Same-sex marriage

A court in South Africa ordered the government on Friday to change the law to formally recognise Muslim marriage for the first time to avoid being in breach of the constitution.

Uruguay's charismatic former guerrilla-turned president Jose "Pepe" Mujica earned international acclaim for his austere ways while in office, and for his efforts to legalize marijuana, abortion and same-sex marriage in his traditionally conservative country.

A Bulgarian court has backed the right of a same-sex married couple to reside in the country for the first time in a landmark ruling.

The Sofia City Administrative Court ruled that the French-Australian couple should be allowed to live in Bulgaria together, reports Australian TV network SBS.

The European Court of Justice, EU's top court, ruled on Tuesday that married gay couples have the same residence rights as straight couples in Romania in what is considered a landmark case involving a Romanian LGBT activist and his American partner.

EU countries should recognise the right of all spouses to residency even if they do not allow gay marriage, according to EU's top court.

The European Court of Justice in Brussels ruled on Tuesday that member states may not obstruct the freedom of residence of a European Union citizen by refusing to grant their same-sex spouse the right of residence.

Montenegro's hardline and influential Serbian Orthodox Church and conservative opposition parties have condemned plans to allow same-sex marriage in Montenegro - while LGBT organisations say the proposed law gives them too few rights.

An evangelical pastor who has capitalized on opposition to same-sex marriage was in a tight presidential race in Costa Rica on April 1 against a novelist and former cabinet minister.

Russia's first gay marriage was registered, but it was by mistake, the AP said.
 
The country does not recognize same-sex marriages and there is a law banning gay propaganda to minors. Still, Pavel Stoczko and Evgeny Voicekovski managed to register their marriage.

Advocate General Melchior Wathelet on Thursday asked the European Court of Justice to issue a decision telling Romania to recognise same-sex marriages made abroad.

The court is set to rule on whether Romania should allow same rights to gay couples based on European Union freedom of movement legislation.

The rights of same-sex spouses must be recognised by every member of the EU, even if a country's government has not authorised gay marriage, the European court of justice has been advised.