European countries where same-sex marriage is still illegal

[Machor]

Source: BBC

 

[gb2000ie]

With the exception of Greece & Italy, it would seem that being near Putin is bad for human rights!

Greece just baffles me - did they never read their own history? They were not exactly shy about the gay thing in the past!

Germany only having civil partnerships also surprises me.

As for Italy, the sooner the vatican dies the better for their human rights!

B.

 

[Shelter]

Germany only having civil partnerships also surprises me.

B.

Yes and since Ireland has voted for free gay marriage, in Germany a new discussion aroused here. The Social Democrats (SPD) and the opposition parties are wanting the equalization of the gay marriage with the straight marriage. But the Conservatives (CDU and CSU) decline to do any steps to it. And mostly the Bavarian CSU is the brakeman. In Berlin the CDU will make a member survey in the next week. So let us see. The Bundesrat (the representation of the Länder) has voted for the gay marriage at once - but as I said above - the Government brakes it.

 

[josh_the_hot_boy]

With the exception of Greece & Italy, it would seem that being near Putin is bad for human rights!

Greece just baffles me - did they never read their own history? They were not exactly shy about the gay thing in the past!

Germany only having civil partnerships also surprises me.

As for Italy, the sooner the vatican dies the better for their human rights!

B.

To be specific the Vatican is it's own country.

 

[gb2000ie]

To be specific the Vatican is it's own country.

I know - but it's influence over the powerful in Italy is massive.

B.

 

[brmstn69]

I know - but it's influence over the powerful in Italy is massive.

B.

I remember an episode of Top Gear were the cast and crew were stopped by the police in Italy. Not for speeding or any of their antics, but simply because they were working on a Sunday. That shows just how much influence the Vatican has over the rest of Italy...

 

[gb2000ie]

I remember an episode of Top Gear were the cast and crew were stopped by the police in Italy. Not for speeding or any of their antics, but simply because they were working on a Sunday. That shows just how much influence the Vatican has over the rest of Italy...

Great point - I remember being really shocked when that happened. Normally police on Top Gear means Jeremy was speeding

B.

 

[bluemount]

It should be required for all members of the EU. And the European Parliament should pass laws to make it so.

 

[Machor]

It should be required for all members of the EU. And the European Parliament should pass laws to make it so.

That will never happen! Many of European countries (read citizens) are still very conservative, especially new EU members and candidates who wanna join the union.

 

[Shelter]

That will never happen! Many of European countries (read citizens) are still very conservative, especially new EU members and candidates who wanna join the union.

:agree::agree::agree::agree::agree:

 

[gb2000ie]

That will never happen! Many of European countries (read citizens) are still very conservative, especially new EU members and candidates who wanna join the union.

Indeed - this is why I think it's the EU Courts that need to step up to protect the civil rights of all Europeans.

B.

 

[bigsal]

As for Italy, the sooner the vatican dies the better for their human rights

Unfortunately this is the dramatic reality.

In practice it is the Vatican who governs Italy indirectly.

 

[bigsal]

It should be required for all members of the EU. And the European Parliament should pass laws to make it so.

Unfortunately the project Europe is doomed to fail.
A mass of bureaucrats placed there to facilitate the interests of the lobby, the speculators, the financial and the banks.
The rich getting richer and the poor get poorer.
The Minorities? They can wait.

 

[W!nston]

The special interest groups bigsal mentioned control all politics in America. It has always been so. There was never any concern for the welfare of citizens only the welfare of the elite class and corporations. I could go on and on but I'll stop there.

Europe has a long history. History repeating.

 

[gb2000ie]

The problem in Germany is a bit more complicated than just politics - never mind Shelter. You are right that the SPD, the Green and Die Linke made a statement. And you are right also when telling us that the government put the brake on any evolution (in the near futur) possible.

The reality is, the German constitution does NOT define marriage as a union of one man and one woman. It's only the actual interpretation of the Bundesverfassungsgericht.
And this interpretation is criticl because the marriage article is one of those that can't be altered or tossed out.

So any person with the right to appeal to the supreme court can, pratically, be sure to gain cause if they oppose marriage equality ...



That's what the jurists of the German LGBT organisation (Dt Schwulen- und Lesbenverband) told me when Germany (the state) opposed actively and passively my marriage here in France.

That sounds quite like the Irish situation, and that's why we had to have a referendum to get secure marriage rights here.

The Irish constitution protects "the family", but does not define it. The courts have interpreted it as "a man, a woman, and maybe some kids", but that's not actually what it says.

A law could have been passed to allow gay marriage, but it would have been immediately appealed.

Instead, it was decided the only viable solution was to alter the constitution, and the only way to do that is by referendum.

Since the referendum passed, our constitution now contains this line:

Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.

Problem solved, and not open to appeal!

B.

 

[gb2000ie]

BTW - these are the parts of the Irish constitution that resulted in so many years of discrimination:

The State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law.

The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack.

Now, since the family is not defined anywhere in the constitution, you COULD argue the constitution MANDATED gay marriage to protect all families, including the gay ones, but alas our courts didn't see it that way

Still - the referendum solved the problem. Hopefully Germany can solve their constitutianl problem too.

B.