Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage or same-gender marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same legal sex or gender. As of 2026 it is legally performed and recognized in 38 countries with a combined population of 1.5 billion people, and Thailand is the most recent jurisdiction to have legalized it, with legalization also mandated for Nepal. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Institution TypeKinship institution: the legal marriage of two people of the same legal sex or gender. 1 Emergence PeriodThe first law providing marriage equality between same-sex and opposite-sex couples was passed in the continental Netherlands in 2000 and took effect on 1 April 2001; recognition has since spread to a growing number of jurisdictions. 1 Connections
Associated With
Civil unions were widely adopted as a legal precursor or parallel institution to same-sex marriage, extending some or most marital rights to same-sex couples before or instead of full marriage recognition.
Same-sex marriage extends the legal and social institution of marriage to couples of the same sex, now formally recognized in a growing number of jurisdictions worldwide.
Sources
1. Same-Sex Marriage (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage or same-gender marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same legal sex or gender.
History section
The first law providing for marriage equality between same-sex and opposite-sex couples was passed in the continental Netherlands in 2000 and took effect on 1 April 2001.
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