Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 18:36:46 +0200 From: ilga Subject: newsflash: dutch gay marriage 17 April 1996: A Moral Victory But Battles Still Ahead: Yesterday in the Hague, the Dutch House of Representatives approved a motion for the government to investigate the possibility of gay marriage by a vote of 81 to 60. While the news is being widely reported around Europe and the World, news reports have not been making the facts clear: while this paves the way for what would be full marriage rights for same-gender couples, the battle is not won yet. Many journalists and reporters have jumped to the conclusion that the issue is moving much quicker than it actually is. Joop Van Der Linden, of the Dutch national gay and lesbian organization, COC, explained: The motion approved is to ask the government to appoint a commission to look into two issues. First: the opening of marriage to same-sex couples with the resulting international and national implications; Second; the opening up of adoption to same-sex couples, and the resulting international implications. As in Scandinavian countries with their "registered partnerships," Dutch officials worry about the adoption issue. Many adopted children come from countries where homophobic officials might prohibit adoption if they believe the child will be placed in lesbian or gay household. The commission must present the results of the research before 1 August 1997. Then, a further discussion will have to take place, and any proposed law will have to go through more discussions and votes. Members of the senate and government are opposed to same-sex marriage. Still, the COC is calling the development "a moral victory." Secretaries-General, Inge Wallaert and Jordi Petit, of the International Lesbian Gay Association (ILGA), a federation of 450 members from 75 countries, send their congratulations to the board of COC, and to Dutch lesbians and gays for this first step, in what hopefully will be full marriage rights for same sex couples. Report: Andy Quan, coordinator, ILGA (please note: new e-mail address: ILGA now has it's own domain: write to us at ilga@ilga.org, or send messages to our secretaries-general at inge@ilga.org or jordi@ilga.org. The old ilga e-mail address, ilga@glo.be, also remains valid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association 81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org A federation of over 300 groups from 70 countries fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Contact us for more info! ****************************************************************************** * To subscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: subscribe queerplanet * * To unsubscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe queerplanet * * Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! * ******************************************************************************