US: Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
Israel: Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
EU: The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
Cambodia: Recognition of a "declaration of family relationship", which may be useful in matters such as housing, but they are not legally binding.
China: Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.
HK: Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
The Pitcairn Islands was settled by British mutineers from HMS Bounty, along with the Tahitian men and women who were with them, in 1790. The islands were rediscovered by the British in 1814 when Captain Thomas Staines made contact with the islanders. Pitcairn Island became a British colony in 1838, and Henderson, Ducie and Oeno were annexed by the British Empire in 1902. In 1938, all four islands were incorporated into a single administrative unit.[1]
The first four local ordinances having application solely to the islands were passed in 1952. One of these ordinances provided for the basis of the islands' legal system, administration and government. Two other ordinances provided for the registration of births and deaths, and for the solemnisation of marriages.[6] The Marriage Ordinance, enacted on 16 October 1952, did not contain an explicit ban on same-sex marriage, but generally assumed married spouses to be "husband and wife".[7]
Same-sex marriage law
Marriage
Federal Recognition. Marriages performed elsewhere in the country (American Samoa)
No recognition of same-sex couples
Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples (Palau, Tuvalu)
Same-sex sexual activity illegal
Same-sex sexual activity illegal, but ban not enforced
(Country names will appear with mouse-overs when map is viewed at full size. Encircling lines are the exclusive economic zones of each state.)
On 1 April 2015, the Island Council passed the Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnerships Ordinance by a unanimous 7–0 vote.[7][8] The ordinance, supported by Mayor Shawn Christian and Deputy Mayor Brenda Christian,[9][10] amended the local Marriage Ordinance to replace references to "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language and add the following definition of marriage:[7]
"Marriage" means the union of two people regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity
The Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance was amended to state that '"marriage" – (a) includes marriage of a same-sex couple, and (b) includes a registered civil partnership that is entered into outside of Pitcairn in accordance with the laws of that place' and '"spouse" – (a) includes a person who is married to a person of the same sex, and (b) unless otherwise specified includes a person who is a party to a registered civil partnership that is entered into outside of Pitcairn in accordance with the laws of that place'.[7]Civil partnerships, known in Pitkern as sivil paatneshep (pronounced[ˈsɪwəlpɑːtˈnɛʃeʔp]),[11] cannot be performed in Pitcairn but those performed abroad are recognised as marriages on the islands.
The ordinance was given royal assent by GovernorJonathan Sinclair on 5 May. It was published on 13 May 2015,[7][12][13] and came into effect the following day. Both intending spouses must be 18 years or older, and one of the parties must have resided in Pitcairn for at least the past fifteen days. The marriage license is issued by the Registar of Marriages, and the marriage ceremony must take place within three months of the notice of marriage.[14]
The move to legalise same-sex marriage was widely published on international media.[15][16][17] Deputy Governor Kevin Lynch said that the change had been suggested by British authorities. Local resident Meralda Warren said the law "wasn't even a major point of discussion until the outside world began catching up on the news".[8] None of the c. 50 Pitcairn Islanders residing on the island is known to be in a same-sex relationship.[18]