In June of last year, Estonia’s Family Law was amended by the country’s parliament to legalize same-sex marriage. The amendment passed with a vote of 55 to 34, which LGBTQ advocates attributed to the progressive administration of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

On Monday, January 1, 2024, Estonia made history by becoming the first ex-USSR state to legally recognize same-sex marriage, allowing couples of the same gender to apply for marriage starting from the beginning of the new year.

Processing times for applications range between one to six months, and the initial approvals are anticipated to be granted by February 2.

Baltic Pride project manager Keio Soomelt stated yesterday that this significant occasion highlights Estonia’s affiliation with Northern Europe. Out of the 27 member states in the EU, 15, including Estonia, have legalized same-sex marriage.

Soomelt praised the revised legislation as a significant declaration by the government, affirming that they are now equal to other couples. It signifies recognition of their worth, entitlement to equivalent services, and access to identical choices.

Since 2013, Estonia has granted legal recognition to civil partnerships for same-sex couples. However, civil unions did not grant adoption rights or parental recognition, unlike married partners. With the introduction of a new law, married same-sex couples can now legally adopt children and officially register their cohabitation, entitling them to government benefits and various privileges.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in Estonia following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Estonia decriminalized homosexuality after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

While neighboring Latvia elected its first openly gay president, Edgars Rinkevics, last year, gay marriage remains illegal there. Parliament passed a law in November allowing same-sex civil unions which was frozen by Rinkevics in response to opposition protests pending a national referendum. Lithuania bans both civil unions and same-sex marriage.

Estonia’s Baltic neighbor – Latvia, also the former Soviet republic, saw the election of its first openly gay president, Edgars Rinkevics, last year; however, same-sex marriage still remains illegal in the country.

In November, Latvia’s parliament passed a law permitting same-sex civil unions, but Rinkevics put it on hold due to opposition protests, awaiting a national referendum.

The third ex-USSR Baltic republic, Lithuania, still prohibits both gay civil unions and same-sex marriage.