Chancellor Angela Merkel
Germany
The German Parliament voted for marriage equality last week after Chancellor Angela Merkel allowed members of her party to vote freely on the issue. Although Merkel voted against the measure, a majority approved it.
Germany has had a civil union law for 15 years. The marriage law brings equality in areas like adoption, taxes and inheritance.
A recent poll shows 83 percent of Germans support marriage equality.
Armenia
Armenia became the second former Soviet republic to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Estonia is the other former part of the Soviet Union that has been recognizing marriages performed abroad.
Homosexuality has been legal in Armenia since 2003, the same year it became legal across the U.S with the Lawrence v. Texas decision that declared sodomy laws in this country unconstitutional.
Malta
A marriage equality law passed a second reading in Malta’s parliament and a final vote on the measure takes place on July 12. According to The Independent, the debate centered on use of gender-neutral words.
The opposition used arguments like florists worried about: would they still celebrate Mothers Day. According to those opposed to equality, florists worry no one will buy flowers for their mothers anymore and restaurants worry no one will take their mothers out to dinner anymore if marriages are seen as gender neutral.
Meanwhile back in the U.S.
The Texas Supreme Court scored a point for those striving to roll back equality with its ruling in Pidgeon v. Turner. See Friday’s issue of Dallas Voice for more details on the case.
