Estonia legalizes same-sex marriage

Estonia legalized same-sex marriage on Tuesday, becoming the first Baltic country to give same-sex couples the legal right to wed.

With 55 votes in favor of the measure and 34 votes against, Estonia’s parliament overcame objections from the right wing, which attacked the legislation as they say it threatens the traditional family model.

“I’m proud of my country. We’re building a society where everyone’s rights are respected and people can love freely,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said, adding that the act will enter into force in 2024.

The move comes only two months after the liberal coalition government took office. In March, Kallas started talks with coalition parties pushing for same-sex marriage to become law.

Estonia’s acceptance of marriage equality, and LGBTQ+ people, has grown in recent years. According to a survey conducted by the Estonian Human Rights Center, 53 percent of the population supports marriage equality, compared with 34 percent in 2012.

In 2014, Estonia introduced same-sex civil unions with the Registered Partnership Act, which did not guarantee the same adoption rights and parental recognition that automatically come with marriage.

“Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love and want to commit to. With this decision we are finally stepping among other Nordic countries as well as all the rest of the democratic countries in the world where marriage equality has been granted,” Kallas said Tuesday.

“This is a decision that does not take anything away from anyone but gives something important to many. It also shows that our society is caring and respectful towards each other. I am proud of Estonia,” she added.