Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_the_Americas

Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas

Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas

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Several countries in the Americas grant legal recognition to same-sex unions, with almost 85 percent of people in both North America and South America living in jurisdictions providing marriage rights to same-sex couples.

In North America, same-sex marriages are recognized and performed without restrictions in Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, and the United States.[nb 1]

Same-sex marriages are also performed in the Dutch territories of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland, and in all French overseas departments and collectivities (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin and Saint Pierre and Miquelon). Furthermore, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten recognize same-sex marriages performed in the Netherlands, and Aruba also performs registered partnerships. The British Territories of Bermuda and the Cayman Islands also perform civil partnerships.

In South America, same-sex marriages are recognized and performed without restrictions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay as well as the jurisdictions of French Guiana, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Free unions that are equivalent to marriage have begun to be recognized in Bolivia.

On 8 January 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruled that the American Convention on Human Rights mandates and requires the legalization of same-sex marriage. The landmark ruling was fully binding on Costa Rica and set a "binding precedent" in the other signatory countries. The Court recommended that governments issue temporary decrees legalizing same-sex marriage until new legislation is brought in. The ruling applies to Barbados, Bolivia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Suriname. The Supreme Courts of Honduras,[1] Panama,[2] Peru[3] and Suriname[4] have rejected the IACHR ruling, while the Supreme Courts of Costa Rica and Ecuador adhered to it.

Maps

Recognition of same-sex unions in North America
  Marriage
  Other type of partnership
States performing civil unions in North America
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Former civil unions for same-sex couples, replaced by marriage.
  Civil unions never performed.
Recognition of same-sex unions in South America
  Marriage
  Other type of partnership
  Country subject to IACHR ruling
  Unrecognized
  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples
  Same-sex sexual activity illegal, though penalties not enforced
Countries performing civil unions in South America
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions for opposite-sex couples only.
  Civil unions never performed.
Homosexuality laws in Central America and the Caribbean Islands.
  Same-sex marriage
  Other type of partnership
  Unregistered cohabitation
  Country subject to IACHR ruling
  No recognition of same-sex couples
  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples
  Same-sex sexual activity illegal but law not enforced
Countries performing civil unions in Central America and the Caribbean Islands
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions for opposite-sex couples only.
  Civil unions never performed.

Current situation

National level

More information Status, Country ...

Sub-national level

[note 1]

More information Status, Country ...

2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling

On 9 January 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued an advisory opinion that states party to the American Convention on Human Rights must grant same-sex couples accession to all existing domestic legal systems of family registration, including marriage, along with all rights that derive from marriage. The opinion was issued after the Government of Costa Rica sought clarification of its obligations to LGBT people under the convention.[80] The opinion sets precedent for all 23 member states, 19 of which did not recognize same-sex marriage at the time of the ruling: Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Suriname. Of these, all but Dominica, Grenada and Jamaica recognize the jurisdiction of the Court.[81] However, states must each individually apply the ruling before it takes effect.

Future legislation

Marriage

Government proposals or proposals with a parliamentary majority

Venezuela Venezuela: In October 2020, President Nicolás Maduro called on Congress to debate a same-sex marriage bill.[82] On 24 February 2022, Vanessa Robertazzo, deputy of the opposition Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano party, introduced a same-sex marriage bill to the National Assembly.[83]

Opposition proposals or proposals without a parliamentary majority

ArubaCuraçao Aruba and Curaçao: The opposition Accion21 party introduced a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Parliament in June 2021. On 6 December 2022, the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage in Aruba and Curaçao was unlawful discrimination. The effect of the ruling is stayed pending appeal and cassation.[84]

United Kingdom British Overseas Territories: In July 2022, Labour Party Peer Lord Michael Cashman introduced a private member's bill in the House of Lords that would compel governors of each of the six British Overseas Territories where same-sex marriage is not currently legal (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos) to pass laws legalizing it. The territories are also bound by the European Convention on Human Rights to pass laws legalizing some form of same-sex union, although to date only Bermuda and Cayman Islands have done so.[85]

Honduras Honduras: In May 2022, the deputy of the Libertad y Refundación Party, Manuel Rodríguez, presented a bill in congress to legalize same-sex marriage.[86]

Other forms of partnership

Opposition proposals or proposals without a parliamentary majority

Peru Peru: Congressman Alejandro Cavero has introduced a bill to allow same-sex civil unions that will not allow adoption, but it has not been brought up for debate in the justice committee.[87]

Public opinion

  Indicates the country/territory has legalized same-sex marriage nationwide
  Indicates that same-sex marriage is legal in certain parts of the country
  Indicates that the country has civil unions or registered partnerships
  Indicates that same-sex sexual activity is illegal
More information Country, Pollster ...
More information Country, Pollster ...

See also

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    Excluding certain Native American tribes. Same-sex marriage is legal in at least 42 of them.
  1. [N 1]
    Note: While listed here under “subnational level,” US Tribes are considered Nations both in a legal sense and when it comes to preferred language. The United States Government recognizes US Tribal Nations as “Domestic Dependent Nations” under the law in a government-to government relationship. Tribal nations exercise sovereignty, though Congress has ultimate authority under the Plenary Power Doctrine which is why tribal nations are placed here under an imperfect multi-purpose umbrella term[24][25][26]
  1. Also comprises: Don't know; No answer; Other; Refused.
  2. [+ more urban/educated than representative]

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