BRUSSELS, January 31, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – This week Belgium became only the second country in the world, after the Netherlands, to officially grant marriage rights to homosexual partnerships. Other countries, such as Denmark, Hungary, France and Portugal, recognize same-sex partnerships as marriages in all but name. Belgium’s lower House of Representatives endorsed full recognition by 91 votes to 22, with 9 abstentions, but stopped short of allowing same-sex couples to adopt children as in the Netherlands, where the practice is now common. The size of the Belgian majority “makes it clear that any enduring and loving relationship is appreciated in the same way in our modern society,” said Kristien Grauwels, a Green Party legislator. She said she was disappointed the House rejected adoption by such couples. “It still was a step too far for several parties,” she said, suggesting that a lingering Roman Catholic tradition might be to blame. For newswire coverage see: https://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030130/ap_wo_en_po/eu_gen_belgium_gay_marriages_2 For related coverage: HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE LEGAL IN THE NETHERLANDS https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/1998/jan/98010704.html FRENCH SOCIALISTS PUSH FOR GAY MARRIAGE https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/1998/jun/98062306.html
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BELGIUM APPROVES MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR HOMOSEXUALS
BRUSSELS, January 31, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – This week Belgium became only the second country in the world, after the Netherlands, to officially grant marriage rights to homosexual partnerships. Other countries, such as Denmark, Hungary, France and Portugal, recognize same-sex partnerships as marriages in all but name. Belgium’s lower House of Representatives endorsed full recognition by 91 votes to 22, with 9 abstentions, but stopped short of allowing same-sex couples to adopt children as in the Netherlands, where the practice is now common. The size of the Belgian majority “makes it clear that any enduring and loving relationship is appreciated in […]
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