April of 2013 had turned out to be a great month for marriage equality, with three countries, France, New Zealand, and Uruguay legalising same sex marriages; in addition to three states in United State of America adopting marriage equality.
New Zealand– New Zealand parliament extended civil union rights to its gay citizens by amending the country’s 1955 marriage act. Conservative religious organizations have voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would undermine the traditional family institution. The amended law will allow gay couples to jointly adopt children for the first time and will also allow their marriages to be recognized in other countries. The law will take effect in late August.
France– Despite the violence, intimidation and lying rhetoric from those opposed to the bill, France’s National Assembly on Tuesday voted 331 to 225 in favour of France’s marriage equality legislation, which also include adoption rights for same-sex married couples. While this was largely procedural as the lower chamber had previously approved the bill and was simply giving a nod to reconcile the legislation with the Senate-approved version, there was always very remote chance that lawmakers might cave to pressure and withdraw the bill. They did not, and marriage equality is expected to be law by August.
Uruguay– Uruguayan congress voted to legalise same-sex marriage, making Uruguay the second country in Latin America and the third in all the Americas to do so.71 of 92 lawmakers in the lower house voted in favor of the proposal, one week after the senate passed it by a wide majority. In Uruguay, critics of the bill included the Catholic Church and other Christian organizations, which said it would endanger the institution of the family.
Uruguay has created a single set of rules for all people, gay or straight. Instead of the words ‘husband and wife’ in marriage contracts, it refers to the gender-neutral ‘contracting parties.’ All couples will get to decide which parent’s surname comes first when they have children. All couples can adopt, or undergo in-vitro fertilization procedures. The legislation also updates divorce laws in Uruguay, which in 1912 gave women only the right to unilaterally renounce their wedding vows as a sort of equalizer to male power. Now either spouse will be able to unilaterally request a divorce and get one. The law also raises the age when people can legally marry from 12 years old for girls and 14 for boys to 16 for both genders.
United States of America– The senates’ of Nevada and Rhodes Island have said yes to marriage equality. On the other hand, Delaware’s state House voted to narrowly approve marriage equality in a 23-18 vote.The measure now heads to the Democratic-controlled Senate where another close vote is expected.
TAGS: Family
