2014 Event U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry criticizes Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, for legislation he signed last week to ban same-sex marriage and criminalize gay rights groups and their activities; the law includes penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment 2014 Event After a federal judge ruled that Utah's same-sex ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court had to place the lower-court ruling on hold pending an appeal by the state 2013 Event An overwhelming 65% of Croatian voters vote yes for a referendum on a proposal to outlaw same-sex marriage 2013 Event Hawaii joins 15 other states in legalizing same-sex marriage 2013 Event The Australian Government institutes a legal challenge to same-sex marriage in its High Court in response to the Australian Capital Territory becoming the first territory in Australia to legalize same-sex marriage 2013 Event New Zealand's first same-sex marriages take place since the country's parliament passed the Marriage Equality Bill in April 2013 Event In the state of California, the 2008 Proposition 8 ballot measure is upheld in an appeals case, allowing same-sex marriage to continue 2013 Event In France, an amended bill legalizing same-sex marriage is passed, opening the door for Francois Holland to promulgate it 2013 Event In Paris, hundreds of thousands of people protest the legalization of same-sex marriage in France; the protest turns violent after access to the Champs-Elysees is denied 2012 Event The U.S. elections result in three states approving same-sex marriage: Maine, Maryland and Washington 2012 Event The State Senate of Maryland approves a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the state 2011 Event The General Assembly of Rhode Island passes legislation allowing same-sex couples to enter civil unions 2011 Event New York becomes the largest state to legalize same-sex marriage when Governor Andrew Cuomo signs the New York State Marriage Equality Law 2011 Event In Rome, Italy, over 500,000 people demonstrate, demanding same-sex rights 2011 Event In Brazil, the Supreme Federal Court rules that same-sex couples receive the same rights of existing civil unions 2010 Event A bill to allow same-sex civil unions is vetoed by Linda Lingle, U.S. governor of Hawaii 2010 Event The parliament in Portugal approves a bill legalizing same-sex marriage 2005 Event South Africa is the 5th country to recognize same-sex marriages 2005 Event Canada becomes the 4th country to permit same-sex marriage 2005 Event Spain becomes the 3rd country to permit same-sex marriage
