Slovenia is the first Eastern European country to legalize same-sex marriages and adoptions
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Following the July ruling of the Constitutional Court, which was passed into law by the Parliament on Tuesday, October 4, same-sex couples are now allowed to marry and adopt. With this, Slovenia is the first among Eastern European countries and former communist countries to have succeeded in this.
The law was adopted with 48 votes in favor, 29 against and one abstention.
“With these changes, we are recognizing rights for same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time,” State Secretary Simon Maljevac said when presenting the amendment to the parliamentarians.
“Slovenia is finally joining the ranks of countries in Europe and the world that have already equalized heterosexual and same-sex couples,” continued Maljevac.
Although same-sex couples have been allowed to perform wedding ceremonies since 2017, their marriage was then called a “partnership”. They were given many of the same rights as heterosexual couples, but were not allowed to adopt children. The above amendment now allows them to be legally recognized as a married couple and gives them the same rights as heterosexual couples, including adoption.
The right-wing center of Slovenia opposed the verdict, saying that this law takes away the child’s right to a mother and father. The Slovenian Democratic Party announced that they will protest against the new law.
Many Eastern European countries still do not allow same-sex marriage. So this is a big step for Slovenia. The implementation of this law is a new hope that will inspire other neighboring countries in the region to allow same-sex marriage and the rights that come with it.