Spain passes Same Sex Marriage Legislation

[RACooper]

Spanish Parliament becomes fourth country to allow gay marriage
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20050...n_gay_marriage

MAR ROMAN 1 hour, 2 minutes ago

MADRID, Spain (AP) - Legislators on Thursday voted to make traditionally Roman Catholic Spain the world's fourth country to give same-sex couples many of the same rights as heterosexual spouses.
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The vote in the 350-seat Congress of Deputies was 187 in favour, 147 against and four abstentions. After the final tally was announced, gay and lesbian activists watching from the spectator section of the ornate chamber cheered, embraced, waved to legislators and blew them kisses.

The law - sponsored by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his ruling Socialists as part of an agenda for bold social reforms just a year after taking office - gives gay couples the same rights to inheritance and to adopt children as heterosexual married couples.

The Senate, where conservatives hold the largest number of seats, rejected the bill last week. But the Senate is an advisory body, and final say on legislation rested with the Congress of Deputies. The first marriages of gay couples can begin after the law is published in Spain's official journal, expected as early as 15 days, gay rights activists said.

In debate before the vote, Zapatero noted that the Netherlands and Belgium have already legalized gay marriage and Canada is expected to do so this summer.

"We were not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last," he told the chamber. "After us will come many other countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces: freedom and equality."

Zapatero said the reform of Spanish legal code simply adds one paragraph but means much, much more.

He called it "a small change in wording that means an immense change in the lives of thousands of citizens. We are not legislating, ladies and gentlemen, for remote unknown people. We are expanding opportunities for the happiness of our neighbours, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives."

For gays and lesbian couples in Spain, the new law means an end to years of discrimination, advocates say.

"Now we also have the right to show off our marriage. We are clear that our love is the same as any other," said Boti Garcia, Gimeno's longtime partner.