12/15/2008
Hungarian Court Annuls Domestic Partners Law
A law passed a year ago (which Reuters reported as a "civil partnership" law) that was set to go into effect in January 2009 and would have given unmarried or same-sex couples many of the rights of married heterosexual couples, has been annulled by Hungary's Constitutional Court:
"The court says the new legislation is unconstitutional because it would give unmarried heterosexual couples practically the same rights as married ones, 'downgrading' the institution of marriage. At the same time, the court says, in its decision announced Monday, that a law allowing domestic partnerships for gay couples would not be unconstitutional — as long as it applied only to them and not to heterosexual couples, as well."
Previously
Hungary Passes Same-Sex Civil Partnership Law [tr]
Photo of Gay Hungarian Couple Wins World Press Photo Award [tr]
Marchers Defiant as Nationalists Attack Budapest Gay Pride March [tr]
Posted 8:43 PM EST by Andy Towle in Budapest, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Hungary, News | Permalink
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I think what is most terrifying about this decision is that it was the court that over ruled the legislative body in EXPANDING freedom for Hungarian citizens. That's shocking, disturbing and anti-egalitarian. That's just so wrong on so many levels.
It appears that a schism between Western and Eastern EU is becoming as apparent as our Blue and Red States
Posted by: Gay Power Living | Dec 15, 2008 11:25:20 PM
As governments around the world, who really don't want to grant equal rights to gay citizens, try to justify their bigotry and hatred, it's fun to watch the bizarre lengths they will go to to try and convince us they are not what they clearly are...schoolyard bullies in suits.
Posted by: protogenes | Dec 16, 2008 8:06:13 AM
I don't find it all that shocking -- basically the court says there can be something like Civil Unions, which are ONLY open to gay people, but not a category less than marriage open to both gay and straight people.
Effectively it won't give gay people less than what they had, but straight people will not have 2 options.
Posted by: Kevinvt | Dec 16, 2008 10:14:48 AM