Like the first recorded same-sex marriage between two men in ancient Rome, the first recorded same-sex marriage between two women has not been preserved. However, the first legally recognized same-sex marriage between two women is believed to have occurred in the Netherlands in 2001, shortly after the country legalized same-sex marriage.
On April 1, 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, and the first legal same-sex marriage between two women in the country is believed to have taken place shortly thereafter. The Netherlands was followed by a number of other countries in legalizing same-sex marriage, including Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, and Norway.
In the United States, the legalization of same-sex marriage has had a more complicated history. In 1996, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was passed, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman for the purposes of federal law. However, in 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges that the Constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriage, effectively striking down DOMA and making same-sex marriage legal throughout the United States.
Today, same-sex marriage is legal in over 20 countries around the world, and it continues to be a topic of debate and controversy in many others. Despite the progress that has been made in the recognition of same-sex marriage, there is still a long way to go in terms of ensuring full equality and acceptance for LGBTI+ individuals around the world.