Same-sex marriage is legal in parts of Europe.
Same-sex marriage . the Netherlands,Same-sex marriage is legal in The Netherlands proper . Norway , Portugal , South Africa , Spain , Sweden , the United Kingdom,Same-sex marriage is legal England and Wales and Scotland ; though is notably not legal in Northern Ireland . Polls show rising support for legally recognizing same-sex marriage in the Americas , Australia and most of Europe . The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , commonly known as the United Kingdom ( UK ) or Britain , is a sovereign country in western Europe .