A court has ruled that 16 countries make gay and lesbian marriage legal. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has just made what is being hailed as the “biggest same-sex marriage court order in history.” What makes the ruling so surprising is that it grants gay and lesbian people the right to marry in countries where it is still illegal to be gay. Additionally the ruling also issues rights to transgender people who want to legally change their gender.
Let’s break it down.
The IACHR oversees 20 countries, but some already have gay and lesbian marriage like Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Colombia, while others like Barbados still have colonial-era buggery laws on the books.
GSN has the following info:
Barbados
Gay sex is illegal and no rights for trans people
Bolivia
Same-sex marriage and civil unions are constitutionally banned. However, trans people have many rights thanks to change to law in 2016.
Chile
Chile has civil unions, access to similar rights as marriage without the title. They do not have same-sex adoption, which comes under marriage. A new law to allow trans people to transition without being sterilized is currently being discussed.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has just agreed to pass same-sex marriage. Surgery is not a requirement to change your legal gender.
Dominican Republic
Same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned in Dominican Republican. Trans people do not have the right to change your legal gender.
Ecuador
Ecuador has civil unions, access to equal rights as marriage. Trans people may change their gender without the need for surgery.
El Salvador
There is no legal recognition for same-sex couples, with support for marriage equality as low as 10% (as polled in 2010). Trans people can legally change their gender.
Guatemala
There are no plans for same-sex marriage. Trans people can legally change their gender without surgery.
Haiti
Transgender people can be fined for ‘vagrancy’ in Haiti. There are no plans for marriage or civil unions.
Honduras
Same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned in Honduras. Trans people do not have the right to change their legal gender.
Mexico
Same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico City and 12 states. Trans people can change their legal gender in Mexico City and two states.
Nicaragua
Both same-sex marriage and the right to change your legal gender is not allowed in Nicaragua.
Panama
Trans people are only allowed to change their legal gender after sex reassignment surgery. The ban on same-sex marriage has been challenged in the Supreme Court.
Paraguay
Same-sex marriage is banned in the constitution. Trans people do not have the right to change their legal gender.
Peru
While same-sex marriage is not allowed, trans people are allowed to change their gender without surgery.
Suriname
While gay sex is legal, the age of consent is not equal. There are no rights for trans people and same-sex marriage is not allowed.
