A recent CNN poll found that 52 percent of Americans support the right to gay marriage, but this trend toward increasing acceptance of gays and lesbians isn’t just limited to the U.S.

Worldwide views on gay rights are also shifting.

Just two years ago, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada and South Africa were the only countries to have legalized gay marriage. Massachusetts was the only U.S. state to do so.
Since 2008, four U.S. states, Washington D.C., five countries, and Mexico City have all legalized same-sex marriage.

“Often courts will make decisions that are predictors of what public opinion is going to be a few years from now,” said Brian Powell, an Indiana University sociology professor and co-author of the upcoming book, “Counted Out: Same-Sex Relations and Americans’ Definitions of Family.”

“Public attitudes don’t change really quickly, but this is one that’s changing really, really quickly,” Powell said.

The fight for gay rights certainly has not been taken on by all nations; the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) published a 2010 report saying 76 countries punish people based on sexual orientation.

Just this week, the first lady of Uganda warned youth of the dangers of homosexuality.

According to Ugandan news site New Vision, First Lady Janet Museveni addressed a youth conference and said, “In God’s word, homosexuality attracts a curse, but now people are engaging in it and saying they are created that way. It is for money. The devil is stoking fires to destroy our nation and those taking advantage are doing so because our people are poor.”