Same-sex marriage in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
Same-sex marriage in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba is legal, following the entry into force of a law enabling same-sex couples to marry on 10 October 2012. The change to the Civil Code of the Caribbean Netherlands was proposed by the Dutch House of Representatives rather than the Rutte Government which preferred to negotiate the change with the islands first. The issue was very controversial on the island of Sint Eustatius, with many Christian islanders opposing the principle of the law and because of the perceived "neocolonialism" of the Netherlands imposing such a law on its overseas municipalities.
Article 1:30 of the Civil Code was amended to read:
The first same-sex marriage was performed on Saba on 4 December 2012 between two men, one Aruban and one Venezuelan, who were both residents of Aruba. The first same-sex wedding in Bonaire was celebrated in May 2013.
Same-sex marriages and registered partnerships performed elsewhere have been legally recognised on the islands since 1 January 2011.
