The progress in achieving marriage equality globally has reached an important level, with 35 countries, accounting for around 17% of the world’s population, now legally recognizing same-sex marriage. Key milestones have been witnessed over the years, such as the first legal same-sex union in 1999 through a cohabitation agreement, and the legalizing of same-sex marriages by the Netherlands in 2001. The US and Canada each also reached historical turning points, with the US Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage in 2015 and Canada doing so a decade earlier.
Adoption and childbearing rights for same-sex couples, termed τεκνοθεσία in Greek, has been a more complex matter. Legal advances have been made recently, such as female couples being granted the right to artificial insemination with a donor in France. However, issues like medically assisted reproduction and surrogacy offer differing rights globally.
Countries in Western Europe have led the progress in legalizing γάμος ομοφύλων and ensuring the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Meanwhile, others like Bulgaria still present notable hurdles, prompting significant judicial decisions as observed in a 2021 ruling by the European Court of Justice. The court emphasized the need for all EU member states to recognize same-sex couples and their children as a family, disregarding individual laws contrary to marriage equality.
