Same-sex marriage and surrogacy: where is it legal?

[reader]

From Thai PBB World

Cubans have voted overwhelmingly to legalise same-sex marriage, making the country the 33rd to stop defining marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman.

Cuba’s landmark new family code also allows “altruistic” surrogacy, whereby a woman gives birth to a baby on behalf of another woman or couple but no money changes hands, bar for expenses.

Here is a global overview of same-sex marriage and surrogacy:

The Netherlands in 2001 became the first country in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Since then, 17 European countries have followed: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia and Switzerland. Most also allow same-sex couples to adopt.

Some countries allow same-sex couples to enter civil partnerships but not to marry, namely the Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary and Italy.

Most eastern European countries allow neither gay marriage nor civil partnerships.

In Russia, homosexuality was considered a crime up to 1993 and a mental illness until 1999. Now legal, a 2013 law however punishes the promotion of homosexuality among minors.

In Hungary, a law passed in 2021 made “promoting” homosexuality or gender change to minors punishable by a fine.

Assisted reproduction for lesbian couples is allowed in 12 European countries; the Nordic countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain Austria, Ireland and France.

Far fewer countries allow surrogate motherhood, with critics slamming the practise, which is permitted in Russia and Ukraine as turning women into “wombs for hire”.

“Altruistic” surrogacy is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom but France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and a handful of other countries forbid all surrogacy.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/same-sex-marriage-and-surrogacy-where-is-it-legal/

[PeterRS]

It seems to me that investigative jouralism outside certain western countries is a dying art. That article includes a section of particular interest ot Asia. But even that comment requires a clarification that is not mentioned. In order to marry in Taiwan one of the parties must be a Taiwanese citizen.

– Taiwan first in Asia –

While much of Asia is tolerant of homosexuality, Taiwan became the first in the region to allow same-sex marriage after a landmark ruling by its Constitutional Court in 2017.

 

[xpaulo]

Google says only “Altruistic” surrogacy" is legal in Canada, appears to be no difference for same sex or single male parents from heterosexual parents. And the usual procedure is to implant a fertilized egg from a donor into the surrogate mother. Generally the surrogate is also the biological mother only when the intention is that she remains a part of the child's life.

[Olddaddy]

I believe Vietnam allows same sex marriage?

Philippines doesn't apparently

Thailand? 

Myanmar?

Cambodia?

Laos? 

[PeterRS]

23 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

I believe Vietnam allows same sex marriage?

No, that's incorrect. Taiwan is the only Asian country permitting same-sex marriage - provided one partner is of Taiwanese nationality.

[Olddaddy]

I'm sure I read somewhere Vietnam allowed same sex marriage?

Maybe it was civil ceremony for same sex ,anyway if anyone can confirm 

[TMax]

Vietnam: "Can same-sex couples get married?

No. Up until now, the law in Vietnam does not recognize same-sex marriages."

It's a funny one (not haha funny), they lifted the ban on gay marriage but at the same time they don't recognize gay marriage.

[PeterRS]

6 hours ago, TMax said:

It's a funny one (not haha funny), they lifted the ban on gay marriage but at the same time they don't recognize gay marriage.

Sounds very Thai! 

Co-habitation of same sex couples is legal and wedding ceremonies may be performed. But marriage itself is illegal and there are no legal protections. A working group is pressing for reform of the 2019 Marriage and Family Law so that gay marriage is incorporated. According to public opinion polls, the Vietnam public remains split on the subject of gay marriage. Also, discrimination against gay men remains widely practised and there is no legislation protecting the LGBT community from discrimination.