Countries around the world where gay marriages are legal

In a historic judgment same-sex marriages are now legal across the US.

Justice Anthony Kennedy cast the deciding vote in the Obergefell v Hodges case to what is being hailed as the “the victory of love”.

“This ruling is a victory for America,” US President Barack Obama said. “This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts: when all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free.”

At a time when the US celebrates its newly found freedom, Business Insider India has compiled a list of eighteen countries where you can choose the gender of your loved one:

Argentina
Argentina legalized same-sex marriage in July 22^nd, 2010. It was the first Latin American country to do so.

Belgium
Belgium became the second country in the world to legally recognize gay marriages. It’s Act on gay marriage was passed back in June 1^st, 2003.

Brazil
Same-sex couples were allowed to apply for marital status since May 14^th, 2013 in Brazil

Canada
Canada was the fourth in the world and the first non- European country to legally allow same-sex marriage. The nationwide provision was made available on July 20^th, 2005.

Denmark
Denmark legalized gay marriage on June 15^th, 2012. The bill for the provision was introduced by the government of Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

France
France was the thirteenth country to accord legal status to same-sex marriage. It’s law was enacted on May 18^th, 2013.

Iceland
Gay marriage legal has been legal in Iceland since June 27^th, 2010. Incredibly, no member of the Parliament voted against the bill.

Luxembourg
Same-sex marriage became legal in Luxembourg since January 1^st, 2015.

Netherlands
Netherlands takes the crown when it comes to legalizing same-sex marriages. The provision has been legal here since April 1^st, 2001!

New Zealand
New Zealand legalized same-sex marriages on 19 August 2013.

Norway
Same-sex marriage was legalized on January 1^st, 2009 in Norway after a when a gender neutral marriage bill was brought into effect.
It was the first Scandinavian country and the sixth country in the world.

Portugal
Same-sex marriages have been legal in Portugal since 5 June 2010. The bill for legalization as pending since December 2009.

South Africa
Same-sex marriage was made legal in South Africa after the Civil Union Act as enacted on November 30^th, 2006.

Spain
Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero began a campaign in 2004 for gay marriage legalization, following which it was indeed legalized on July 3^rd, 2005.

Sweden
Sweden was the seventh country in the world to allow same-sex marriages nationwide. It was made legal since May 1^st, 2009.

United Kingdom
Gay marriage marriage is legal in the UK, except in Northern Ireland. The status of same-sex marriage varies in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

United States
The youngest to join the list, the US effectively legalized gay marriage nation-wide on June 26^th, 2015.

Uruguay
Uruguay legalized same-sex marriage on August 5^th, 2013. A bill for its legalization was passed on December 12^th, 2012.

(image credit: Indiatimes)