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Witness History: The world’s first lesbian couple to get married

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Gay wedding blocks.jpg

08/01/2024 GMT

The world’s first lesbian couple to get married

BBC World Service - Witness History, The world’s first lesbian couple to get married

In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalise gay marriage

In 2001, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage. A collective wedding at midnight televised the first unions.

On 1 April 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage.

Four couples were chosen to take part in a collective wedding at midnight which was broadcast on TV.

Hélène Faasen and Anne-Marie Thus tell Dan Hardoon about the wedding they thought they'd never have. 

(Photo: The four happy couples cut the cake. Credit: Marcel Antonisse/ANP/AFP/Getty Images)

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