MSPs voted by 105 to 18 in favour of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. Establishes belief ceremonies, such as humanist ceremonies as a "third form of marriage", alongside religious and civil events. Allowing transgender people to stay married, rather than having to get divorced, when obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate. Amended guidance on the teaching of the issue in schools. The first same-sex marriages were allowed to take place December 16, 2014.

Sources: scottish.parliament.uk/S4_B… bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-… hrc.org/blog/entry/same-sex…

Defines a hate crime as a criminal act committed because the victim's perceived: disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Protections also include gender identification. Also, In 2014, California became the first state in the U.S. to officially ban the use of gay panic and transgender panic defenses in murder trials.

Sources: leginfo.ca.gov/pub/03-04/bi…

California law states that an adult related to the child, a person named in a deceased parent’s will, a legal guardian, or a person with whom the child has been placed for adoption is permitted to petition to adopt. California §8600, 8601 permit same-sex adoption, and second-parent adoption is legal per case law exhibited via Sharon v. Supreme Court, 31 Cal. 4th 417 (2003). This case also explicitly banned discrimination based on sexual orientation in all adoptions and foster care placements in California.

Sources: leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/disp… hrc.org/laws-and-legislatio… www.lambdalegal.org/states-region/california California Family Code §8600, 8601 Sharon v. Supreme Court, 31 Cal. 4th 417 (2003)

The Section 53 of the Belize Criminal Code states that all kinds of sexual acts, except for the natural sex, are illegal. People found guilty are liable for a 10-year imprisonment. "Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person ... shall be liable to imprisonment for 10 years." Moreover, homosexual immigrants are prohibited an entry to the country.

Sources: belizelaw.org/web/lawadmin/… (Section 53)