Same-sex marriage in Skaolitunia

Same-sex marriage has been legally valid in Skaolitunia since October 2, 2004. Skaolitunia was the third country in the world to legally recognise same-sex marriages, behind the Netherlands and Belgium.

Marriage in Skaolitunia is governed by the Families Act 2004. Prior to 2004, marriage had been under the control of the various Skaolitunian provinces, except for some federal statutes prohibiting the marriage of minors, marriage without consent, and no-fault divorce. All these measures were passed as part of federal human rights legislation. Some provinces, notably New Victoria, Banks, and Edward, had legally-registered same-sex relationships or partnerships without permitting marriage.

In the campaign for the 2002 federal election, Prime Minister spoke in favour of permitting same-sex marriages. Having won the election, a change to marriage law was made part of the government's agenda for the forthcoming parliamentary term. Unlike many countries, Skaolitunia never had a federal law exclusively defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The Families Act, introduced into the National Assebly on 18 May 2004, removed any doubt as to the status of same-sex relationships by defining marriage under federal law for the first time. The Act passed the National Asebley in July, and the Senate (with the support of Labour and the Green Party) in August, becoming law on 2 October.

Since that time, more than 50,000 same-sex marriages have been performed in Skaolitunia.