Spain legalized gay marriage on Thursday, defying threats by the Catholic Church and the Spanish Family Forum, which presented lawmakers with a 600,000 signature petition against gay marriage in advance of the vote. The vote passed by a margin of 187-147.
Spain is now recognized as the fourth country, following Canada this week, to allow same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. With Spain's marriage law comes equal inheritance and adoption rights for gays.
Prime Minister Zapataro said, “We are not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After us will come many countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces: freedom and equality…We are not legislating, ladies and gentlemen, for remote unknown people. We are expanding opportunities for the happiness of our neighbors, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives.”
See also
The Gays Get Massive Attention in Spain [tr]
Pope Benedict XVI Condemns Gay Marriage in Spain [tr]
Zapatero Zaps it To Em [tr]
