Belgium to consider gay marriages

Dutch gays celebrate a new law that allows them to wed

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Belgium may follow the Netherlands in allowing gay couples to marry.

The Netherlands became the first country to legalise same-sex marriages last December with the first ceremonies taking place on the weekend after the law came into effect.

It was swiftly followed by ministers in neighbouring Belgium saying they were also to consider allowing it.

Health Minister Magda Alvoet, a member of the leftist Green Agalev party -- the smallest in Belgium's coalition -- said legalising homosexual marriages was an important step in eliminating discrimination against gays and lesbians.

MESSAGE BOARD Gay rights

"The government considers the right to marry a constitutional right, and the chance to marry the sole true opportunity to see that homosexual and heterosexual couples are treated in the same way," she said in a statement.

The issue would be presented to the core Cabinet of Liberal Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt later this month with a likely agreement, a source at his office said.

The law would effectively give gay couples the same legal status as heterosexual ones.

Belgium, whose population of 10 million is 75 percent Roman Catholic, has increasingly been breaking from its conservative traditions.

The government earlier this year moved to legalise the possession of cannabis for personal use.

Although the Netherlands has recognised registered gay partnerships since 1998, it only passed laws allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children last December after a 15-year campaign.

The first gay weddings took place at midnight in Amsterdam on Sunday.

Four gay couples, three male couples and one female couple, exchanged rings and vows under the auspices of Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen at the City Hall.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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