Europe News
Austria introduces draft law for gay marriage
Oct 24, 2007, 12:41 GMT
Vienna - In an attempt to end years of political dispute Austria's Social Democrat Justice Minister Maria Berger Wednesday introduced a first draft for a law granting gay couples the same rights as heterosexuals.
The so-called registered partnership shows a number of parallels with traditional marriage law, complete with similar rights and duties, but was no 'marriage light' Berger stressed and was independent of current marriage legislation.
A right for adoption is not envisaged, separation can be either by mutual consent or court decision.
Until entering a coalition with the country's Social Democrats earlier this year, Austria's conservative People's Party categorically refused to grant equal rights to gay couples.
Berger's draft will be discussed by a bipartisan working group before being introduced to parliament by the end of this year.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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gary47Oct 24th, 2007 - 21:22:02
Same rights my @$$. If they are excluding same-sex couples from equal consideration for adoption, then this is a separate but unequal status.
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