Same-sex marriage in the Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands was settled by British mutineers from HMS Bounty, along with the Tahitian men and women who were with them, in 1790.[7] On 1 April 2015, the Island Council passed the Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnerships Ordinance by a unanimous 7–0 vote.[7][8] The ordinance, supported by Mayor Shawn Christian and Deputy Mayor Brenda Christian,[9][10] amended the local Marriage Ordinance to replace references to "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language and add the following definition of marriage:[7] "Marriage" means the union of two people regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identityThe Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance was amended to state that '"marriage" – (a) includes marriage of a same-sex couple, and (b) includes a registered civil partnership that is entered into outside of Pitcairn in accordance with the laws of that place' and '"spouse" – (a) includes a person who is married to a person of the same sex, and (b) unless otherwise specified includes a person who is a party to a registered civil partnership that is entered into outside of Pitcairn in accordance with the laws of that place'.Both intending spouses must be 18 years or older, and one of the parties must have resided in Pitcairn for at least the past fifteen days.Local resident Meralda Warren said the law "wasn't even a major point of discussion until the outside world began catching up on the news".
Marriage
Marriages performed elsewhere are recognized (American Samoa)
No recognition of same-sex couples
Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples (Palau, Tuvalu)
Same-sex sexual activity illegal, but ban not enforced
Same-sex sexual activity illegal
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