Tag Archives: civil unions

The Baltic Times reports: The institution of partnership, as now defined in Lithuania’s Civil Code, is unconstitutional because it only provides for a union between a man and a woman, excluding same-sex relationships, the Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday. “Article 3.229 of the Civil Code, insofar as it allows only a partnership between a man and a woman, runs counter …

Reuters reports: In a Pristina apartment, gay actors laugh and cry their way through rehearsals for a play lampooning homophobic politicians and advocating equal rights for the LGBT community in Kosovo, which may soon become the first Muslim-majority country to allow same-sex unions. The play is scheduled to run during Pride Week in June, but may also coincide with a …

NBC News reports: Pope Francis found an ally in his predecessor Benedict XVI when he spoke in favor of civil partnerships for same-sex couples, the pontiff said in a new book due out in Spain. Francis has confirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to LGBTQ marriages, but has repeatedly said same-sex couples have a right to be protected by civil union …

The Associated Press reports: Japan’s capital has announced it will start recognizing same-sex partnerships to ease the burdens faced by residents in their daily lives, but the unions will not be considered legal marriages. Support for sexual diversity has grown slowly in Japan, but legal protections are still lacking. The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled a draft plan on Tuesday to …

The New York Times reports: The Vatican had required that the interview be filmed with Vatican cameras and that the Vatican be given control over the footage. The Vatican cut out the pope’s remarks on same-sex unions in the edited version provided to Televisa, the two people said. Gone was this comment from the pope: “What we have to create …

The Catholic News Agency reports: In a documentary that premiered Wednesday in Rome, Pope Francis called for the passage of civil union laws for same-sex couples, departing from the position of the Vatican’s doctrinal office and the pope’s predecessors on the issue. “Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a …

Vice News reports: When it comes to LGBTQ rights, Southeast Asia has some work to do. In Singapore, gay sex is still illegal. In the Philippines, trans people face blatant discrimination on a daily basis. But at least one country is set to make progress. If things go as planned, Thailand could become the first in the region to allow …

The Asian Review reports: Thailand may have a reputation for acceptance when it comes to the transgender females that perform in the capital’s extravagant cabaret shows, but the country’s legal system, like many in Southeast Asia, has traditionally been less accommodating to the LGBT community. This appears to be changing, however, as the junta aims to prepare a bill that …

Reuters reports: Romania’s ruling party aims to introduce legislation to legalise civil unions for same-sex couples, the state news agency quoted a cabinet minister as saying, after a referendum to curb such rights failed to draw enough voters to be valid. Sunday’s referendum to change Romania’s constitution to prevent same sex couples from securing the right to marry was seen …

Some pleasant news to end a day otherwise full of hate. Via the Associated Press: Lawmakers in Aruba have voted to grant same-sex couples the right to register their unions and receive benefits granted to married people on the Dutch Caribbean island. Parliament voted 11-5 with four abstentions late Thursday to amend civil code regulations related to marriage to cover …

Liberty Counsel will be thrilled: Public officials who are Catholic should not be obliged to celebrate gay marriages or civil unions, Pope Francis said Tuesday, his first public remarks on the issue since same-sex partnerships were legalised in Italy last week. “Once a law is approved, the state should be respectful of consciences. Conscientious objection must be possible on all …

Earlier today Italy’s legislature made the final approving vote on its civil unions bill after Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for a confidence vote that would have cost him his job if the bill had failed. Tonight LGBT Italians and allies are celebrating at Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain, which has been lit in the rainbow colors in solidarity. After being …

The Local reports: The Italian government finally approved a bill to allow gay civil unions, after a long and bitter debate that has pitted the Catholic Church against Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. In order to speed up the bill’s passage, Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, called a confidence vote in Italy’s lower house on Wednesday saying it was “unacceptable to …

The Local reports: The justice committee of Italy’s lower house of parliament on Wednesday approved the Senate version of a hotly-contested same-sex unions bill, paving the way for the lower house to begin examining the bill’s full text on May 9th. The bill, which Prime Minister Matteo Renzi put his government on the line for after resorting to a confidence …

The Springfield News-Gazette reports: A bed-and-breakfast near Paxton that turned down a same-sex couple’s request to hold a civil-union ceremony there in 2011 has been ordered to pay $30,000 in damages to the couple and $50,000 to their attorneys and to stop violating the Illinois Human Rights Act. Michael R. Robinson, an administrative law judge appointed by the Illinois Human …

The Guardian reports: Thousands of gay rights activists and LGBT families rallied in Rome to protest against the watering down of Italy’s civil unions bill, which no longer envisages adoption rights for homosexual couples. Protesters carried banners that read “We want equality” and sported the gay pride rainbow on their faces, with one man naked apart from a cardboard fig …

By a vote of 173-71, moments ago the Italian Senate approved civil unions. The bill now moves to the House of Deputies where easy passage is expected. LGBT groups are calling the win a bitter victory as it comes without the formal legalization of stepchild adoptions by same-sex parents. Big thanks to JMG reader Andrea for help with the translations …

The Italian Senate has begun its hearing on the hotly-contested civil unions bill, which no longer contains a provision for stepchild adoption by same-sex parents. Watch below. Italian speakers, help us out please. If the bill passes in the Senate today, it moves to the House Of Deputies where it’s expected to gain easy approval and then be signed into …

NOM’s shameless history of using fake photos continued yesterday when they posted the above image of a January 23rd gay rights rally in Milan, claiming that it’s from a recent anti-gay “Family Day” event in Rome. Hundreds of NOM’s supporters have happily shared the photo on Facebook, apparently willing to overlook the many rainbow flags clearly visible. Not to mention …

We had hoped to get a final vote today. Not so. Reuters reports: Italy on Wednesday postponed voting on legislation that offers homosexual couples legal recognition as some allies of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi pushed for the removal of a provision that allows limited adoption rights. This latest delay represented a setback for Renzi, who had promised to enact the …