Slovenia’s parliament on Tuesday adopted an amendment allowing same-sex marriage and adoption, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court, making the country the first in Eastern Europe to legislate in this direction. The family law reform was voted for by 48 deputies, 29 parliamentarians voted against and one abstained.
Slovenia, which emerged from the disintegration of Yugoslavia, is the first ex-communist country to ratify this reform in Europe, since most of its neighbors do not allow civil unions or same-sex marriages.
In Hungary, talking about homosexuality in front of minors is even punishable by a fine from the summer of 2021.
“We recognize rights to same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time”
In July, the highest court ruled that the law that defines marriage as the only union between a man and a woman discriminated against gay and lesbian couples. It suspended the contested articles with immediate effect and ordered Parliament to amend the text within six months.
“With these amendments, we are recognizing rights for same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time,” Secretary of State Simon Maljevac told MPs as he introduced the amendment.
The main opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), criticized the Court’s decision and organized several opposition rallies. “The best of fathers will never replace a mother and vice versa,” SDS parliamentary group chairwoman Alenka Jeraj said at the opening of the debates.
A member of the European Union (EU) since 2004, this Alpine state of two million inhabitants joins the 17 countries on the continent that have already legalized marriage for all.
Source: BFM TV
