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WHEN IRELAND GOES to the polls on 22 May, it could become just the 20th country to entirely legalise same-sex marriage and the first to do so by popular vote.
A further two countries – the USA and Mexico – have legalised same-sex marriage in certain states, but have not federally approved it.
All of these moves came through parliamentary or court decisions, not the ballot box.
Those countries which have legalised same-sex, in chronological order are:
Netherlands (2000)
Belgium (2003)
Canada (2005)
Spain (2005)
South Africa (2006)
Sweden (2009)
Norway (2009)
Portugal (2010)
Iceland (2010)
Argentina (2010)
Denmark (2012)
Uruguay (2013)
New Zealand (2013)
France (2013)
England (2013)
Wales (2013)
Brazil (2013)
Luxembourg (2014)
Scotland (2014)
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In Europe, a number of states, including Ireland, recognise civil unions or other types of partnerships, while the constitutions of Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, banning same-sex marriage.
In the US, many states have legalised the marriages, but 13 still outright ban them.
They are:
Arkansas
Georgia
Louisiana
Kentucky
Michigan
Missouri
Mississippi
Nebraska
North Dakota
South Dakota
Texas
Ohio
Tennessee
Colorado allows civil unions, but not same-sex marriage.
In Australia, couples who have been living together for two years reach a de-facto stage in the eyes on the law and are extended a number of legal protections.
Slovenia passed a bill in March that would allow same-sex couples marry and adopt. It is currently awaiting the signature of President Borut Pahor.
Labour a bit like our own, pretend to be sympathetic and be the voice for the working class, yet when in power, o difficult decisions will have it be made. A conservative landslide is likely when they eventually put in a motion of no confidence against this travesty. Stammer the worst Labour PM since Ramsay MacDonald
@Alan: the Tories ran the country in to the ground for over a decade. That Labour would actually try and fix that by taxing the people that can afford it isn’t the “travesty” you think it is. The Tories are trying to paint this budget as crippling the working class but that’s, once again, is an utter lie.
What is this talk of Labour having promised not to raise taxes? Let’s be clear what they promised was not to raid Texas, and so far they have honoured that!
Mick O'Dwyer, legendary Kerry GAA manager and footballer, has died aged 88
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