New study finds that one billion people now live in a country with marriage equality

A new study has found that around one billion people now live in a country where same-sex couples can legally marry.

The study was conducted by Australian LGBT activist, Tony Pitman, and reveals that the ‘the tipping point’ came when Colombia legalised same-sex marriage.

In a statement to Gay Star News Pitman said, “The turning point came a few weeks ago when Colombia and then several Mexican states all achieved marriage equality within a few days. That pushed us up over a billion for the first time in history.”

Marriage equality continents

Gay Star News states that Europe is the continent with the most countries to have same-sex marriage which is followed by South America and then North America. South Africa is the only country in the African continent to have same-sex marriage.

“When you think that the first ever same-sex marriages took place in the Netherlands in 2001, that means we’ve gone from zero to a billion in just 15 years. That’s an extraordinary rate of social progress. We’re witnessing an historic shift on a truly global scale.”

The world’s population is estimated to be around 7.33 billion and the number of people living with equal marriage is set to be around 13.8%.

Marriage Equality by Pop

Though this number could rise if Australia votes and becomes the next country to allow same-sex marriage.

Pitman, addressing Australia’s lack of equal marriage laws, says that “it’s disappointing” that Australia will not be included as part of the first one billion people to achieve marriage equality.

Pitman also referenced Orlando and said he hopes that the study will “provide comfort” to the LGBT community.

You can read more about the study over at Gay Star News.

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