Gay marriage around the world (PHOTOS)
Nancy Monahan, right, a retired Coast Guard petty officer, shares a laugh with her wife, Deb Needham, after their wedding at City Hall on December 9, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. December 9th was the first day that same-sex couples can legally wed in Washington state.
France saw its first gay couple tie the knot in a ceremony on Wednesday, after gay marriage was legalized in April.
Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau said "I do" in Montpellier, under tight security, as the country's extreme right were expected to show up at the wedding.
The road to legalization has been bumpy in France, with thousands marching against the bill both before and after its passage. An estimated 150,000 took part in demonstrations on France's Mother's Day on May 26 to protest the legalization of gay marriage.
The issue of gay marriage also saw momentum in Mexico last year, when the supreme court ruled a ban on gay marriage in the state of Oaxaca unconstitutional.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister David Cameron has been facing pushback from members of his own party while trying to legalize same-sex unions.
Here's a look at couples from around the world where gay marriage is now legal.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever! Every gift will be matched 2:1, so your impact will go even further.