Dutch gays hail ground-breaking legislation

A gay marriage takes place in Amsterdam in 1998

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- New legislation is to be introduced by the Netherlands allowing same-sex couples to officially marry and adopt Dutch children.

They will also be able to divorce through the court system, like heterosexual couples.

The Netherlands, long in the vanguard on gay rights, passed the bill on Tuesday aimed at "registered same-sex partnerships."

Parliament had discussed the bill last week, when only a few small Christian parties voiced opposition during an emotional and often heated three-day debate.

Politicians from most parties thumped their desks in unanimous approval when the vote passed 107-33, while those in the packed public gallery applauded and embraced.

MESSAGE BOARD Gay rights

Two years ago, the Netherlands enacted a law allowing same-sex couples to register as partners and to claim pensions, social security and inheritance.

But the new legislation goes further, creating full equality for gays, activists said.

"I'm very happy. What happened today represents changes in our society," said Mark Wagenbuur, 34.

He said he and his partner, who came with him to watch the vote, now plan to formally wed. He said the only problem was, "we don't know who should ask whom."

In Norway and Sweden, gay couples can already register their partnerships and Denmark has gone a step further -- it was the first country to allow gay marriages in 1989.

Boris Dittrich, a member of the Netherlands' centrist Democrats 66 party and a proponent of the plan, said the law "acknowledges that a person's sex is not of importance for marriage."

Henk Krol, an activist and editor-in-chief of the Gay Krant magazine, said: "We will be able to call it what it is -- and that's marriage."

The law is expected to take effect early next year. Krol said he plans to convert his own partnership status to marriage as soon as it does.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lesbian couple all set for big day
September 7, 2000

Dutch Government
Democrat 66 party

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