SLOVENIA: Marriage Bill Advances

Via RTV Slovenia:

The Committee of the National Assembly voted 11-2 on an amendment to the law on marriage and family relations, which changes the definition of marriage. Will same-sex partnership be seen as equal to a marriage between a man and a woman? The debate lasted for several hours in the parliamentary committee for Labour, Family, Social Affairs and the Disabled. Members discussed the amendment of the Law on Marriage and Family Relations. The amendment was proposed by the opposition party, United Left, which says that marriage applies to two people – regardless of gender.

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“This is an infinitely practical suggestion; it proposes treating all couples with dignity and respect. Such a move would signal that Slovenia values its same-sex couples just as much as its heterosexual citizens; based on basic equality principles and common sense” said Evelyne Paradis, ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director. A new Family Code which extended rights and protections currently enjoyed by married heterosexual couples to same-sex unions in Slovenia was previously approved by the parliament in 2011. However, that law was rejected by a narrow margin in a referendum held the following year.

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