Ex-Soviet State Estonia Set to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

The new President of Estonia’s parliament, Lauri Hussar has vowed to introduce legislation and adopt a law to legalize same-sex marriage before July, according to The Gay Times. The bill would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry and have the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples.

Same-sex marriage is still a controversial issue for the church and conservatives in the country, but if passed, Estonia would be the first Baltic state to give queer couples the right to tie the knot. 

In an interview with Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), Hussar said that more details about the legislation will become clear “in probably four weeks.” 

Hussar referenced the latest public opinion polls that showed more than 50 percent of Estonians are supporting same-sex marriage. He believes that helping Ukraine has unified Estonia, forced Estonians to take stock of what’s important, and shifted the country’s perspectives on issues. 

“So, it is not an issue like it has been six, or seven years ago, the mood has changed,” said Hussar. In the LRT interview, he also said, “I want to point out one very interesting thing, that in every society where same-sex marriage has been legalized, it hasn’t been any issues anymore, because the issue has been closed and the society moved forward.”

Local LGBTQ+ activists hope so, and they also hope Estonia’s parliament will back the government bill when legislators vote early next week!