Slovenia Becomes First Eastern European Country To Recognize Same-Sex Marriage

On February 1, the new Family Code came into effect in Slovenia, making it the first in Eastern Europe to officially legalize same-sex marriage.

In October, with a vote of 48-29, the Slovenian parliament passed an amendment to the Family Code, which previously defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

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In July 2022, the highest court in Slovenia ruled the Family Code discriminated against LGBTQ+ couples and declared it unconstitutional. With the ruling, the court also legalized adoptions for same-sex couples and established that the government had six months to amend the legislation.

As GCN reports, now the amended Family Code has officially come into effect in Slovenia, finally legalizing same-sex marriage in the country. Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar reacted to the news by saying: “Human rights are neither left nor right. They are universal and we all have them.”

The President continued, “Above all, they are never taken for granted, you have to fight for them every day. As societies develop, so does human rights law, which breaks down prejudices and applies to everyone.”

That is why I am happy and proud that today in Slovenia we are on the path of fully equalising the rights of same-sex partners with the rights of heterosexual couples in terms of the possibility of entering into marriage and jointly adopting a child,” Pirc Musar concluded.

The Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities also shared a message on Twitter to celebrate the law coming into force, writing: “We are glad that the amendment to the Family Code, which eliminates the unconstitutional legal distinction between same-sex and opposite-sex couples in the possibility of entering into marriage and joint adoption of a child, finally enters into force today.”

Read related myGwork articles here:

Slovenia To Legalize Equal Marriage And Adoption

Slovenia Is Ending Its Ban On Same-Sex Marriage And Adoption

Lesbian Couple Tests Romania’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban By Tying The Knot Anyway

Ukraine War Bolsters Support For Same-Sex Marriage

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