# Recognition of same-sex unions in Micronesia

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See also
Same-sex union legislation
Same-sex union court cases
Timeline of same-sex marriage
Recognition of same-sex unions in Africa
Recognition of same-sex unions in Asia
Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe
Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas
Recognition of same-sex unions in Oceania
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Notes
1 2 Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
↑ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
↑ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
1 2 Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations of the US. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
↑ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights in Israel. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
1 2 3 4 5 The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
↑ A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
↑ Guardianship agreements confer some limited legal benefits in China, including decisions about medical and personal care.
↑ Hong Kong provides inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
↑ Indian courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
↑ Most Japanese cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
↑ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse provide residency rights in Namibia.
↑ Romania provides hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status. :
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The Federated States of Micronesia does not recognise same-sex marriage, civil unions or any other form of recognition for same-sex couples. Laws in its four states do not permit marriages between people of the same sex.

## Background

Micronesia has two Polynesian outlier islands, Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro, which may, similarly to many other Polynesian societies, recognise a third gender role in their cultures. In Samoa and American Samoa, such individuals are known as faʻafafine and are considered an integral part of Samoan society. Historically, if they wished to marry and have children, they would marry women, thus creating the possibility for marriages between two female-presenting individuals to be performed in Samoan culture. It is possible a similar custom exists on these two islands, where they would be known as hakaahina in the Kapingamarangi language and as hagahahine in the Nukuoro language. A similar third gender structure exists in Chuuk where such individuals are known as wininmwáán (pronounced), translating to "women who behave like men". However, "this does not necessarily mean that wininmwáán are sexually active with females [or marry females]".
According to the Kaleidoscope Australia Human Rights Foundation in 2015, Micronesia "had in recent years given several indications of its support for human rights, including those of LGBTI persons. Despite this, the Federated States of Micronesia [h]as yet to introduce legislative change or take other meaningful steps to recognise these rights." It enacted comprehensive legislation including sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in employment and other areas in 2018, but does not recognize same-sex unions in any form. As a result, same-sex couples cannot access the rights and benefits of marriage, including inheritance, tax benefits, domestic violence protections, and alimony, among others. Civil unions are also not recognized in Micronesia. The Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia does not address marriage or the family, and does not explicitly forbid same-sex marriages. There has been no political and societal movements to legalize same-sex marriages or civil partnerships, and the issue is seldom discussed in civil society.

## State laws

Pohnpei laws recognize three types of marriage: statutory civil marriage, statutory religious marriage (Pohnpeian: inou sarawi), and statutory customary marriage (pwopwoud en tiahk en sahpw). Marriage between partners of the same sex is not explicitly banned, but laws generally refer to married spouses as "husband and wife". Civil marriage requires a marriage license issued by the Governor of Pohnpei, and solemnization of the marriage to be performed by civil authorities. Religious marriages are solemnized by an ordained minister of a religious denomination, whereas customary marriages are solemnized according to local traditions. The Constitution of Pohnpei does not expressly address marriage, but Article 5 on "family obligations" states: "To strengthen and retain good family relations in Pohnpei, as needed, this Constitution recognizes and protects the responsibility and authority of parents over their children".
Chuuk statutory laws do not forbid same-sex marriages, but generally refer to the partners as "husband and wife" or "the male" and "the female". With respect to a marriage involving one or more non-citizens, the statutes say: "The male at the time of contracting the marriage be at least 18 years of age and the female at least 16 years of age..." In addition to civil marriage, the state also recognizes customary marriages (Chuukese: apwúpwúlú fán eóreni) performed according to local Chuukese traditions. The Constitution of Chuuk does not address marriage or ban same-sex marriage.
Customary marriages (Yapese: maabgol ni rogon yalean) are also recognized in Yap. The Constitution of Yap does not address same-sex marriage or marriage explicitly.
The marriage laws in Kosrae assume the partners to be of the opposite sex. Section 16.101 of the Kosrae State Code reads: "A marriage performed in the State is valid, if: (a) The male at the time of marriage is at least eighteen years of age and the female at least sixteen years of age, and, if the female is less than eighteen years of age, the marriage has the consent of at least one of the female's parents or her guardian; [...]". The Constitution of Kosrae states that "the lawful authority to perform marriage ceremonies shall not be vested in those individuals who hold public office, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker, Vice Speaker, or any State Court justices." In January 2005, a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages was proposed to the Kosrae State Legislature. A committee chaired by Yosiwo George recommended approval of the measure, but eventually the ban was not passed into law.

## Religious performance

Micronesia's largest religious organisations are the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Christ. The Catholic Church does not permit same-sex marriages in its places of worship, while the United Church of Christ, based in the United States, allows its clergy to officiate at same-sex marriages. A resolution to allow same-sex marriages in the United Church was supported by an estimated 80 percent of delegates at the General Synod in 2005. Pastors are under no obligation to solemnize same-sex marriages if this would violate their personal beliefs.
In December 2023, the Holy See published Fiducia supplicans, a declaration allowing Catholic priests to bless couples who are not considered to be married according to church teaching, including the blessing of same-sex couples.