Wikipedia

Recognition of same-sex unions in Oceania

Debate has occurred throughout Oceania over proposals to legalize same-sex marriage as well as civil unions.

Recognition of same-sex relationships in Oceania
  Marriage
  Marriages performed elsewhere are recognized (American Samoa)
  No recognition of same-sex couples
  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples (Palau, Tuvalu)
  Same-sex sexual activity illegal, but ban not enforced
  Same-sex sexual activity illegal
(Country names will appear with mouse-overs when map is viewed at full size. Encircling lines are the exclusive economic zones of each state.)
Countries performing civil unions in Oceania
  Gender-neutral civil unions.
  Civil unions never performed.

Currently two countries and eight territories in Oceania recognize some type of same-sex unions. Two Oceanian countries, Australia and New Zealand,[nb 1] and eight territories or states, namely Easter Island, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, New Caledonia, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Pitcairn Islands and Wallis and Futuna allow same-sex couples to legally marry. In American Samoa, same-sex marriage is not performed, but same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions are recognized.

Current situation

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National level

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Status Country Legal since Country population
(Last Census count)
Marriage
(2 countries) 		  Australia 2017[1] 24,754,000
  New Zealand 2013[2] 4,840,750
Total — — 29,594,750
(80% of the Oceanian population)
No recognition
(10 countries)
* same-sex sexual activity illegal
  Federated States of Micronesia — 135,869
  Fiji — 856,346
  Kiribati * — 96,335
  Marshall Islands — 73,630
  Nauru — 12,329
  Papua New Guinea * — 5,172,033
  Samoa * — 179,000
  Solomon Islands * — 494,786
  Tonga * — 106,137
  Vanuatu — 240,000
Subtotal — — 7,366,465
(19.44% of the Oceanian population)
Constitutional ban on marriage
( 2 countries)
* same-sex sexual activity illegal 		  Palau 2008[3][4] 19,409
  Tuvalu * 2023[5] 11,146
Subtotal — — 30,555
(0.1% of the Oceanian population)
Total — — 7,397,020
(20% of the Oceanian population)

Sub-national level

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Status Country Jurisdiction Legal since
Marriage
(8 jurisdictions)
  Chile 2022
  France
  •   New Caledonia
  •   French Polynesia
  •   Wallis and Futuna
 2013[6]
  United Kingdom 2015[7]
  United States Varies
Recognizes marriages performed in other jurisdictions only
(1 jurisdiction) 		  United States 2022
No recognition
(3 jurisdictions)
* same-sex sexual activity illegal 		  New Zealand —

Public opinion

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  Indicates the country/territory has legalized same-sex marriage nationwide
  Indicates that same-sex marriage is legal in certain parts of the country
  Indicates that the country has civil unions or registered partnerships
  Indicates that same-sex sexual activity is illegal
Opinion polls for same-sex marriage by country
Country Pollster Year For Against Neutral[a] Margin
of error 		Source
  Australia Ipsos 2023 63%
 27% [16% support some rights]
 10% not sure ±3.5% [14]
  New Zealand Ipsos 2023 70%
 20% [11% support some rights]
 9% ±3.5% [14]
Opinion polls for same-sex marriage by dependent territory and sub-national entities
Country Pollster Year For Against Neutral[a] Margin
of error 		Source
  Guam University of Guam 2015 55% 29% 16% - [15]


Notes

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  1. ^ a b Also comprises: Don't know; No answer; Other; Refused.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Excluding Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands.

References

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  1. ^ Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017
  2. ^ Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013
  3. ^ Constitutional proposal 2-274: Marriages between men and women only Archived 15 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "The Rights and Liberties of the Palau Constitution by Kevin Bennardo". Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Constitution of Tuvalu 2023" (PDF).
  6. ^ (in French) LOI n° 2013-404 du 17 mai 2013 ouvrant le mariage aux couples de personnes de même sexe
  7. ^ Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnership Ordinance 2015
  8. ^ Chief Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood, District Court of Guam, Order and Opinion Re: Motion for Summary Judgement, Aguero v. Calvo Case 1:15-cv-00009, 8 June 2015
  9. ^ Hawaii Marriage Equality Act of 2013
  10. ^ De La Torre, Ferdie (30 June 2015). "AG says they will be working with Inos admin in drafting regs". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  11. ^ Gonzales-Pagan, Omar. "No Same-Sex Couple Left Behind: SCOTUS Ruling for the Freedom to Marry Would Apply with Equal Force to U.S. Territories". Lambda Legal. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  12. ^ "American Samoa is lone US territory questioning gay marriage validity; no licenses sought". U.S. News & World Report. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Same-sex marriage: American Samoa may be the only territory in the US where the historic Supreme Court ruling does not apply". The Independent. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  14. ^ a b LGBT+ PRIDE 2023 GLOBAL SURVEY (PDF). Ipsos. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  15. ^ UOG Poll: 55% Support Gay Marriage, Pacific News Center, April 22, 2015
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