Andorra legalises same-sex marriage in landmark amendment

Andorra has become the 34th country to legalise same-sex marriage in a landmark amendment to the family code.

While stable unions for same-sex partners were first introduced to the nation in 2005, and civil unions in 2014, this latest act of legislation ensures full equality for all couples in the country.

The process began back in November of 2020 when the three parties forming the government coalition - the Democrats for Andorra, the Liberal Party and Committed Citizens - submitted the bill to the General Council.

The legislation detailed two forms of marriage – civil marriage and canonical marriage, marriage performed by religious authorities, with both conferring equal standing.

#BreakingNews !#Andorra has legalised same-sex marriage! Congrats! 🇦🇩! #gaymarriage #equalrights ❤️🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/7ucdmINdyg

— Same-Sex Marriage Watch (@gmarriagewatch) February 16, 2023

In July 2022, the General Council voted in favour of the bill, opening civil marriage to same-sex couples through amendments to the Family Code. The amended Family Code also recognises the process of legally changing gender and name.

The marriage law was promulgated by Co-Prince Emmanuel Macron in August, and in December the court annulled the distinction between civil and canonical marriage, ruling that the use of two separate terms was unconstitutional.

Same-sex marriage was officially legalised February 17th.

Andorra became the 19th European nation to achieve marriage equality, joining the ranks of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Andorra follows Slovenia which equalised marriage just weeks prior, being the first Eastern European nation to do so.