Same-sex marriage: Where in the world is it legal?

Alabama is the latest U.S. state to change its stance on gay marriage and start issuing some marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This is despite Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore's instructions to the probate judges to dismiss the federal ruling.

Across the Atlantic in Europe, a low turnout at a referendum in Slovakia on Saturday failed to strengthen a ban on gay marriage and prevent gay couples from adopting. The poll, organized by Alliance for the Family, also asked voters whether sex education and euthanasia should be made optional at school.

As it stands, the following 18 countries have legalized same-sex marriage and two allow the union to take place in some jurisdictions.

COUNTRIES WHERE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS LEGAL

2000 The Netherlands

2003 Belgium

2005 Canada

2005 Spain

2006 South Africa

2009 Sweden

2009 Norway

2010 Portugal

2010 Iceland

2010 Argentina

2012 Denmark

2013 Uruguay

2013 New Zealand

2013 France

2013 England / Wales

2013 Brazil

2014 Luxembourg

2014 Scotland

COUNTRIES WHERE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS LEGAL IN SOME JURISDICTIONS

2003 United States

2009 Mexico

Source: Pew Research Center, January, 2015