LGBT global news 24-7

Home » Content about Marriage law

Content about Marriage law

January 25, 2013
The seven ways civil partnership isn't the same as marriage

GSN compares civil partnership and marriage as the UK government publishes its gay marriage bill for England and Wales

Britain is moving towards equal marriage but gay and lesbian couples already have access to civil partnerships. So is it really the case that 'separate but equal' is not truly equal?

As Conservative equality minister Maria Miller introduces The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales today (25 January), we examine the differences and see what impact the new bill will have, if it becomes law.

December 20, 2012
Australian first as sitting MP marries partner in Spain

South Australian MP Ian Hunter has become the first Australian politician to enter into a same-sex marriage while in office

South Australian state MP Ian Hunter has married his long time partner Leith Semmens, in the process becoming the first Australian politician to enter into a same-sex marriage while in office.

The couple travelled out of Australia, which still bans same-sex nuptials, to the Spanish city of Granada for their ceremony, which was presided over by the mayor of the municipality of Jun, Jose Antonio Rodriguez Salas.

17 friends and relatives travelled to Spain for the ceremony, which the couple told AFP was not in anyway a political stunt.

August 22, 2012
Mexico's states debate gay marriage laws

Two years after the Supreme Court ordered all 31 states to recognize gay marriages officiated in Mexico City, some states begin to plan their own same-sex marriage laws

In 2010, Mexico's Supreme Court mandated the whole country recognize gay marriages conducted in the capital.

As a result of the 9-2 decision, all 31 states were to honor the rights of gay couples married in Mexico City, but they were not required to pass their own same-sex marriage legislation.

Two years later, some Mexican states are setting plans in motion to allow same-sex marriages.

According to Infonor, the northern state of Coahuila will consider modifying the state's civil code in order to permit same sex couples to marry.

July 15, 2012
Argentina celebrates two years of gay marriage

Since 2010, the first country to legalize same-sex marriage has married over 6,000 gay couples and has approved the marriage of binational and foreign gay couples

Two years ago today Argentina legalized gay marriage.

Despite opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, the Argentine Senate approved changes to Article 172 of the Civil Code to legalize gay marriage in the country on 15 July 2010.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner ratified the law on 21 July.

July 4, 2012
Spain delays gay marriage verdict

The decision to uphold or strike gay marriage to be made once four new justices are elected into office in the coming days
 

Spain's Constitutional Court has postponed ruling on a gay marriage law appeal.

Since the legalization of gay marriage on 3 July 2005, the country's Popular Party has appealed the law deeming it unconstitutional.

According to El Pais, the court has decided to hold off on whether or not to honor the appeal until after four new justices are appointed in the coming week.

The new appointments have been pending since the Popular Party won a majority in November 2011.

June 15, 2012
Denmark celebrates green light for gay weddings

Danish churches celebrate gay and lesbian couples being able to get married inside their buildings

Danish gay and lesbian couples can officially get married in churches, and across the country several religious buildings are showing their pride.

Numerous churches in Denmark are celebrating the new equal marriage laws that were legislated last week, and come into full effect today.

Charlotte Cappi Grunnet, minister of St. Thomas Church in Frederiksberg, said it was wonderful to be able to finally celebrate.

June 14, 2012
Law Society confirms churches will not be forced to marry gay couples

Solicitors from the Law Society have said the Church of England and Wales will not face a legal backlash

The Law Society has confirmed no British religious organisation will be forced to marry gay couples.

The comments made by the Law Society come after the Church of England and Church of Wales have said they will be forced to solemnise marriages between same-sex couples.

Despite the UK government reassuring religious organisations, the churches have continued to fear legal backlash.

The Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has said they support the government consultation on marriage equality.

June 11, 2012
Uruguay recognizes its first foreign gay marriage

Uruguayan lawmakers say it's a 'paradox' to ban same-sex marriages at home but recognize them if conducted abroad
 

An Uruguayan judge has legally recognized a gay marriage conducted overseas.

The ruling grants the binational Spanish and Uruguayan couple, married in Spain in 2010, the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual couples in Uruguay. 

This case sets a unique precedent for the country's marriage laws since gay marriage, though legal is Spain since 2005, is still not legal in Uruguay.

June 7, 2012
Nearly two-thirds of Kiwis support same-sex marriage

Poll shows building momentum of support for gay marriage in New Zealand

A TVNZ poll has shown that 63% of New Zealanders support gay marriage.

The poll showed that there is a wide generational split on the issue with 80% of 18 to 35-year-olds supporting a change in marriage law, but only 44% of over 55s agreeing with them.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key has said he is ‘personally not opposed’ to same-sex marriage. He said last month he 'might vote for it' if a gay marriage bill was brought to parliament but he would not bring it in himself.

May 4, 2012
Why same-sex marriage is spreading in Europe

With Britain vowing to have same-sex marriages, Italy likely to be pushed into making the leap and France also set to tie the knot under a new president, are gay marriages now unstoppable in Europe?

Italian MP Anna Paola Concia is in a German civil union with her partner Ricarda. But her rights are not recognized in Rome.

It happens to hundreds of couples in the Mediterranean country, who got married and are not recognized by the state.

But Concia is confident Italy will soon change its mind and allow same-sex unions. She told Gay Star News: ‘It will happen in four or five years, marriage equality is an idea that has spread and that now is unstoppable. And the European Union can make a difference.’

January 11, 2012
Celebrants say 'I do' to gay marriage in Australia

Australian celebrants back same-sex marriage and call for change to law.

Gay couples in Australia may be able to walk down the aisle sooner than they thought after the country's national civil celebrants association endorsed same-sex marriage.

In a statement issued today, the National President of the Australian Federal of Civil Celebrants (AFCC), Lance Tapsell, said they are committed to marriage equality.

They are keenly awaiting changes in legislation which will end discrimination for couples in loving same-sex relationships, he added.