Tag Archives: Same-Sex Weddings

Italian Court Orders Cites To Stop Recognising The Weddings Hundreds Of Married Same-Sex Couples

This year, Italy has seen a number of city officials – including the Mayor of Rome –officially recognise the weddings of gay and lesbian couples overseas, despite threats from the government not to do so.

Wedding photography by Paola De Paola

However, they will now be forced to stop doing so, and to strip existing same-sex spouses of their legal rights.

This ruling comes after Italian Interior Minister, Angelino Alfano took the issue to the Council of State – Italy’s highest administrative court.

Alfano told the Gazzetta del Sud:

Last year my circular banning the transcription of gay marriages contracted abroad drew controversy, sometimes even violent aggression and a hail of appeals.

Now the Council of State has borne me out entirely: marriage between two people of the same sex is not contemplated under Italian law, therefore the transcriptions made by local mayors are illegal and monitoring is the competence of the prefect. Very good.”

Italy has poor provisions for LGBT people party due to the strong influence of the Catholic Church, with no country-wide recognition of same-sex couples at present.

A civil unions bill was recently tabled in the country’s Parliament, but is yet to come to a vote. Same-sex marriage has been emphatically ruled out.

The new proposed law would offer some, but not all, of the benefits of marriage.

Included in the law would be partial pension rights, automatic inheritance and would enable same-sex partners to adopt each other’s children, if the child only has one legal parent.

However, some have slammed it as a poor compromise.

World’s Smallest Country Legalises Gay Marriage

The Pitcairn Island is a country with only 48 people living there – have unanimously legalised same-sex marriage.

Pitcairn-01

They actually legalised it a month ago, but couldn’t get the news out because the island’s website was down.

Deputy Governor of Pitcairn, Kevin Lynch said that the local council unanimously accepted the law change after England, Scotland, and Wales legalised gay marriage last year.

Rodney Croome, the National Director of Australian Marriage Equality said

It shows how much the islanders value equality and inclusion. I could imagine some couples from off the island might find it a romantic destination, including Australians who can’t marry in their own country.”

Established in 1790 by a bunch of English mutineers and Tahitian passengers, Pitcairn is a part of the Pacific British, and is considered the smallest country in the world.

Top 10 Wedding Stats on Same-Sex Weddings and LGBT Nuptials

To commemorate Pride Month, the striking down of same-sex marriage bans, and the anniversary of the overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), TheKnot.com and The Advocate, announced the results of their second annual same-sex wedding survey.

The study looked at many aspects of weddings, from the engagement ring to the honeymoon, comparing the traditions that same-sex couples are following in their wedding ceremonies with those of their straight counterparts.

Top 10 Wedding Stats on Same-Sex Weddings and LGBT Nuptials 

  1. It is our wedding – 82% of same-sex couples refer to this occasion as their wedding in invitations, up from 70% in 2013.
  2. We go all-out – Over 70% of same-sex couples will have a ceremony and reception, as opposed to 96% of straight couples. 12% of same-sex couples will only have a ceremony, and 7% of couples are planning to simply host a reception.
  3. Its not always about the size of the diamond – Proposing with a ring is not as common for same-sex couples, with about 2 out of 3 couples (62%) exchanging an engagement ring before or after the proposal.
  4. Its about teamwork – When it comes to wedding attire, nearly all (91%) of same-sex couples know what their partner is wearing in advance, with 49% of male same-sex couples and 20% of female same-sex couples wearing matching outfits. As a nod to customary wedding wear, 42% of both female and male same-sex couples are wearing a suit or tuxedo as their wedding day attire.
  5. The “walk down the aisle” – Less than half of same-sex couples did or plan to walk down the aisle. Of those couples, 59% of female same-sex couples will be escorted by a family member, along with 37% of male same-sex couples. However, 40% percent of male same-sex couples and 30% of female same-sex couples plan to walk down the aisle together.
  6. Its about us – 63% of straight couples are more likely to tie religion into their ceremony, while only 38% of same-sex couples will incorporate religion.
  7. We’re romantic – Nearly half (49%) of same-sex couples write their own vows, compared to about one in four straight couples.
  8. Its not always tradition – In a more traditional move, 79% of straight brides will change their last name to the groom’s last name, while 54% of same-sex couples will keep their given last names.
  9. We’re not cheap – Although same-sex couples are spending less on average ($15,849) on their weddings than straight couples ($29,858), they’re having more intimate affairs with less guest and still investing just as much on their guests, with an average spend of $205 per head.
  10. We pay our way – When it comes to finances, 85% of same-sex couples are paying for their wedding themselves, compared with only 13% of straight couples.