couples who married in countries where it was legal for them to do so, even though same-sex marriage remains illegal in Namibia itself. Read more here.

 

India’s Supreme Court Reserves Verdict on Legal Status of Same-Sex Marriage. The Supreme Court of India reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions seeking the right to marriage for members of the LGBT community under the Special Marriage Act. Read more here.

 

Estonia’s ‘Marriage Equality’ Bill Completed and Awaiting Feedback. Estonia’s Ministry of Social Affairs is presenting draft legislation to allow two adult persons to get married irrespective of their gender. Read more here.

 

Nepal Supreme Court Orders Govt to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage. The Supreme Court of Nepal instructed the government to legally recognize same-sex marriage and recommended a five-step plan to allow same-sex couples to get married. Read more here.

 

U.S. Study Shows Living Together Before Marriage Increases Likelihood of Divorce. Couples who lived together before marriage were 48 percent more likely to divorce than couples who moved in together after being engaged or married, according to a new study. Read more here.

 

India Same-Sex Marriage Hearing Enters Day Two. The Indian Supreme Court’s hearing into a number of petitions seeking to legalize same-sex marriage has entered its second day, with the hearings are being “livestreamed in public interest.” Read more here.

 

India Constitution Bench Formed in Same-Sex Marriage Case. The Supreme Court of India announced the formation of a new Constitution Bench to hear a series of petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Read more here.

 

Three Couples Take Lithuania to Court Over Failure to Recognize Same-Sex Partnerships. Three couples are taking the Lithuanian state to court over its failure to legally recognize same-sex partnerships and marriages. Read more here.

 

South Korean Marriages Slide to Record Low. South Korean marriages fell to a new record low last year, a warning sign that the world’s lowest fertility rate may fall even further. Read more here.

 

India’s Top Court Refers Same-Sex Marriage Recognition Case to Five-Judge Bench. India’s Supreme Court announced that a five-judge bench will start hearing final arguments on April 18 over granting legal recognition to same-sex marriages. Read more here.

 

Indian Govt Declares Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage in Supreme Court Case. The Indian government declared its opposition to same-sex marriage in a Supreme Court case that involves the legal challenges of four same-sex couples. Read more here.

 

Ukrainian MP Submits Draft Law on Same-Sex Partnerships. Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun submitted a draft law to Parliament which would grant same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual spouses. Read more here.

 

Japanese PM: Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Not Unconstitutional. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated his position that a ban on same-sex marriage is not unconstitutional and does not constitute discrimination. Read more here.

 

Panama’s Supreme Court Rules Against Same-Sex Marriage. Panama’s Supreme Court has ruled against same-sex marriages, saying the practice is not a human right; therefore, the country does not recognize such unions. Read more here.

 

Iowa Lawmakers Propose Ending Same-Sex Marriage Recognition. Iowa legislators introduced a measure that seeks to end state recognition of same-sex marriages through an amendment to the state constitution. Read more here.

 

More Marriages in Holland, Fewer Registered Partnerships. The number of marriages in the Netherlands increased in 2022 while the number of registered partnerships decreased during the same period. Read more here.

 

Majority of British Women Remain Unmarried by the Age of 34. The once-in-a-decade census revealed that a majority of British women in every age group from 16- to 34-years-old have remained unmarried while the number of people overall getting married has fallen to its lowest level on record, the Office for National Statistics announced. Read more here.

 

African Anglican Leaders Threaten Split From CofE Over Same-Sex Union Blessing. Anglican leaders of Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda are considering a split from the Church of England after church leadership voted to allow Anglican clergy to bless same-sex civil unions. Read more here.

 

California Bill Aims to Codify Right to Same-Sex Marriage in State Constitution. California lawmakers introduced legislation to rescind Proposition 8, a 2008 law that banned the state from recognizing same-sex marriages. Read more here.

 

Archbishop Says MPs Tried to Force Same-Sex Marriage on Church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, has spoken of being “threatened with parliamentary action” in an attempt to “force same-sex marriage” into the Church of England. Read more here.

 

Poll: 64 Percent Favor Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage in Japan. Sixty-four percent of respondents to a Kyodo News poll believe same-sex marriage should be recognized in Japan. Read more here.

 

Church of England Approves ‘Prayers for God’s Blessing’ on Same-Sex Couples. The General Synod of the Church of England voted in favor of offering prayers for God’s blessing on same-sex couples following two days of extensive debate. Read more here.

 

Lifelong Marriage Associated With Lower Risk of Dementia, Study Finds. A new study has found that continuous marriage, particularly through the middle decades of life, lowers the risk of developing dementia, Neuroscience News reported. Read more here.

 

India Court Transfers Same-Sex Marriage Petitions to Supreme Court. The Delhi High Court transferred to the Supreme Court multiple petitions seeking legal recognition of same sex-marriage under various matrimonial statutes. Read more here.

 

Japanese PM Cautious About Same-Sex Marriage. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is striking a cautious tone about legally recognizing same-sex marriage in line with other Group of Seven countries that have already adopted the practice. Read more here.

 

ECHR Orders Russia to Allow Same-Sex Unions. The European Court of Human Rights ordered Moscow to recognize same-sex unions, ruling that countries have an obligation to make the legal protections of marriage available to same-sex couples. Read more here.

 

Church of England Bishops Slated to Uphold Ban on Same-Sex Marriage. Bishops in the Church of England are slated to uphold the institution’s formal teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman during their general synod in London next month. Read more here.

 

Peru’s Parliament Rejects Same-Sex Marriage. Peru’s parliamentary justice committee has rejected a legislative initiative that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. Read more here.

 

‘Pride’ March in India Includes Call for Same-Sex Marriage Rights. Hundreds of people took part in the Delhi “Queer Pride” march to show their support for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in India. Read more here.

 

Taiwan-Hong Kong Couple Wins Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit.  A Taiwanese woman and her female Hong Kong partner won their marriage lawsuit as a court in Taipei ordered their household registration office to reinstate the marriage registration of the cross-national same-sex couple. Read more here.

 

India’s Supreme Court Asked to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage. Four same-sex couples have asked India’s Supreme Court to recognize same-sex marriages, setting the stage for a legal face-off with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government which has in the past refused to legalize such marriages. Read more here.

 

Biden Signs Bill Codifying Same-Sex Marriage. President Joe Biden hosted a signing ceremony where he codified legal protections for same-sex marriage. Afterward, the White House was lit in rainbow colors. Read more here.

 

Plaintiffs Appeal Tokyo Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage. Plaintiffs appealed a Tokyo court ruling that concluded the Japanese government’s ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional. Read more here.

 

Parliament OKs Changes to Japan’s System for Recognizing Paternity After Divorce. That Japanese Parliament enacted legal changes that would allow the new husband of a remarried woman to assume paternity of children born within 300 days of divorce from her previous partner. Read more here.

 

U.S. House Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill. The House of Representatives with bipartisan support passed legislation that would codify same-sex marriage protections, and the measure now goes to President Biden’s desk for final approval. Read more here.

 

U.S. Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill. U.S. senators advanced legislation that would codify same-sex marriage protections into law, despite opposition from most GOP lawmakers who argue the bill’s language infringes on religious freedom. Read more here.

 

Japanese Court Upholds Ban on Same-Sex Marriage. A Japanese court declared a ban on same-sex marriage constitutional, citing the Japanese constitutional definition of marriage as a “union of mutual consent between the two sexes.” Read more here.

 

India’s Top Court to Consider Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage. India’s Supreme Court has agreed to examine a petition that seeks legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

Poll Shows Same-Sex Marriage Bill Unpopular Among U.S. Voters. Only 41 percent of U.S. voters support the Respect for Marriage Act, compared to 47 percent who oppose it, according to a recent poll. Read more here.

 

Slovenia Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional. Slovenia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that a ban on same-sex couples marrying and adopting was unconstitutional, forcing a change in the law. Read more here.

 

U.S. Senate Clears Hurdle to Move Same-Sex Marriage Bill Toward Final Passage. The Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle to move forward the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that will codify same-sex marriage into federal law. Read more here.

 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Comes Out in Support of Proposed U.S. Law Protecting Same-Sex Marriage. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave its support to a proposed federal law that would recognize all legal marriages and codify marriages between same-sex couples. Read more here.

 

Taiwanese Court to Hear Debate on Legal Grounds for Divorce. Taiwan’s Constitutional Court will hear arguments on whether an article in the Civil Code limiting the circumstances in which couples can file for divorce violates the constitution’s protection of individual freedoms. Read more here.

 

Polish Top Court Says Constitution Doesn’t Ban Same-Sex Marriage. Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the nation’s constitution does not rule out the possibility of legislation on same-sex unions. Read more here.

 

Bishop of Oxford Calls for Church of England to Accept Same-Sex Marriage. In a landmark declaration, the Bishop of Oxford has become the most senior Church of England cleric to back same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

Tokyo Starts Recognizing Same-Sex Relationships. Tokyo began issuing partnership certificates to same-sex couples who live and work in the capital, allowing LGBT partners to be treated as married couples for some public services in areas such as housing, medicine and welfare. Read more here.

 

Final Mexican State Approves Same-Sex Marriage. Mexico’s northeastern border state of Tamaulipas voted to recognize same-sex marriage, making the practice legal in every district across the country. Read more here.

 

Same-Sex Marriage Approved in Tabasco. The Mexican state of Tabasco has approved same-sex marriage, changing its civil code to redefine marriage as “the free union of two people, over 18 years of age, regardless of gender.” Read more here.

 

Mexico’s Most Populous State Approves Same-Sex Marriage. The congress of Mexico’s most populous state, State of Mexico, voted overwhelmingly to legally recognize same-sex marriage, becoming the 29th of Mexico’s 32 states to do so. Read more here.

 

Tokyo Starts Accepting Same-Sex Partnership Applications. The Tokyo metropolitan government began accepting applications from “sexual minorities” to have their partnerships publicly recognized ahead of the program’s launch on November 1. Read more here.

 

Slovenia Approves Reform of Family Code, Allows Same-Sex Marriage. The Slovenian National Assembly approved a reform of the Family Code which now provides for marriage between same-sex couples and allows them to adopt. Read more here.

 

BVI Christian Council Appeals Court’s Judgement on Same-Sex Marriage. The BVI Christian Council has been granted permission to appeal a recent judgment concerning marriage between a same-sex couple in the British Virgin Islands. Read more here.

 

UK Divorce Applications Soar as No-Fault Law Takes Effect. Divorce applications have reached their highest level in a decade after no-fault legislation was introduced in England and Wales, figures show. Read more here.

 

Cuba Approves Same-Sex Marriage in Referendum Vote. Cubans have approved a sweeping “family law” code that will allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt, officials announced. Read more here.

 

Flemish Bishops Allow Blessing of Same-Sex Unions. Flemish Roman Catholic bishops issued a document effectively allowing the blessing of same-sex unions in order to be a “welcoming Church that excludes no one.” Read more here.

 

Poll: Three in Five U.S. Voters Support Federal Same-Sex Marriage Law. A new Morning Consult-Politico poll found that 59 percent of voters surveyed support Congress codifying same-sex marriage rights with a federal law. Read more here.

 

U.S. Senate Will Delay Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Measure Until After Midterms. The Senate will delay its vote on same-sex marriage until after the midterm elections, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a lead sponsor of the bipartisan measure, announced. Read more here.

 

Record Number of Young People in Japan Rejecting Marriage, Survey Shows. A record number of men and women in Japan say they do not intend to marry, a trend experts have warned will undermine efforts to address the country’s population crisis. Read more here.

 

Debate on Polyamory in the Church Sparked in Norway. The Church of Norway is debating whether polyamorous relationships should be recognized since the church has already let go of the “heterosexual norm” for marriage. Read more here.

 

U.S. Senate Democrats May Include Same-Sex Marriage Legislation in Govt Funding Package. Senior Senate Democrats are reportedly discussing the possibility of including legislation to protect same-sex marriage “rights” in a government funding bill. Read more here.

 

Mississippi Report on Fatherlessness Highlights Need for Increased Emphasis on Marriage, Experts Say. A recently released report from the state government of Mississippi underscored that hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent on government programs that could have been avoided if more fathers were present in their children’s lives. Read more here.

 

Legal Appeal Against Hong Kong’s Refusal to Recognize Overseas Same-Sex Marriages Fails. Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal ruled that the city’s constitution granted access to the institution of marriage only to opposite-sex partners and that the government had no obligation to recognize same-sex unions. Read more here.

 

Swiss Reformed Church Order Deletes ‘Bride’ and ‘Groom.’ The Reformed Church in the Swiss canton of Zurich is deleting words such as “bride” and “groom” from its Church Order and replacing them with the gender-neutral term “married couple.” Read more here.

 

Same-Sex Union Bill Filed in Philippines. A bill seeking to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions and be afforded inheritance and adoption rights has been filed in the Philippine Senate. Read more here.

 

Pandemic Delivers Major Blow to Number of New Marriages in Japan, Study Finds. The coronavirus pandemic has caused a major decline in the number of new marriages in Japan, a recent study showed. Read more here.

 

Disney Signs Letter in Support of Federal Law for Same-Sex Marriage. The letter, spearheaded by the Human Rights Campaign, urges the U.S. Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which has already passed the House. Read more here.

 

Ukraine President Asks Government to Study Legalizing Same-Sex Marriages. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked his government to look into whether same-sex marriages should be legalized but said there would be no move as long as the war with Russia continued. Read more here.

 

Czech MPs Want to Enshrine Marriage As Being Between One Man and One Woman in Constitution. Over fifty Czech MPs filed a proposal to constitutionally enshrine marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The amendment would change the current wording: “Parenthood and the family are under the protection of the law” to: “Parenthood, the family and marriage as a union of a man and a woman are under the protection of the law.” Read more here.

 

Cuba Announces Same-Sex Marriage Referendum. Cuba’s parliament announced that the country will hold a referendum on the legalization of same-sex marriage and surrogate parenthood. The referendum on the new family law is scheduled to be held on September 25. Read more here.

 

47 U.S. House Republicans Back Bill to Protect Same-Sex Marriage. In a 267-157 vote, the House passed legislation repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and enshrining protections for same-sex marriage into federal law in a measure dubbed the Respect for Marriage Act. Read more here.

 

Civil Partnerships in Wales and England Plummet as Same-Sex Unions Hit All Time Low. Since the introduction of same-sex marriage in the UK, more couples are deciding to marry instead of enter civil partnerships. Read more here.

 

Same-Sex Marriages Validated in Bermuda. Same-sex couples who married before a landmark Privy Council ruling outlawed same-sex unions are valid under new laws. Read more here.

 

Ukraine to Consider Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Amid War. A petition in Ukraine calling for same-sex marriage to be legalized has gained enough signatures for the president to consider the proposal. President Volodymyr Zelensky now has 10 days to respond. Read more here.

 

Slovenia’s Top Court Strikes Out Bans on Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption. A top court in Slovenia ruled that bans on same-sex marriage and adoption are unconstitutional and ordered its parliament to amend the law within six months. Read more here.

 

UK Parliament to Consider Bill to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage in Overseas Territories. Lord Michael Cashman has introduced a bill in the UK’s House of Lords to make same-sex marriage legal in the Cayman Islands and other British Overseas Territories. Read more here.

 

Same-Sex Marriage Law Takes Effect in Switzerland. The “Marriage for All” law has taken effect in Switzerland, making same-sex marriage legal in the European nation. Read more here.

 

World’s Oldest Methodist Church to Allow Same-Sex Marriage. The world’s oldest Methodist building will now offer same-sex marriages after voting unanimously in favor. Read more here.

 

Japanese Court Upholds Ban on Same-Sex Marriage. A district court in Japan has ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional since Japan’s constitution defines marriage as being between “both sexes.” Read more here.

 

Lithuanian Bishops Call for Scrapping of Same-Sex Partnership Bill. Lithuanian bishops have called on politicians to vote down proposed same-sex partnership legislation, arguing that civil unions distort the concept of marriage and family. Read more here.

 

Italian Church Offers Public Blessing to Same-Sex Couple. A Catholic church outside Bologna, Italy bestowed a public blessing on a same-sex couple with the permission of Bologna’s Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, a leading candidate for the next papal election. Read more here.

 

Thailand Takes Step Toward Same-Sex Marriage With Parliament Vote. Lawmakers in Thailand gave initial approval to legalizing same-sex unions by approving two bills that would allow same-sex marriages and two others that would permit civil partnerships. Read more here.

 

Tokyo Moves to Allow Same-Sex Partnerships. The Tokyo metropolitan government adopted legislation recognizing same-sex partnerships which will extend some rights that apply to married heterosexual couples but falls short of allowing same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

Cuba Introduces New Marriage Equality Bill. Discussions on a new bill which would legalize same-sex marriage are being held in Cuba. Read more here.

 

Japanese Govt Reports 1-in-4 Adults in Their Thirties Refuse to Get Married. A white paper released by the Japanese government reveals that one-quarter of Japanese singles aged 30 to 39 have little interest in getting married. Read more here.

 

Thai Opposition Party Rallies MPs to Push Through Same-Sex Marriage Bill. Thailand’s opposition chief whip is rounding up MPs to speak in support of the Marriage Equality Bill, fearing the government will kill it during the first reading. Read more here.

 

Montenegro Sued for Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples. A Montenegrin NGO launched a lawsuit against the state for discriminating against same-sex couples who got married abroad but cannot register their partnerships at home. Read more here.

 

Czech President Vows to Block Same-Sex Marriages. Czech President Milos Zeman said that he is ready to veto, if approved by parliament, proposed legislation that would give same-sex couples in the country the right to hold civil weddings. Read more here.

 

Thailand Advances Bill Allowing Same-Sex Unions. The Thai Cabinet has approved draft legislation that would enable same-sex couples to adopt children and have other legal benefits which are not part of current law. Read more here.

 

Lithuanian Parliament Agrees to Consider Same-Sex Partnership Bill. Lithuania’s parliament voted to accept a draft bill legalizing same-sex civil partnerships for further debate. Read more here.

 

Spanish Embassy Allegedly Plans to Bless Same-Sex Marriage in Ghana. MP Sam Nartey George has alleged that the Spanish Embassy is seeking to bless same-sex marriages in Ghana and describes this action as an attempt to change the nation’s “cultural identity.” Read more here.

 

Church of Scotland Votes to Allow Same-Sex Weddings. The Church of Scotland has voted to allow ministers to conduct same-sex weddings in its churches. Read more here.

 

Marriage Rates in UK Drop to Lowest on Record. The rate of marriages between men and women in England and Wales fell to a record low in 2019, according to figures by the Office of National Statistics. Read more here.

 

Australian Bishops Veto Motion Denouncing Same-Sex Marriage. Australian bishops have rejected a statement affirming the biblical basis for marriage as the national church’s official position. Read more here.

 

Lithuanian MPs Propose Civil Union as Compromise on Same-Sex Partnership. A group of Lithuanian MPs have drafted a bill that would allow same-sex couples to enter into a civil union instead of the previously proposed civil partnership. Read more here.

 

Tokyo to Recognize Same-Sex Partnerships Later This Year. The Tokyo metropolitan government will begin to recognize same-sex partnerships in November 2022. Read more here.

 

Wales Archbishop Says Same-Sex Couples Could Marry ‘Within Five Years.’ Wales’ new Archbishop has said that same-sex couples could be blessed in wedding ceremonies in the churches within five years. Read more here.

 

Same-Sex Civil Partnership Bill Included in Thai Govt Agenda. A bill to legalize same-sex civil partnerships is set to be considered by the Thai government in the upcoming legislative session. Read more here.

 

UK Divorces Surge as ‘No Fault’ Law Takes Effect. Figures show that divorce applications in England and Wales soared by almost 50 percent just a week after the ‘no fault’ law took effect. Read more here.

 

Quick Divorce Law Takes Effect in England and Wales. Under a new law that has taken effect, couples in the UK can divorce in six months without having to give a reason, and a spouse cannot contest the decision. Read more here.

 

Bill to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage Introduced in India’s Parliament. India’s Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule introduced a private member’s bill in the Lok Sabha to legalize same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

Cubans Split Over Same-Sex Marriage as Referendum Nears. Cuba’s government is seeking to rally support for a new family code that would open the door to same-sex marriage, but experts suggest the outcome of an upcoming referendum vote is uncertain. Read more here.

 

Thai Cabinet Rejects Same-Sex Marriage Bill. The Thai cabinet rejected a bill which sought to legalize same-sex marriage, though the bill can still receive a parliamentary review. Read more here.

 

Kosovo’s Parliament Rejects New Law Recognizing Same-Sex Civil Unions. Kosovo’s parliament has rejected a new law that would allow same-sex couples to form civil partnerships. Read more here.

 

British Court Rules Against Same-Sex Marriage in Bermuda, Cayman Islands. A top British appeals court has ruled against same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom territories of the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. Read more here.

 

Chile’s Same-Sex Marriage Law Takes Effect. Same-sex marriages have begun in Chile after a law allowing the practice went into effect. Read more here.

 

Guatemala Congress Bans Same-Sex Marriage. Guatemala’s Congress has voted in favor of a law which prohibits same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

Guatemalan President Vows to Veto Same-Sex Marriage, Abortion Bill. Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said he would veto a bill that seeks to increase abortion penalties and prohibit same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

New Egyptian Bill Recommends Psychological and Medical Tests Before Marriage. A member of the Egyptian parliament submitted to the House of Representatives a bill suggesting that medical and psychological examinations be a prerequisite for couples about to marry. Read more here.

 

Jersey Approves Civil Partnership Law for All Genders. Under a new law in Jersey, all islanders will be able to enter into a civil partnership, regardless of gender. Read more here.

 

Religious Communities in Kosovo Urge Lawmakers Not to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage. A coalition of religious groups in Kosovo openly oppose same-sex marriages and are calling on the government not to touch the parts of the civil code related to marriage. Read more here.

 

Study Reveals Positive Benefits of Marriage for Men. According to the American National Family Life Survey, married men report being less lonely and having more close friends and better health than their single counterparts. Read more here.

 

Marriage Rate Falls in China. Fewer Chinese people chose to get married last year, while on average those that did postponed the age at which they tied the knot, further adding to the population crisis stemming from a plunging birth rate. Read more here.

 

Cuba Begins Public Consultation on Marriage Equality Law. Cuba’s leaders have launched a series of neighborhood meetings across the island to debate a measure that would legalize same-sex marriage and adoption. Read more here.

 

Thailand House Approves Same-Sex Marriage Bill. A draft act on same-sex marriage has been passed by the Thai House of Representatives and will be sent to the cabinet for further consideration. Read more here.

 

VA House Panel Strikes Down Effort to Remove Same-Sex Marriage Ban From Constitution. A Virginia House subcommittee struck down legislation that would have given voters a chance to decide if the state should remove a provision in the state constitution banning same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

Cuba Launches Public Consultations on New Family Code. Cuba launched a three-month process to gather public input on a new Family Code which includes the legalization of same-sex marriage. Read more here.

 

Namibia Court Refuses to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages. A Namibian court refused to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other countries, citing a Supreme Court ruling that bans the practice in Namibia. Read more here.