Same-sex marriage: Timeline

2001   In the Netherlands Netherlands

The Netherlands is the Europe [i]an part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands [i] , which is formed ... 

, the Act on the Opening up of Marriage goes into effect. The Act allows same-sex couples Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is the union [i] of two people who are of the same biological sex [i], or gender [i] ... 

 to legally marry for the first time in the world since the reign of Nero Nero

Nero 'Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus , born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called ... 

.

2003   The Massachusetts Supreme Court, in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, rules anti-same-sex marriage laws unconstitutional in Massachusetts Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the northeastern [i] ... 

.

2005   Spain Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i]. ... 

 joins Belgium Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe [i] bordered by the Netherlands [i] ... 

 and the Netherlands in permitting same-sex marriage.