Same-sex marriage in Luxembourg

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  1. When performed in Mexican states that have legalized same-sex marriage
  2. When performed in the Netherlands proper
  3. Marriages performed in some municipalities and recognized by the state

* Not yet in effect
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Same-sex marriage became legal in Luxembourg on 1 January 2015. The bill for legalisation was enacted by the Chamber of Deputies on 18 June 2014. Partnerships have also been available since 2004.

History

Partnerships

On 7 December 1995, MP Lydie Err introduced a private member's bill to create "free unions" (union libre).[1] Her party, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), was part of the Juncker–Poos government together with the Christian Social People's Party (CSV). A bill to legalise same-sex marriage was introduced as early as 9 May 1996 by MP Renée Wagener, of the opposition Greens.[2][3][4] Both proposals would not get a Council of State opinion until 13 June 2000.

The Juncker–Polfer government consisting of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party drafted a bill establishing partnerships, approving it in cabinet on 26 April 2002. The Council of State criticised in its opinion of 13 January 2004 taking the French civil solidarity pact (PACS) as basis rather than the Belgian statutory cohabitation, which was of superior legal quality. Furthermore, it recommended considering the legalisation of same-sex marriage, again taking neighbouring Belgium, which had then recently taken that step, as example.

The government bill, along with the two earlier proposals, were debated and voted on together on 12 May 2004. The Chamber of Deputies approved the partnership bill, with 33 votes in favour (by the two governing parties), 7 votes against (by the ADR) and 20 abstentions (by the LSAP, the Greens, and The Left) while rejecting the bill creating free unions and the same-sex marriage bill, with the two governing parties voting against and the opposition parties voting in favour (except for ADR voting against the same-sex marriage bill).

The Act creating partnerships was signed on 9 July 2004 and took effect on 1 November 2004.[5] The partnerships, which are based on the French civil solidarity pact (PACS), are available for same-sex and opposite-sex couples. These partnerships provide many of the rights of marriage in relation to access to welfare benefits and fiscal advantages but not the same as marriage. They do not give the right to jointly adopt children.[6][7]

Same-sex marriage

The ruling Christian Social People's Party until 2009 was opposed to same-sex marriage, even though the Prime Minister, originating from the same party, has expressed his personal support.[8] In July 2007, the motion calling for legalisation of same-sex marriage was rejected by parliament, on a 38-22 vote.[9]

In July 2009, the newly formed Juncker–Asselborn government announced its intention to legalise same-sex marriage.[10][11] During a debate on 19 January 2010, the Minister of Justice, François Biltgen announced that a law to legalise same-sex marriage (with exception of certain adoption rights) would be finalized before the summer vacation break of the parliament.[12][13] On 9 July 2010, the government accepted the bill;[14][15][16][17] on 10 August 2010, it was submitted to the parliament.[18]

In May 2012, the bill was re-drafted and the vote was not expected at least until 2013.[18][19][20] On 27 November 2012, the Council of State delivered a negative response to the bill, but asked the Parliament to open a debate on the topic if it moved to vote on the bill. Some members of the Council submitted separate opinion supporting the bill.[21]

On 6 February 2013, the Chamber's Legal Affairs Committee agreed to approve the measure opening marriage for same-sex couples.[22] On 20 February, the committee initially backed the right to simple adoption for same-sex couples, but restricting plenary adoption to opposite-sex couples.[23][24] On 6 March 2013, the committee confirmed that position.[25][26] However, on 4 June, the Council of State issued a second review, rejecting the compromise to allow simple adoption for all couples while restricting plenary adoption to opposite-couples only.[27][28] On 19 June 2013, the Legal Affairs Committee decided to back full adoption rights for same-sex couples. The bill was expected to be voted on by the parliament in the autumn,[29][30] however a further delay was caused by the elections in October 2013 following the resignation of the Luxembourgish government.[31]

The coalition agreement of the new government, sworn in on 4 December 2013 and led by openly gay Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, includes marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples, scheduled for the first trimester of 2014.[32][lower-alpha 1] On 8 January 2014, the Minister of Justice Felix Braz stated that the parliament would vote on the bill in the summer of 2014, and if approved, it would take effect before the end of 2014.[33][34]

On 19 March 2014, the Chamber's Legal Affairs Committee completed its work on the marriage reform law, and sent it to the Council of State, which released its opinion on 20 May 2014.[35][36] On 28 May 2014, the Legal Affairs Committee approved the bill. All political parties except ADR were in favour.[37][38] On 18 June 2014, the bill was approved by the Chamber of Deputies, in a 56-4 vote.[39][40] On 24 June 2014, the Council of State gave its consent to skip the second vote, a formality.[41] It was promulgated by Grand Duke Henri on 4 July and published in the official gazette on 17 July 2014. The law took effect the first day of the sixth month after publication (i.e. 1 January 2015).[42][43][44]

The first same-sex marriage in Luxembourg was between Messrs Henri Lorenzo Huber and Jean-Paul Olinger, performed by the mayor Roberto Traversini at Differdange town hall on 1 January 2015.[45] On 15 May 2015, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel married his partner Gauthier Destenay at a private ceremony at the capital's town hall. Bettell became the first EU member state leader and just the second serving head of a government worldwide to marry a person of the same sex.[46]

The Chamber of Deputies invalidated a petition that demands the repeal of the laws on marriage, adoption and assisted reproduction for same-sex couples. On 16 November 2015 however, a court declared the petition valid.[47]

Public opinion

A 2006 Angus Reid Global Monitor poll found that 58% of Luxembourgers supported same-sex marriage.[48]

An April 2013 Polimonitor survey commissioned by the Luxemburger Wort and RTL found support for same-sex marriage at 83% and for same-sex adoption at 55%.[49]

The 2015 Eurobarometer found that 75% of Luxembourgers thought that same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, 20% were against.[50]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Page 12: La réforme sur le droit au mariage pour tous les couples, indépendamment de leur genre ou identité sexuelle sera adoptée au courant du premier trimestre 2014. translates to Reform on the right to marriage for all couples, regardless of their gender or sexual identity will be adopted in the first quarter of 2014.

References

  1. ↑ 4110 - Proposition de loi sur l'union libre
  2. ↑ 4162 - Proposition de loi sur la réforme du mariage
  3. ↑ ILGA Euroletter 42, June 1996
  4. ↑ Mariage et adoption - L’égalité, c’est maintenant
  5. ↑ (French) 4946 - Projet de loi relative aux effets légaux de certains partenariats
  6. ↑ (French) Loi du 9 juillet 2004 relative aux effets légaux de certains partenariats
  7. ↑ The Partenariat (PACS)
  8. ↑ (French) Question de mariage
  9. ↑ (French) Résolution Sujet : Mariage des couples homosexuels
  10. ↑ (French) Le Luxembourg devrait autoriser les mariages homosexuels
  11. ↑ Luxembourg Considers Legalizing Gay Marriage and Adoption
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ (German) Homo-Ehe auch in Luxemburg
  14. ↑ (French) Conseil de gouvernement Résumé des travaux du 9 juillet 2010
  15. ↑ (French) Ouverture du mariage aux couples de même sexe et réforme de l'adoption
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Is gay marriage on the way for Luxembourg?
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 (French) 6172
  19. ↑ (French) 6172A
  20. ↑ (French) Des dossiers en attente au Conseil d'État
  21. ↑ (French) AVIS DU CONSEIL D’ETAT
  22. ↑ (French) Vers le mariage homosexuel
  23. ↑ (French) Les couples homosexuels pourront adopter
  24. ↑ (French) Adoption pour couples de même sexe bientôt possible
  25. ↑ (French) L'adoption simple pour couples homosexuels
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ State Council objects to new adoption law
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ (French) La loi sur le mariage gay votée d'ici cet été
  34. ↑ Luxembourg LBGT community welcomes same sex marriage before end of year
  35. ↑ (French) Deuxième avis complémentaire du Conseil d'Etat (20 mai 2014)
  36. ↑ State Council warns of gay adoption legal challenges
  37. ↑ (French) Feu vert en commission pour l’ouverture du mariage, Chamber of Deputies
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Luxembourg passes same-sex marriage and adoption bill in landslide vote
  40. ↑ Luxembourg legislature votes to legalize same-sex marriage, adoption
  41. ↑ (French) Séances publique et plénière du 24 juin 2014
  42. ↑ (French) Mémorial A n° 125 de 2014
  43. ↑ Same-sex marriages from January 1
  44. ↑ Same-Sex Marriage in Luxembourg from 1 January 2015
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Les anti-mariage gay ont le droit à leur débat public, 20 November 2015, L'essentiel
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Majority in Luxembourg supports gay marriage
  50. ↑ Special Eurobarometer 437
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