Same-sex marriages, civil unions, etc.

In other countries

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See the same-sex marriage menu for information on marriages, civil unions, family partnerships etc. in the U.S., Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland.

Brazil:

• 2004-MAR: A lesbian college professor attempted to obtain funding for her partner's expenses during a sabbatical. They had been together for eight years. The university, which would have routinely funded her partner's expenses if they had been married, refused. She lodged a request with the human rights commission in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. A panel of judges issued an opinion which guaranteed the rights of same-sex couples to obtain the same legal protections that are automatically given to married opposite-sex couples. Because of Brazilian law, the only way to overturn this decision would be to have approved an amendment to the country's constitution. Same-sex couples are now free to join in civil unions and receive broad benefits including areas such as inheritance, child custody, insurance benefits, pensions, etc. The public seems to have taken this change in stride. The Roman Catholic church is unhappy. Father Ricardo Paz, a priest and ecclesiastical judge from Porto Alegre, said: "It's a pragmatic attitude which says, 'As long as I don't suffer the consequences, fine' without realizing that this could destroy the concept of family, and confuse our children, especially teens, who will see this as an option." ₁₃
• 2005-FEB-28: Joao Gilberto Gonclaves, a prosecutor, has filed a lawsuit charging the country's prohibition of same-sex marriage as being opposed to the 1988 constitution. The latter outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.. ₁₄
• 2008-JUL-26: Civil unions are currently available in many states of Brazil. The Government of Brazil is considering a law to make them available across the country.

Czech Republic:

• 2005-DEC-16: The Czech parliament passed a bill legalizing civil partnerships for same-sex couples by a vote of 86 to 54 with 7 abstentions. This is the seventh attempt to pass a bill over the past decade, and the first to make it this far. It does not allow same-sex couples to marry or to adopt. However, it does give restricted rights to inheritance and health care. The bill now goes to the Senate where it is not expected to pass. The Christian Democrats voted unanimously against the bill. Their leader, Miroslav Kalousek, said:

"With all respect to homosexual relationships, I believe the law on family is a privilege. That privilege is granted to couples in return for reproduction and the upbringing of a new generation. In this case I see no reason for such a privilege."

He appears to be unaware of the many same-sex couples who bring up children, and the many opposite-sex couples who do not. ₁₇

• 2006-JAN-16: Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands, and eight Protestant Churches issued a joint letter stating that:

"...the family is the basic element of society and is irreplaceable. We think that the adoption of a law on same-sex partnership will further weaken family life and will cause chaos in values, mainly in the young generation." ₁₈

England:

• 2001-JUN-29: The Gay Financial Network reported that London's "Same-sex couples will be able to have their relationship officially recognized for the first time under a scheme to be launched later" in 2001. ₁
• 2001-SEP-6: Ian Burford, a retired actor, and Alexander Cannell, a senior male nurse,  became the first gay couple in Britain to register their partnership in a civil ceremony organized by Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London. ₂
• 2001-NOV-5: Lady Morgan, the federal minister for women and equality, said she was considering introducing a nationwide register for same-sex partners. She said that her purpose was to extend the pension and inheritance benefits that married couples receive, she said. ₃

The country has since created a Civil Partnership law which gives same-sex couples all of the rights of marriage. It comes into effect throughout the UK on 2005-DEC-05. More details.

Germany:

• 2001: The German Parliament passed a law recognized same-sex unions. They may take each other's names, must support each other financially, and may divorce and demand alimony.
• 2003-JUL: Germany's Supreme Court upheld the country's civil union law which gives some of the benefits of marriage to registered same-sex couples. German cardinal Karl Lehman of the Roman Catholic Church condemned this decision as "a hard blow to marriage and the family." He said in a Vatican Radio interview: "Now the associations of homosexuals have a potent arm to obtain further concessions on the road toward full equality with married couples, including the right to adoption." ₇
• 2004-OCT-29: The Cardinal's prediction came true. The German parliament voted to extend additional rights to same-sex couples. They are not compelled to testify against each other in court. Widows and widowers can obtain a state pension. They can adopt the biological children of their spouses. The bill was supported by the ruling Social Democrats and the Greens, and some liberal Free Democrats, but opposed by conservative parties. Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries said: "Same-sex partnerships are a reality in Germany. But gays and lesbians are still not treated equally in how they are able to live their lives, and there is no reason for that." About 5,000 civil unions have been registered since 2001. About 8,000 children are being raised by same-sex couples. ₁₀

Ireland:

• 1993: Ireland decriminalized same-sex activity.
• 2004-SEP-11: Ann Louise Gilligan and Katherine Zappone, a lesbian couple, had married in British Columbia in 2003-SEP. Zappone is a member of Ireland's Human Rights Commission. Gilligan is a Dublin philosophy lecturer. They have been together for 23 years and live together in Brittas, a beachside resort south of Dublin. They returned to Ireland and are now petitioning the court for recognition of their marriage. Their case will be heard in 2005. They are seeking that the Revenue Commissioners allow them to file their income tax forms as a married couple. Tax for married couples is lower than for singles; spouses also pay lower inheritance taxes.  Their lead lawyer, Gerard Hogan, argued that neither the 1937 Irish constitution nor more recent tax laws specifically define marriage as between one man and one woman.
• 2004-OCT-18: The all-party Oireachtas (National Parliament) committee on the Constitution is conducting a review of family related clauses in the Constitution. Part of the review will involve rights for same-sex couples. The committee will be hearing from a variety of groups and legal experts. They plan to report to the government by 2005-JUL. Possible options that they might pass on to legislators may include the abolition of marriage, the introduction of a civil partnership, opening marriage to include same-sex unions, or introducing different categories of marriage. Ms. Jan O'Sullivan of the Labour Party said her party would "favor gay couples having the same rights that everyone else has, whether you call it marriage or something else. We feel the option should be available to gay couples." Barry Andrews of the Fianna F�il party also favor recognition of gay marriages. But he foresaw problems related to adoption and other family rights. ₉

Uruguay:

On 2007-DEC-18, Uruguay's Congress unanimously passed a bill that allows all loving committed couples -- whether opposite sex or same-sex -- to enter into civil unions and obtain rights and obligations similar to that given to married couples, including heath benefits, inheritance, parenting and pension rights.. The lower House of Parliament and the Chamber of Senators had already passed the legislation. Before applying for a civil union, they have to live together for five years, and register with the government.

The legislation was opposed by the Roman Catholic bishops who pressured Catholic legislators to vote against it. The Episcopal Conference of Uruguay (CEP) said:

 "In no way can homosexual cohabitation be accepted because it does not meet the basic criteria defining marriage, it is therefore unacceptable to place it in suchlike equal level." ₁₈

References:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Terri Judd, "London to Recognize Same-Sex Couples," The Gay Financial Network, 2001-JUN-29, at: http://www.gfn.com/archives/x
2. John Carvel, "London couple first to sign gay register," 2001-SEP-4, The Gay Financial Register, at: http://www.gfn.com/archives/
3. Sarah Womack, "London Considers Gay Marriage Register," 2001-NOV-5, The Gay Financial Register, at: http://www.gfn.com/archives/
4. "Spanish Parliament Rejects Gay Marriage," The Gay Financial Network, 2002-SEP-26, at: http://www.gfn.com/archives/
5. "Swiss State Recognizes Gay Partners as Legal Unions," The Gay Financial Network, 2002-SEP-24, at: http://www.gfn.com/news/
6. "Zurich voters approve gay marriage rights," Gay.com Network, 2002-SEP-23, at:
    http://www.gay.com/news/article.html
7. Victor Simpson, "Vatican seeks to stop move toward same-sex unions," Associated Press, at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
8. "Gay Marriage To Be Legal In Spain In 2005," Associated Press, 2004-JUN-30, at: http://www.hrc.org/
9. Liam Reid and Joe Humphreys, "Gay marriage under focus in review of family rights," The Irish Times, 2004-OCT-18, at: http://www.ireland.com/
10. Tisha Steyn, "Germany extends gay rights," News24.com, at: http://www.news24.com/
11. Andrea Botha, "Irish Ruling on gay marriage," 2004-SEP-11, News24.com, at: http://www.news24.com/
12. Julie Stahl, "Israel's Attorney General Gives Boost to Homosexual Couples," Cypercast News Service�, 2004-DEC-09, at: http://www.cnsnews.com/
13. "Gays in Brazilian State quietly tie knot," Associated Press, 2004-MAY-28.
14. "Brazilian prosecutor files suit to legalize gay 'marriage'," LifeSiteNews, 2005-FEB-28.
15. "Catholic Church condemns Spain's same-sex marriage law," E-Alert, Massachusetts Family Institute, 2005-MAY-04
16. "Swiss vote for same-sex rights," Associated Press, 2005-JUN-05, at: http://www.cnn.com/
17. Pavla Horakova, "Czech MPs approve law on same-sex partnerships," Radio Prague, 2005-DEC-19 at: http://www.radio.cz/
18. Uruguay Passes Homosexual Civil Union Law. First Latin American country to cave in to mounting homosexual rights pressure,"LifeSiteNews.com, 2007-DEC-20, at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/

Copyright © 2002 to 2008 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2002-SEP-24
Latest update: 2008-JUL-26
Author: B.A. Robinson

Web ReligiousTolerance.org