Europe

Estonia in 2014 became the first former Soviet republic to approve gay civil unions, but Parliament has not yet adopted laws required to implement that decision.

Slovenians held a referendum Sunday on whether to allow same-sex marriage for the first time in any of the former communist nations of Central and Eastern Europe.

Left-of-center parties used their outright parliamentary majority to ensure the bills passed Friday.

Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a bill that bans discrimination of gays, key legislation intended to help pave the way for visa-free travel between Ukraine and the European Union.

Turkish police used water cannons and tear gas against LGBT pride marchers trying to rally in Istanbul’s central square on Sunday, forcing the thousands of demonstrators to gather several blocks away.

The legislation passed through an initial reading in October, but had been stalled until Wednesday’s vote. Another parliamentary vote is required before the legislation is submitted to Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, whose signature is necessary for the legislation to become law.

Participants in colorful outfits waved rainbow flags and standards from Spain, Britain, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia, among others, as they marched and danced to loud music in central Riga.

At least 25 people were detained and more than a dozen were injured after assailants attacked a gay pride rally in Kiev on Saturday, throwing flares, smoke bombs and tear gas at marchers and police.

The lights show couples — a man and a woman, two women or two men. Set up recently at 47 crossings, they were to be taken down in June, after the conclusion of several gay-friendly events.

The prime minister of Luxembourg has married his partner a year after the tiny, staunchly Roman Catholic nation’s parliament approved a law allowing same-sex marriage.