Tag Archives: civil unions

Graphic by Scott Wooledge.

Via the Washington Blade: Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Monday signed a bill into law that will allow gays and lesbians in the South American country to enter into civil unions. “The civil union law is a vindication in the struggle for sexual diversity rights,” said Bachelet during the signing ceremony that took place at the Presidential Palace in Santiago, …

By a vote of 14-8 Italy’s Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced a civil unions bill that would also allow gay couples to adopt each others’ children and visit each other in the hospital. Outside adoptions by same-sex couples would remain banned. Same-sex marriages conducted legally in foreign countries would be recognized domestically as civil unions. The bill is opposed by …

Thousands of Peruvians rallied in Lima’s Plaza San Martin on Saturday following last week’s rejection of a civil unions bill by the national legislature. (Via Andres Duque)

Translation: “Civil unions: rejected. It’s a shame to see how homophobia takes power in Congress. Let’s show our outrage on the streets! Everyone to Plaza San Martin now!”

The Peruvian Congress is about to vote on civil unions, prompting Monsignor Luis Barbaren to call the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Carlos Bruce, a “faggot.” Barbaren: “He said he’s gay, but gay is not a Peruvian word. The word is maricon (faggot).” Barbaren’s words came at a ceremony held today to honor the Catholic victims of the terrorist group Shining Path. …

Via the Associated Press: Greece’s new left-wing government has promised to grant same-sex couples legal status, in response to a 2013 international court decision condemning the country for discrimination. Justice Minister Nikolaos Paraskevopoulos told parliament Monday that civil partnerships, first legislated in 2008, would be extended to gay couples but did not say when the changes were planned. The pledge …

Via the Washington Blade: A bill that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions in Chile on Wednesday received final approval in the South American country’s Congress. The Chilean Senate approved the measure by a 25-6 vote margin with three abstentions. The bill passed in the country’s House of Representatives by a 78-9 vote margin. “A historic step …

“At last Rome has adopted a register of civil unions. It is a long-awaited result which puts our city more and more in the forefront of the rights of individuals and the recognition of emotional ties, stable and durable. Today the capital of Italy gives the signal that, in this city, love is the same for everyone. So I want …

Via Slate: You might not typically think of Jeopardy! as a source of opinion on the hot-button political issues of the day, but on the Jan. 21 edition of the game show, a saucy clue challenged that perception. Under a category called “Civil” the $800 clue read as follows: “Some opponents of same-sex marriage say, hey gay folks, how about …

Last night Chile’s Chamber of Deputies overwhelmingly approved a civil unions bill with a vote of 86-23.  Two weeks ago the Chilean Senate approved the bill with a 28-6 vote after which anti-gay protesters had to be forcibly ejected from the gallery. The bill must now return to the Senate for another vote as the Deputies last night approved an …

By a vote of 235-185, Polish lawmakers have rejected placing a civil unions bill on the agenda for the coming legislative session. This is the third consecutive year that such an action was rejected. The 2013 attempt to pass a civil partnerships bill failed to advance by 17 votes.

Via Gay Star News: Six LGBTI rights activists have been charged with disturbing the peace because they kissed at an anti-gay protest in March. The public prosecutor’s office notified the six of the charges earlier this month. The three men and three women held a spontaneous, uncoordinated protest against an anti-gay group Sentinelle in Piedi, Standing Sentries, in Perugia, central …

Ilves was born in Sweden to Estonian refugees and was raised in New Jersey. He’s a graduate of Columbia and has a master’s degree from Penn. Dare we call him the first Ivy League president of a former Soviet republic?

Estonia today became the first former Soviet republic to approve a civil unions bill. The vote was very close. Via the Associated Press: In a 40-38 vote, lawmakers voted Thursday in favor of a civil partnership act that recognizes the civil unions of all couples regardless of gender. Twenty-three lawmakers were absent or abstained in the third and final reading …

#01_October on 1989 Denmark introduces the world’s first legal modern same-sex civil union called “registered partnership”. — This Day In History (@Wiki_History) October 1, 2014 Photo by Rex Wockner. UPDATE: There’s a great write-up on Wilson Quarterly. It begins: On October 1st 1989, An event unlike any before in history took place at the Copenhagen town hall in Denmark. That …

CNN reports: A Missouri police officer involved in maintaining security in troubled Ferguson was put on administrative leave Friday after a video surfaced showing him railing about the Supreme Court, Muslims, and his past — and perhaps, he said, his future — as “a killer.” The officer, Dan Page of the St. Louis County Police Department, became something of a …

Croatia’s parliament today approved civil unions by a vote of 89-16. JMG reader Andrea provides us with a translation of the linked article: According to the Italian news agency ANSA the Croatia legislature approved in the third reading (89-16 vote) the Registered Partnership bill. This bill will recognize gay and lesbian couples as “form of family life” and they will …

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Via Malta Today: Today history will be written in Malta, when Parliament is expected to legalise civil unions. Same-sex couples will have the same rights and obligations as married persons of the opposite sex, including the possibility to adopt children. When one thinks that until a few years ago, Malta did not even allow divorce, one can only conclude that …