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The reason given is that there is no sign on a general development in society that could allow an extended interpretation of the concept of spouse (!)
But the Commission wants the issue to be discussed in a high level panel.
The Parliament's resolution states: "The Treaty should contain a clear rejection of racism, xenophobia, sexism, discrimination on grounds of a person's sexual orientation, anti-semitism, revisionism and all forms of discrimination, and guarantee adequate legal protection against discrimination for all individuals resident in the European Union."
The Netherlands will legalize gay marriage this summer, reports Henk Krol, editor of De Gay Krant, Holland's leading gay newspaper. "The minister of justice and the secretary of state for internal affairs have announced that the marriage rules will be changed," Krol said in an e-mail message. "Their new rules, that will include gays and lesbians without any restrictions, will be sent to parliament before the summer holidays.
"Only (the) CDA (party) and small Christian groups are against it," Krol said. "We have 150 members of Parliament - 42 are against, 14 don't know yet, 94 will pass the new bill!" More than 100 Dutch cities and towns already allow gays and lesbians to record their relationships in a symbolic "marriage register." Krol says that when gay marriage is legalized, the 800 couples that have signed these registers will automatically be legally married.
The registers were created following lobbying from the Friends of De Gay Krant Foundation, Krol said. Gay marriage is legal in Denmark, Norway and Sweden but it is technically "registered partnership" and does not include the rights to adoption, church weddings, artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilization. Holland will be the first country to allow gays to marry under the exact same laws as hetero- sexuals.
Hawaii also is expected to legalize authentic gay marriage, probably in 1996 when the appeals process is exhausted in an ongoing court case. Under the U.S. Constitution, other U.S. states will have to recognize the marriages of gays and lesbians who wed in Hawaii.
The Bar Association in Macedonia (formerly part of Yugoslavia) voted June 7 to ban homosexuals and alcoholics from becoming lawyers, reported the newspaper Dnevnik. It said the public doesn't trust them. Gays who already are licensed to practice law will be allowed to continue.
The aim of the project is to follow up the report "Homosexuality - a European Community Issue" and the resolution from the European Parliament from February 1994 (The Roth resolution).
Two lesbians will marry legally June 28 in London, reported the Reuter news service. One of the women had a sex-change operation but is still legally considered male, so the marriage will be allowed.
Tina-Louise Dixon will tie the knot with Tracie-Anne Scott, who used to be a merchant seaman, has been married twice before and fathered three children.
Amnesty International June 16 dismissed charges by Romanian police that Amnesty was in error when it recently accused Romania of violating the human rights of gays and gypsies.
"Our report gives full details of several cases about imprisonment ... for homosexual acts and lack of protection of the gypsies from racist violence," Amnesty said in a statement issued in Bucharest.
NGO's are invited to take part in the meeting and special time is reserved for NGO meetings on 3rd and 18th October. Furthermore NGO's are welcome to submit written presentations to the meeting and documents can be circulated to all participans.
Registration form can be obtained from the Euroletter or from the foreign ministries.
ILGA representation must be considered!
Copyright ILGA,
1995
Copyright Gais et Lesbiennes Branchés,
1995