Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker published his decision on whether to uphold or overturn the California voter-approved ban known as Proposition 8 (or the California Marriage Protection Act) that would insert language into the state constitution saying that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." [Update: Proposition 8 was just overturned.] Walker's ruling is one of a number of recent decisions made by voters and governments around the world affecting the ability of same-sex couples to marry legally. Around the U.S., several states are challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage act, both Washington DC and Mexico City legalized same-sex weddings last March, and on July 15th, Argentina became the first Latin American country to recognize same-sex marriage. Collected here are a handful of recent photos of couples in several countries, all in the process of getting married.

1. Argentine actor Ernesto Larrese (right) and his partner, actor manager Alejandro Vannelli, kiss each other after getting married in Buenos Aires, Argentina on July 30, 2010. Larrese and Vanelli were the first gay couple to be married at the Argentine capital after President Cristina Fernandez signed a new law on July 21 making Argentina the first country in Latin America to legalize marriage for same-sex couples. (JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)

2. Actor Ernesto Rodriguez Larrese, left, and Alejandro Vanelli hold hands after getting married in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, July 30, 2010. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko)