Spain Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage - 2005 | Today In History | 30 June 17 скачать в хорошем качестве

Spain Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage - 2005 | Today In History | 30 June 17

On June 30, 2005, Spain legalized same-sex marriage. STORYLINE: Spain's Parliament legalized gay marriage on Thursday, defying Roman Catholic conservatives and clergy to make Spain the world's third country to officially recognize same-sex unions. Gay rights activists blew the lawmakers kisses after the vote. The measure passed the 350-seat Congress of Deputies by a vote of 187-147 with four abstentions. The law also lets gay couples adopt children and inherit property from each other. Gay couples will be allowed to marry as soon as the law is published in the official government registry, the Boletin Oficial del Estado. The Parliament's press office said this could come as early as Friday or within two weeks at the latest. After the final tally was announced, activists watching from the spectator section of the ornate chamber cried, cheered, hugged, waved to lawmakers and blew them kisses. Several members of the conservative opposition Popular Party, which vehemently opposed the bill, shouted it was a disgrace. Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy said after the vote that Zapatero has deeply divided Spain and should have sought a consensus in parliament that recognized same-sex unions, but didn't call them marriages. Rajoy said that if the vast majority of countries in the world don't accept gay marriage, including some run by Socialists, there must be a reason. The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other two countries that recognize gay marriage nationwide. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the reform of Spain's legal code simply adds one dry paragraph of legalese - but means much, much more. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you... Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork