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Government to look at legalising gay marriage
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THE GOVERNMENT will soon examine the issue of making same-sex marriages legal in Cyprus, Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Lazaros Savvides has told the Sunday Mail.
Savvides said that the intention is to hold a meeting next month involving the Attorney-general’s office, Law Commissioner Leda Koursoumba, Ombudswoman Eliana Nicolaou – who also heads the Authority against Racism and Discrimination – as well as senior representatives of the relevant government ministries.
The move was prompted by a letter sent to the Interior Ministry by a man who lives permanently in Cyprus, asking for the law governing civil marriages to be amended to allow same-sex marriages. Savvides said that the Ministry did not think it should take a decision on such a matter on its own, and so decided to convene the meeting.
According to one press report, the Interior Ministry simply turned down the request, prompting the man to complain in writing to the House of Representatives. The complaint is said to have then been passed on by the House administrative services to members of the House committees for legal affairs and human rights.
In his second letter, the man said that, by being denied the right to marry his male partner under the existing law on civil marriages, he was the victim of a breach of human rights and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
House Legal Affairs Committee chairman and DISY MP Ionas Nicoloau told the Mail that not all committee members received a copy of the complaint.
He said: “Someone contacted me on the matter, but my reply to him was that raising the issue in the House on the initiative of just one party might well lead to it becoming a political football, rather than being treated with the seriousness it deserves. I said it would be better if it came from the government, so the issue will lack political colour.”
The meeting scheduled for next month appears to be a step forward, but given the lack of EU legislation on the issue, there is no guarantee that it will conclude that the law on civil marriages should be amended.
The status of same-sex marriage
THE Netherlands was the first country to legalise same-sex marriages (in 2001), with the first marriages performed in Amsterdam City Hall on April 1, 2001. Since then, same-sex marriages have been recognised legally by Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), Canada (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009) and Portugal (2010).
Same-sex marriage is not recognised by the US federal government, but is legal in five US states: Massachusetts (2004), Connecticut (2008), Iowa (for 4 hours in 2007 and from 2009), Vermont (2009) and New Hampshire (2010).
So far, just five EU member states have legalised same-sex marriages, but in a number of other European countries – for example, the UK, Germany and Hungary – same-sex civil unions afford similar rights to marriage.
Also, an EU Directive covering freedom of movement recognises same-sex relationships by allowing a worker’s family to travel with him or her to another member state, whether or not that family derives from a legal marriage in the origin country. People who are in a formally recognised union, like a civil union or partnership, qualify as family members along with either partner’s children, and so do those who have been living as partners for a significant amount of time but do not have the option of legal marriage.
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Andreas from Nicosia comments:
Darryl , i am at the same boat with you fighting to have my civil partner ( non european) to live and work here with me . I am abroad now but when i come back ill try to contact you. Ombudswoman Eliana Nicolaou is a very progressive woman and i hope the goverment will look at this matter in a positive way. In this island we cant struggle for human rights for our political issue and oppress the human rights of citizens in the free part of the island. I think it will be very embarassing for this goverment if a citizen decides to take Cyprus to the European court of human rights on this issue as Modinos, this wonderful and heroic person did at a time that homosexuality was still considered as a crime.
Demetris from Larnaca comments:
Darryl, Cyprus really isnt the place for a openly gay person to move to. You have to remember Cyprus is a middle eastern country with the same mentality and ethics you will see in say Iraq, Iran or any of the Arab nations. Our EU status is a farce and if we could get away with it, we would still be cutting off the hands of theives and stoning women.
So I would suggest if any openly gay person is planning to move here, think again and choose a European country instead.
Andreas from Limassol, Cyprus comments:
Excellent news. Same-sex marriages is not only about money though, it is also a fundamental human right. We are on the 21st century, and there is nothing wrong or immoral about these marriages. It is a positive step for Cyprus, to prove that all the rights of its people are respected and covered by law. Congratulations to the Law Commissioner and the Ombudsman who raised the issue. You have our strong support and encouragement!
Darryl from Pafos comments:
am fighting with immigration at the moment to allow my civil partner (not european) to live and work with me in cyprus, unfortunately the minds of cypriots towards gays are still full of bigotry and we are met at immigration with snide comments and sniggers
Tom comments:
I was very suprised by this news...can someone from Cyprus tell me how likely the legislation of same-sex marriage really is?And I mean real marriage and not civil unions or something like that...
Nicholas comments:
Of course Cyprus makes a lot of money from Israeli couples who get married in Cyprus because civil marriages cant be conducted in Israel, although those conducted abroad are recognised.
Same-sex marriages conducted abroad are recognised in Israel, so if Cyprus legalises it, then it is going to become the number 1 destination for same-sex Israeli weddings, and it is going to make a lot more money.
Nicholas comments:
Of course Cyprus makes a lot of money from Israeli couples who get married in Cyprus because civil marriages cant be conducted in Israel, although those conducted abroad are recognised.
Same-sex marriages conducted abroad are recognised in Israel, so if Cyprus legalises it, then it is going to become the number 1 destination for same-sex Israeli weddings, and it is going to make a lot more money.
Yiannis from Lemessos comments:
About time. Same-sex marriage is not about gay rights it's about human rights. The church is redundant. we moved away from a theocracy years ago for a reason! the church does not make decisions in the best interests of every member of society, therefore they should have no more influence in this decision than anyone else.
If South Africa, Portugal and Spain (both very Catholic) and even some US States can approve of gay marriage, then Cyprus should too.
This shouldnt be seen as an attack on the church or the "institution of marriage". Society hasnt collapsed in any country where gays can get married. It takes nothing away from heterosexual people or couples. What it does do is treat all people equally. Gay people pay the same tax as straight people. If we are not entitled to all same rights, then why should we pay the same tax!?
The government needs to lead by example in order to begin the change of mentality within the wider community. the benefits to cypriot culture and economy will be great. tolerance is the key to social cohesion, not out-dated church dogma.
Ellen comments:
In a few days same-sex marriage will also become legal in the U.S. capital, Washington DC.
Adam D comments:
Changing the law is one thing, but changing hearts and minds is going to be tough. Changing the law is a start though and should happen accross the EU ASAP. Equalities training throughout the civil service will be essential for this to work and not lead to many discrimination cases. Work to tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools would also help as well as anti-discrimination laws in employment (I think this already exists as am EU directive).
Implementation is the key.
As for the Church in Cyprus..who cares? I thought we were suppoosed to be a democratic and secular country and NOT a theocracy? Maybe those within the church should "come out" and stop acting hypocritically.
Resident from It used to be Heaven comments:
What a laugh.
Imagine two boys, one a Cypriot and the other a Chinese working here on a contract pink paper, going into the Paphos immigration office and asking for a residents visa for the Chinese lad.
They would fall about laughing as they have to, at the moment, visit the home of such (normal) married people to check that they are properly married and it's not just a marriage of convenience.
This includes looking around for happy together photos and the married partners clothes in the wardrobes and cabinets etc.
If this proposal for same-sex marriages to be legal in Cyprus then a lot of civil servants are going to get their heads into the 21st century which could be difficult as most of them are firmly stuck in the 18th or 19th century.
But doesn't that go for most of the government as well?
Doros Michaelides from Nicosia , Cyprus comments:
As a member of this society , as a tax-paying citizen and as a person who believs that Human Rights can not be framed and expressed according to our personal morals and discriminations ...... I believe that this matter -same sex marriages - should be looked at very seriously and a decision to be made to reflect our willingness of both the Society and the Judicial System to respect the rights of ALL our citizens !
Dimitris from Nicosia comments:
@ george, let's listen to the church's opinion?
You must be joking? the last thing we need is the opinion of a corrupt church and the bearded satanic perverts running it who can't even practice what they preach.
Andreas Stavrou from Vienna comments:
"..the Interior Ministry simply turned down the request, prompting the man to complain in writing to the House of Representatives..."
House Legal Affairs Committee chairman:"...my reply to him was that raising the issue in the House on the initiative of just one party might well lead to it becoming a political football, rather than being treated with the seriousness it deserves. I said it would be better if it came from the government, so the issue will lack political colour..."
POLITICAL FOOTBALL????
George from Dubai comments:
It would be good for tourism revenue... kind of like the same story we have with Lebanese flying to Cyprus to get married.