US President Joe Biden signed gay marriage legislation

Tags: International News

Joe Biden signed gay marriage legislation

United States (US) President Joe Biden signed gay marriage law. On the occasion, the President said that "the law that protects love strikes a chord against hate in all its forms".

Important facts

  • This law establishes statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages.

  • The House of Representatives passed the law on December 8 by a vote of 258-169-1.

  • The new law officially repeals the Marriage Act of 1996, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

  • In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court in its decision legalized same-sex unions nationwide.

  • States would not be required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if the court overturns its 2015 ruling. But they will be required to recognize marriages conducted elsewhere in the country.

Status of Same-Sex marriage around the world

  • Same-sex marriage is the marriage of two people of the same gender.

  • As of 2022, marriage between same-sex couples is legally recognized in 33 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, etc.

  • This does not usually include adoption rights, although most countries with same-sex marriage allow those couples to adopt jointly, as can other married couples.

  • The first law providing for marriage equality between same-sex and opposite-sex couples was passed by the Netherlands in 2000.

  • The right to marry is a fundamental right under article 21. However, same-sex marriage is not legalized in India.


Please Rate this article, so that we can improve the quality for you -