Estonian MPs on Tuesday became the first Baltic country to vote to legalize same-sex marriage.
The Tallinn Congress allowed two people to marry regardless of sex. The law will go into effect next year.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Karas said after the vote: “This decision does not take anything away from anyone, on the contrary, it gives something important to many people.”
“People should have the right to marry whoever they love and want to commit to,” Karas said, adding that he is “proud of Estonia.”
The vote was passed with 55 votes to 34.
The Callas administration also survived a vote of no confidence in the decision.
As of 2014, same-sex couples can form civil partnerships in Estonia.
But only now has Congress closed a loophole in the law that prevents same-sex couples from enjoying the same benefits as heterosexual couples.
