Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
On Tuesday of last week, Estonia’s Parliament finally authorized amendments to its Family Law Act. Making Estonia the first central European nation, and first ex-Soviet country, to legalize same-sex marriage. Meaning that, as of January 1, 2024, the Estonian Parliament has established that marriage between two people of the same-sex can now legally take place.
Additionally, the passing of this law will not only provide people with more freedom but it will allow people, regardless of their gender and identity, to have the opportunity of adopting a child. The amendments to the Family Law Act mean that same-sex couples can now acquire the opportunity of having a child. Also, single gay, lesbian and bisexual people can petition to adopt a child as well. A change that will give a significant amount of people more opportunities.
What Countries Have Legalized Same-Sex Marriage?
Legalizing same-sex marriage is not a movement that started with Estonia. Although Estonia is considered to be the first ex-Soviet country to legalize this act. Prior to them, numerous other countries have and had already legalized marriage between two people of the same-sex. For example, these are some of the following countries and the year they decided to legalize the marriage. From the most recent, to the ones who legalized years ago:
- Chile: December 2021
- Switzerland: September 2021
- Costa Rica: May 2020
- Ecuador: June 2019
- Argentina: July 2010
- Sweden: May 2009
- Spain: July 2005
- Netherlands: December 2000
Approval of the Law
The Legalization between couples of the same-sex is an extremely debatable topic among society, in both positive and negative ways. Which is exactly what happened with the people in Estonia. Estonia had both people that supported and encouraged the approval of the law, as well as the people who were angry and disapproved of the new law.
In fact, a survey undertaken by the Estonia Human Rights Centre in April 2023 demonstrated that 53% of the Estonians believed and supported marriage equality, which is a significant increased from the percentage back in 2021, which was of 34%.
“Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love and want to commit to,” said an interviewee.
Furthermore, the same survey shows that since the survey began back in 2012, it has been recorded that 60% of the people were against marriage equality in Estonia. This is the highest percentage shown since then.
What Do People Think?
The survey above proved more people disagree with the new law rather than agree with it. Numerous people have already started to comment on this topic and gave an insight into what they think as well. Surprisingly, more people have said more positive comments about the law and almost no negative comments have been spoken or commented by people.
For example, people that have been interview have stated comments like “I hope that, in time, those opposed to marriage equality come to see that we don’t lose anything from taking such steps, but rather we all gain from them,”. As well as another person commented saying, “In this historic moment, the United States is proud to stand with you in support of LGBTQ+ communities everywhere.”
These are only a few comments on what has been said about the new changes. However, almost every single comment is the same. People are praising the LGBTQ+ community for their patience and understanding of the slow but certain changes of the law. Also, how finally things will be changing for the better for hundreds of people. Finally, how the LGBTQ+ community at last is getting the recognition they have been deserving for a long time.
History Being Made
Apart from Estonia making huge progress in their laws and finally becoming the first ex-soviet country to legalize same-sex marriage, significant progress was made in the Baltic region last month during the election of their long-time foreign minister in Latvia. Who happens to be the first EU’s first openly gay head of state. This just adds to the LGBTQ+ community finally getting the acknowledgment they deserve.
Written by Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
CNN: Estonia becomes first ex-Soviet state to legalize same-sex marriage
CBS NEWS: Estonia becomes first ex-Soviet country to legalize same-sex marriage
TIME: Estonia Becomes The First Ex-Soviet State to Legalized Same-Sex Marriage
U.S.NEWS: Same-Sex Marriage Legalization by Country
Featured Image Courtesy of GoToVan Flickr Page — Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Rab Lawrence Flickr Page — Creative Commons License
