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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 06:25 AM Aug 2012

'Spouse or Life Partner' Ministry Wants to Enshrine Gay Rights in Law{germany}

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-government-plans-to-rewrite-laws-to-include-civil-unions-a-851502.html


Heinz-Friedrich Harre und Reinhard Lüschow were the first gay couple in Germany to enter into a civil union after the law was passed in 2001.

In 2001, Germany introduced civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, a legal construct in Germany that falls just short of same-sex marriage. The law was supposed to give people in civil unions the same rights as those in heterosexual marriages. Now, 11 years later, the government is finally moving to enshrine that equality in German law.

According to a report in the Wednesday edition of the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, the German Justice Ministry has drafted a law that foresees changing the wording of many laws that refer to marriage so that they expressly include civil unions as well. In practice, it means changing references to "spouse" in the text of the laws to "spouse or life partner." The legislation involved relates to areas as diverse as infectious diseases, tenants' rights and child benefits. According to the German news agency DPA, around 40 laws are affected. A spokesman for the Family Ministry confirmed the Süddeutsche report on Wednesday.
The Justice Ministry has now sent its draft law to the other ministries for consultation. If there are no objections, the draft will be presented to the cabinet before being put to the vote in parliament. In a letter to the other ministries quoted by the Süddeutsche, the Justice Ministry insisted the "editorial changes" were intended to "standardize" laws and were of "little practical importance." The newspaper interpreted that wording as an attempt to play down the significance of the initiative to minimize possible opposition from other ministries.

The changes means that partners in a civil union will expressly be put on the same footing before the law as spouses in a traditional marriage. Germany's highest court, the Federal Constitutional Court, has repeatedly ruled that civil unions should be treated the same as heterosexual marriages.
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'Spouse or Life Partner' Ministry Wants to Enshrine Gay Rights in Law{germany} (Original Post) xchrom Aug 2012 OP
Spouse, as the law defines it ,Lifes a long time and no relationship orpupilofnature57 Aug 2012 #1
Good news; but there is an important caveat here: closeupready Aug 2012 #2
Good to hear. William769 Aug 2012 #3
Good news...BUT... joeybee12 Aug 2012 #4
cause they're german? and every I must be dotted and every T must be crossed. xchrom Aug 2012 #5
An anal people! joeybee12 Aug 2012 #6
Anal... What Friendly word... xchrom Aug 2012 #7
 

orpupilofnature57

(15,472 posts)
1. Spouse, as the law defines it ,Lifes a long time and no relationship
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 06:45 AM
Aug 2012

should be dubbed that until after life.

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
2. Good news; but there is an important caveat here:
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 09:47 AM
Aug 2012

while Germany (and perhaps the wider EU) will be obligated to legally recognize a civil union as equal to a marriage, jurisdictions outside Germany will not be so obliged.

At the same time, if gay couples were allowed to form marriages just as heterosexual couples do, then that would give gay relationships more standing. That doesn't mean that, for example, Iran would agree to treat such a couple as a marriage; but it does mean that at some point or other, governments would be pressured (implicitly and explicitly) to conform the two.

K&R

William769

(55,124 posts)
3. Good to hear.
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 11:59 AM
Aug 2012

It will be interesting in the future to see what Countries go in what order to this shameful practice. Hopefully I live to see the day when we have marriage equality here n the U.S in all 50 States (it is within reach).

 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
4. Good news...BUT...
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 12:08 PM
Aug 2012

Why don't they make it easy on themselves and change WHO can marry rather than going law by law, regulation by regulation, to change those words...save some damn time!

xchrom

(108,903 posts)
5. cause they're german? and every I must be dotted and every T must be crossed.
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 12:25 PM
Aug 2012

just would do to do it other wise.

 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
6. An anal people!
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 06:33 PM
Aug 2012


Of course, I could have said a very precise and detailed people, but I like saying anal better!
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