Another country has legalized same-sex marriage in an almost unanimous vote. The small country of Luxembourg has joined the other 16 countries that allow marriage equality.

With an openly gay prime minister, it may not come as a surprise for the tiny country to legalize same-sex marriage. Luxembourg elected Xavier Bettel in December, and now his government has passed a resolution that would legalize same-sex marriage by a 56-4 vote.

The Chamber of Deputies overwhelmingly supported the new law, part of a larger bill that fundamentally changes marriage in the country, according to The Associated Press. Along with legalizing same-sex marriage, the new law also changes the legal age for marriage to 18 and drops legal requirements for marriage, like a pre-wedding medical exam and a 300-day waiting period that can be imposed on widows and widowers before they can remarry. And the law implements fines and prison terms to combat forced marriages.

The law will go into effect next year or within six months of the official announcement. It also allows gay couples to adopt children.

"Gay people should have the same rights as heterosexuals," Green MP Viviane Loschetter said. "With this law, we do not throw overboard all the values of our society. All we have done is give equal rights to gay people. We formally recognize a form of relationship that has always existed."

The news has also been received well by LGBT organizations, like Human Rights Watch (HRW).

"This is a happy day for Luxembourg and for those who favor equal rights for all, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Boris Dittrich, HRW's advocacy director.

"The law will enable gays and lesbians in Luxembourg to marry the person they love and will strengthen the fundamental rights of everyone in Luxembourg to equality and non-discrimination," he said.

According to the Independent, the four representatives who rejected the measure are "Gaston Gibéryen, Fernand Kartheiser and Roy Reding, of the right-wing Alternative Democratic Reform Party, and Aly Kaes, who was reportedly rebelling against the Christian Social People's Party."