Children of gay parents challenge government over marriage equality laws

Five children from same-sex families are challenging marriage equality laws in Austria. Austria’s lack of marriage equality is being challenged by children of same-sex parents in the country. The children joined their parents in court in Vienna yesterday, to protest the ban on same-sex marriage in Austria. They hope to encourage a change in the

Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference: Family Should Be Associated with Marriage

On November 25th, 2015 the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania held a hearing on a proposal to amend the Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, which states that “family emanates from a marriage between a man and a woman”. The participants of the hearing,

Church of Norway says yes to gay weddings in its churches

The Church of Norway has approved a measure to allow same-sex couples to marry in its churches.     The church’s General Synod voted on the issue last week. ow all churches in Norway will be able to offer marriage to same-sex couples, and can immediately begin preparations to do so. As with many religious

Sydney Mayor marries same-sex couple inside British consulate

Despite same-sex marriage remaining banned in Australia, Sydney’s Lord Mayor has performed a same-sex wedding ceremony inside the British consulate. Australia’s anti-gay marriage former PM Tony Abbott plotted to stall same-sex marriage earlier this year when it was set to come to a vote, instead proposing a plebiscite (public vote) to be held in 2017. Though Mr Abbott

Third Australian state to recognize overseas gay marriages

Victoria will join the states of New South Wales and Tasmania in registering same-sex marriages that are performed in other countries while Australians wait for marriage equality at home. The state Labor government of Victoria has announced plans to go ahead and recognize same-sex marriages performed overseas while LGBTI Australians continue to wait for the

Kentucky Clerk jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gays

Clerks in Kentucky’s Rowan County have been ordered to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. But their defiant boss Kim Davis has refused to comply with the rules and is now in jail. US District Judge David Bunning said he had no choice but to send Rowan County clerk Kim Davis to jail for not

Costa Rica’s President Introduces Common-Law Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Marking a significant step for Central America, the office of Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís introduced a bill to the nation’s parlimanent for the legalization of same-sex common-law marriages. In Costa Rica, common-law marriages carry the same rights and benefits as traditional marriage, but they require approval of a judge after three years of

TRANS PEOPLE in Ireland will now not have to rely on testimony from psychiatrists or endocrinologists to have their gender recognised by the state. Instead, their self-declaration will be accepted, for the purpose of updating passports, driving licences, obtaining a new birth cert, and getting married. Tánaiste Joan Burton announced this evening that the Cabinet

On the 6th of May, 2015 the Lithuanian Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs decided that civil partnerships for same-sex couples are consistent with the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, says Deputy Chair Stasys Šedbaras. “The majority voted that the project does not violate the Constitution,” Mr. Šedbaras told to Lithuanian news agency BNS. On

On the 20th January, 2015, the Parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) constitutionally defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Furthermore, it created a constitutional hurdle to possible future legislation on same-sex civil unions. The amendment defines that “[m]arriage shall be a life union solely of one woman and