Same-sex marriages, civil unions, etc.

Activities in other countries: Albania,
Brazil, Czeck Republic, and England

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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.

Albania:

2009-JUL-29: The government website announced that the governing party -- the Democrats -- will introduce a law creating a system of civil weddings for loving, committed same-sex couples. The statement mentioned that it "...may spark debate." However, the party believes that it is necessary in order to stop discrimination against same-sex couples. The Democrats have 74 of Parliament's 140 seats, so the bill is expected to pass. This is an amazing development, because Albania is predominately Muslim and has large Orthodox and Roman Catholic minorities. This would be the first mainky Muslim country to officially recognize same-sex marriages. In about six predominately Muslim countries, sexually active gays and lesbians are executed. 1

	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." 2
	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.. 3
	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.

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:

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:

	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. 6
	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. 7
	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. 8

1. "Albanian government presents draft law to legalize same-sex civil weddings," Associated Press, 2009-JUL-30, at:  http://www.startribune.com/
2. "Gays in Brazilian State quietly tie knot," Associated Press, 2004-MAY-28.
3. "Brazilian prosecutor files suit to legalize gay 'marriage'," LifeSiteNews, 2005-FEB-28.
4. Pavla Horakova, "Czech MPs approve law on same-sex partnerships," Radio Prague, 2005-DEC-19 at: http://www.radio.cz/
5. 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/
6. Terri Judd, "London to Recognize Same-Sex Couples," The Gay Financial Network, 2001-JUN-29, at: http://www.gfn.com/
7. John Carvel, "London couple first to sign gay register," 2001-SEP-4, The Gay Financial Register, at: http://www.gfn.com/
8. Sarah Womack, "London Considers Gay Marriage Register," 2001-NOV-5, The Gay Financial Register, at: http://www.gfn.com/

Copyright © 2002 to 2010 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2002-SEP-24
Latest update: 2010-JUN-29
Author: B.A. Robinson

Web ReligiousTolerance.org

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