In 1989 Denmark became the first country in the world to allow same-sex marriages. In 2000, Denmark passed a law that gives homosexuals couples the right to obtain custody of children by a previous heterosexual marriage. Greenland Greenland is a self-governing dependency of Denmark. When Denmark became the first country to introduce a partnership law in 1989, Greenland declined to go along with this. In 1994 the parliament changed its mind and requested a royal decree to bring the Danish law into effect. The law became operative in 1996. Germany Netherlands Exactly the same rights as heterosexual couples. Full marriage since 2001.. Norway Same sex marriage is legal and called Registered Domestic Partnership since Aug. 1, 1993. It is virtually the same as Sweden and Denmark. It can be used for mental patient commitment. The Norwegian church does not allow church marriages, but it is very influential as it is a State Church, and it supported the passage, though there is a rural backlash which has caused a church schism. Portugal March, 2001. Lesbian and gay couples who have lived together for more than two years the same rights as heterosexual couples in common law marriages Reference Link: http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/alternative_lifestyles/same_sex_marriage/gay_laws_around_the_world_/index.shtml

england iwent to a freinds wedding last month

According to Wikipedia the only countries that allow it and call it marriage are the Netherlands (starting in 2001), Belguim (2002), Canada and Spain (2005), and South Africa (2006).

There are only six countries with fully recognized and legal gay marriage. Canada, Belgium, South Aftrica, Spain, Netherlands and Norway. I am sure that over the next few years other more liberal countries will legalize gay marriage as well. Many other countries only have civil unions. A gay marriage in Spain would be regocnized in Canada, where as a civil union in England is just that, and is not a marriage. Goshen