Aruba is one of the southernmost islands (Antilles) that are affiliated with the Kingdom of the Netherlands in far off Europe. Along with Bonaire and Curaçao, these three tiny islands (called the ABC islands) just off the north coast of Venezuela are quiet nests of gay-friendliness where they live in a tolerant and mostly open
Homosexuality is legal in Aruba. Adoption by same-sex couples is legal. As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba is obliged to recognize same-sex marriages registered in the Netherlands as valid. The Aruban government initially declared same-sex unions illegal, but was challenged by a lesbian couple who had legally married in the Netherlands and then moved to the island. The case went to the Dutch Supreme Court, which ruled on 13 April 2007 that Aruba must recognize all marriages registered in the Netherlands.
Name: Aruba
Population: 104500
Capital: Oranjestad - Pop. 32750
Area: 193 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Dutch, Papiamento
Religion: Christian
Status of Homosexuality: Legal
Telephone Country Code: 297
Gay Aruba News & Reports, 2009/Jan/01
Netherlands Forces Homosexual ‘Marriage’ on Aruba, 2007/Apr/18
