Dutch to recognise gay weddings

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Same sex marriages have received final approval in The Netherlands, putting it at the international vanguard of gay rights.

Activists were jubilant about the legislation, which will take effect in April after the upper house of parliament passed two bills -- strongly opposed by Christian parties - which had been approved by the lower house in September.

"This is a historic event, it's fantastic," said Onno Hoes, spokesman for the Dutch Association for the Integration of Homosexuality . "We're the first country in the world where there is no distinction made on the basis of gender."

MESSAGE BOARD Gay rights

The Dutch senate said in a statement: "As far as possible, homosexual marriage will have the same consequences as heterosexual marriage."

Two years ago, the Netherlands enacted a law allowing same-sex couples to register and claim pensions, social security and inheritance, but they did not have the same rights with regards to adopting children.

The upper house statement added: "A child that is looked after and raised in a lasting relationship of two men or two women is entitled to protection, including legal protection, within that relationship."

The partners need not be married or registered partners in order to adopt, but they must have lived together for at least three years -- in line with the conditions for heterosexuals.

The new laws do not permit Dutch couples to adopt children from abroad nor foreigners not resident in the Netherlands to wed there.

Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland have systems of registered partnership but the Senate warned that married Dutch homosexuals should not assume their union would be recognised abroad.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Dutch Parliament (in Dutch)
Dutch Association for the Integration of Homosexuality

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