Estonia becomes first Baltic nation to approve same-sex marriage

The Estonian parliament voted in favour of a government bill that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry and win the same rights as heterosexual couples in a landmark ruling on Tuesday.

“Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love and want to commit to. With this decision we are finally stepping among … all the rest of the democratic countries in the world where marriage equality has been granted,” Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in a statement.

“This is a decision that does not take anything away from anyone but gives something important to many. It also shows that our society is caring and respectful towards each other. I am proud of Estonia.”

She added: “My message (to central Europe) is that it’s a difficult fight, but marriage and love is something that you have to promote.

“We have developed a lot in those 30 years, since we have freed ourselves from the (Soviet) occupation. We are equals among same-value countries.”

The law, which was backed by 55 votes in the 101-seat parliament, will come into effect from 2024.

Gay couples were already able to have civil union ceremonies in the country.

It comes after Edgars Rinkevics - who is openly gay - was elected as president of Latvia last month, making him one of Europe’s few LGBTQ+ heads of state.

The Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been slower to embrace LGBTQ+ rights than most countries in Western Europe.

In largely secular Estonia, 53% of the population supported same-sex marriage in a 2023 poll by the Centre for Human Rights. A decade ago the number was 34%.