Estonia Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage, Becoming First Former Soviet Nation to Do So

Estonia's parliament passed legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry starting next year.
Estonia is the first Baltic country and first former Soviet republic to legalize same-sex marriage.
The bill was backed by Estonia's ruling coalition, showing the country aligns with Western values of freedom and equality over Russia's conservatism.
While homosexuality was criminalized in the Soviet Union, Estonia has rapidly progressed on LGBTQ rights since declaring independence in 1991 and joining Western institutions like the EU.
The new law will take effect in 2024 and allow same-sex couples in registered partnerships to convert their status to marriage.