Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is a legally recognized marriage between two people of the same sex, with its rights and requirements determined by the jurisdiction that recognizes it.

Netherlands same-sex marriage law: The 2001 Dutch law that opened civil marriage to same-sex couples. The Netherlands became the first country to grant same-sex couples access to civil marriage.
Civil marriage: A marriage recognized and administered by the state under civil law. Same-sex marriage is a form of civil marriage where the law permits it.
Domestic partnership: A legally recognized relationship that grants partners specified rights without necessarily constituting marriage. It can provide some protections while withholding the legal status of marriage.
United States v. Windsor: A 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidating the federal definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman. It required federal recognition of many same-sex marriages before nationwide marriage equality.
Global same-sex marriage: The worldwide pattern of laws recognizing, restricting, or prohibiting marriage between same-sex couples. Legal recognition differs sharply across countries and continues to change.
Obergefell v. Hodges: A 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring states to license and recognize same-sex marriages. It established nationwide constitutional protection for same-sex marriage in the United States.
Marriage license: A government authorization required to enter a legally recognized marriage in many jurisdictions. Licensing rules determine whether a couple can legally marry.
Civil union: A legally recognized partnership that grants couples rights without being designated a marriage. Its separate status has been central to debates over equal legal treatment.
Respect for Marriage Act: A 2022 U.S. federal law requiring federal recognition of valid marriages and providing protections against state nonrecognition. It set federal safeguards after the constitutional ruling that established marriage equality.
Marriage equality in Japan: The legal and political debate over recognition of same-sex marriage in Japan. Court rulings and legislative inaction leave the scope of recognition contested.

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