Recognition of gay unions in Austria
| Legal recognition of same-sex relationships |
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| Same-sex marriage | ||
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| Recognized in some regions | ||
| United States(MA) |
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| International recognition | ||
| Israel United States(NY) |
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| Civil unions and domestic partnerships |
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| Recognized in some regions | ||
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Argentina ( |
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| Unregistered co-habitation | ||
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| Recognition debated | ||
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| Civil unions legal, same-sex marriage debated |
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| See also | ||
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Same-sex marriage |
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Neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions are provided for in Austrian law, however Austria has provided rights for de-facto same-sex unions since 2003, following the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in Karner v. Austria. These domestic partnerships give cohabiting same-sex couples to the same rights as their unmarried cohabiting opposite-sex counterparts.
In December 2004 the Austrian Social Democratic Party, then in opposition, adopted a major policy decision on the issue of equal treatment of same-sex couples. In addition to introducing registered partnerships, the party was heading towards subsequent opening up of marriage for same-sex couples. The party became leader of a grand coalition Government in January 2007.
While not allowing for same-sex marriage as such, Austria indirectly saw its first same-sex marriage when its constitutional court granted a transsexual woman the right to change his legal gender to female while remaining married to his wife. [1]
A European Union poll surveying up to 30,000 people showed Austrian support for same sex marriage at 49% [1].
In the "Perspectives" paper released by the ÖVP on 1 October 2007, it announced its support for a civil union based on the Swiss model; it is thus likely that civil unions will be legalised (without adoption rights) in the course of 2008.
See also
References
- ^ "Austria gets first same-sex marriage." 365gay.com. 5 July 2006 (Retrieved 5 July 2006). See also: legal aspects of transsexualism.
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