Tag Archives: Gay marriages

Luxembourg Passes Equal Marriage Bill by a Landslide

In a historical move Luxembourg’s parliament overwhelmingly passed a same-sex marriage bill, by a vote of 56-4. The new bill introduces equal marriage, in addition to granting adoption rights to same-sex couples.

“Gay people should have the same rights as heterosexuals. With this law, we do not throw overboard all the values ​​of our society. All we have done is give equal rights to gay people. We formally recognize a form of relationship that has always existed.”

Viviane Loschetter, MP

Luxembourg’s parliament has only one chamber, and so the vote by the Chamber of Deputies has secured the passage of the bill as a whole.
According to the Chamber of Deputies, the law is expected to be in force by early 2015.

The only MPs to vote against the bill were Gaston Gibéryen, Fernand Kartheiser and Roy Reding, all of the right-wing Alternative Democratic Reform Party, and Aly Kaes, who was rebelling against the Christian Social People’s Party.

Last year, Luxembourg made history as the first country to have an openly gay Prime Minister and an openly gay Deputy Prime Minister at the same time.

“We commend the leaders of Luxembourg for granting the nation’s LGBT citizens the rights they deserve, and we congratulate the LGBT activists and advocates who made this historic day possible.”

Ty Cobb, Human Rights Campaign

Luxembourg will be the 9th EU country to introduce same-sex marriage, following the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, France and England and Wales in the U

What a Wonderful World for LGBTQs

With the global news all too often full of depressing stories about homophobia, it’s a relief to hear that many parts of the world are getting more tolerant towards LGBTs. Let’s take a look at all the countries that nowadays allow same-sex marriage.

Gay unions are now legal in 15 nations, including EU states such as Belgium, France and the UK, as well as South Africa, Canada and Argentina. 14 out of the 50 United States have taken that vital leap forward into the 21st century too. Massachusetts was the first state to legalise such unions back in 2004, some 8 years before President Obama famously endorsed gay marriage.

Almost half the nations in Europe accept some kind of same-sex union. The institution is most popular in Holland (where 82% of the people support it) and Sweden (71%). Sadly, Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria and 11 other states refuse to define marriage as anything other than between a man and a woman.

LGBTs can’t tie the knot anywhere in Asia, although the institution is recognised in Israel. In the strictly Roman Catholic Philippines, the New People’s Army, a communist guerrilla outfit, conducted the country’s first ever same-sex marriage in 2005. However, the government did not recognise it.

South Africa flies the progressive flag in Africa as it is the only country on the continent where LGBTs can marry. It is of great concern that homosexuality is legal in only 13 of Africa’s 38 nations. Oddly enough though, in Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone, where male relationships are banned, no such laws exist against lesbianism.

18.5% of the Caribbean welcomes gay marriage. LGBT couples might consider travelling to the gorgeous tropical islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Martin.

As for Oceania, 3 out of 5 Australian states permit same-sex unions and New Zealand’s first gay wedding took place in October 2013.

World Map

Watch Lisa Stansfield Pay Tribute To Marriage Equality

On Saturday 28th March, 90’s pop queen Lisa Stansfield performed on the BBC show The National Lottery, and during her paid tribute to marriage equality coming into effect:

A spokesperson for Lisa said:

‘On Saturday, Lisa Stansfield performed ‘Picket Fence’ on the Lottery – she chose a wedding style vibe in tribute to the first gay marriages in UK and Wales.’

Watch her perform “Picket Fence”…

London LGBT choir celebrates same-sex marriage

On Sunday 30th March, the UK law will change and Gay marriages will be official. To celebrate London LGBT Fourth choir have release this video – ‘This Marriage’.

The Fourth choir was formed in September 2013, and their aim from the outset has been to represent the LGBT community on London’s world-class classical music scene.

The Artistic Director, Dominic Peckham, is one of the UK’s leading choral conductors and works with both professional groups, such as the English National Opera chorus, and highly-respected educational groups such as the National Youth Choir.