User:VoodooIsland/Same-sex marriage legislation around the world


 * For the status in the United States, see Same-sex marriage legislation in the United States.

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in seven countries, which include the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, South Africa, Canada, Norway, and Sweden. Six US states also recognize same-sex marriage, those being Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont (effective September 1), Maine (effective September 14), and New Hampshire (effective January 1, 2010). Numerous other countries and regions also grant some form of recognition to same-sex couples; though do not provide same-sex marriage. The issue of same-sex marriage has been a controversial debate throughout the world, and several regions and countries have passed statutory and constitutional amendments that explicitly prohibit the legal recognition of same-sex marriage, sometimes also barring any form of recognition.

The issue of granting marriage to same-sex couples is controversial in many jurisdictions, and therefore, many governments tend to opt for creating a civil union or common-law status for same-sex couples. As of July 2009, the debate of legalizing same-sex marriage has been officially proposed in almost a dozen countries, and debates over other forms of recognition continue within several others.

Constitutional efforts to prohibit same-sex unions
Not only does the proposal in Nigeria prohibit any form of same-sex relationship from being recognized by the state, it also prescribes five years prison time for anyone found participating in a same-sex union; which includes anyone who "performs, witnesses, aids, or abets" a same-sex marriage. The legislation would also prescribe the same prison sentence for anyone who engages in male-to-male intercourse, lesbianism, or organizes a gay rights organization. The ban on same-sex marriage or ban on same-sex marriage and other kinds of same-sex unions was an amendment within a constitution that was approved or rejected by the government.