Wednesday August 24, 2005

Aruba Forced to Acknowledge Gay “Marriage” by Courts

ORANJESTAD, Aruba, August 24, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A lesbian couple “married” in the Netherlands in 2001 won a fight to have their same-sex relationship recognized by the government of Aruba Tuesday. Aruba’s Superior Court denied the government’s appeal of a lower court ruling, despite widespread opposition to the homosexual lifestyle on the island and in the Caribbean region in general.

“The Dutch marriage can be inscribed in the register,” the judge proclaimed in his written decision. “Since Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it must comply with demands of the Kingdom.”

A lower court ruled in December that the “marriage” of Charlene and Esther Oduber-Lamers be registered by the government. Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber has promised to take the case to Holland’s Supreme Court. “We give neither legal nor moral recognition to same-sex marriages,” said the Prime Minister’s spokesman, Ruben Trapenberg, according to the AP.

Aruba became independent of the Netherlands Antilles in 1986, remaining a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which still holds sway over matters of national defence, citizenship, foreign affairs, and extradition.

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URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/aug/05082405.html

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