CHRONOLOGY: Legal progress for same-sex couples

(Reuters) - The California law allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry is likely to lead to challenges in other states where laws define marriage as only between a man and a woman.

The California law takes effect on Monday after the state's Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriages on May 15.

Here is a look at legal history of rights for same-sex couples in several countries since 1989.

1989

June - Denmark passes a law allowing homosexuals to enter a registered partnership, giving them the same housing, pension and immigration rights as married heterosexual couples.

1999

December - Vermont's top court permits same-sex civil unions, a first decision of its kind in the United States.

1993

August - Norway becomes the second country to allow gays and lesbians to have registered partnerships, giving them rights almost equal to those of married couples.

1994

June - Sweden's parliament approves law allowing same-sex marriage in ceremonies similar to a civil marriage.

2000

December - The Netherlands approves laws allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. Dutch law had recognized registered partnerships since 1998.

July - Carolyn Conrad and Kathleen Peterson in Vermont become the first same-sex couple in the United States to be legally united.

2002

July - Germany allows gay couples to register partnerships with local civil authorities.