EU Australia Online - News & information from the capital of Europe direct to Australian businesses

Same-Sex Marriage: UK, France

  • February 6th, 2013
  • Posted by EUEditor

same-sex-conversation.jpgThe vote in Britain’s House of Commons, 5.2.13, 400-175, supporting the right of same-sex couples to marry, was the first step in a legislative process that must include a debate in the unelected House of Lords.

same-sex-marriage.jpgSupporters of the change may yet find themselves tied up in procedural or legal knots, before any are able to actually tie the knot, but it is a democracy and the numbers are speaking very loudly.

Australian gay rights organisations say the outcome is set to trigger a movement to obtain British marriages, with same-sex couples getting on the plane to London, or applying to British consular offices to let them wed on premises.

franc-elle-marriage.jpgIn France, the parliament there passed its own right-to-marry law last week, once more hotly contested; while President Francois Hollande was on his mission to Mali, in Africa. See EUAustralia Online, “Weekend of assurances:, 3.2.13; “Season for Winter protests”, 14.1.13.

Reference

Le Monde, Paris, “Les députés britanniques se prononcent en faveur du mariage homosexual”, (British MPs vote for homosexual marriage), 5.2.13. http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2013/02/05/les-deputes-britanniques-se-prononcent-en-faveur-du-mariage-homosexuel_1827607_3214.html, (6.2.13).

Oliver Wright, “MPs vote for gay marriage bill by 400 to 175 in face of widespread Tory rebellion” , The Independent, London, 5.2.13.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-vote-for-gay-marriage-bill-by-400-to-175-in-face-of-widespread-tory-rebellion-8482318.html, (6.2.13).

Pictures   vibewire.org, theconversation.edu.au