International recognition of the parent-child relationship established after a surrogate pregnancy remains a complex problem for a number of European countries. This post on conflictoflaws.net reports on a new Instruction regarding registration of foreign births by surrogacy in Spain. Another post reported on a
Mexico’s Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage
According to a recent ruling of Mexico’s Supreme Court, all of the Mexican states must recognize the validity of same-sex marriages entered into in Mexico City. See David Agren, Mexican States Ordered to Honor Gay Marriages (NTY 8/10/10).
Argentina Becomes First Latin American Country to Allow Same-Sex Marriage
Here’s a report in the New York Times by Alexei Barrionuevo: Argentina Approves Gay Marriage. the article notes that both Uruguay and Colombia allow same-sex couples to form civil unions, and Mexico City allows same-sex couples to marry.
France Recognizes U.S. Same-Sex Adoption
In a post on conflictoflaws.net, Gilles Cuniberti describes the recent ruling of the French Cour de cassation requiring recognition of an American adoption judgment that was obtained in 1999 by a French woman who was the same-sex partner of the child’s American mother. The couple were both doctors, living in Georgia at the time of the adoption. The post includes links to the court’s opinion and an article about the case in Le Monde.
Same-Sex Marriage: International Developments
Following a hearing in February, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in June that the European Convention on Human Rights does not obligate member states to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples. The ruling in Schalk and Kopf v.
Iceland Approves Gay Marriage
Here’s the story from Reuters: Iceland Passes Gay Marriage Law in Unanimous Vote.
Here’s a post on conflictoflaws.net: Iceland authorizes same sex marriages.
Same-Sex Marriage in Africa
Although South Africa has recognized same-sex marriages since the Civil Union Act in 2006, gay and lesbian relationships are the subject of significant controversy elsewhere in Africa. News reports in the past few days have addressed arrests of gay couples in Malawi, see Barry Bearak, “Same-Sex Couple Stirs Fears of a ‘Gay Agenda’” (NYT Feb.
New Issue: International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family
Advance access to the April 2010 issue of the International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family is now available online. The issue includes these articles:
Paul Borghs and Bart Eeckhout on LGB Rights in Belgium, 1999–2007: A Historical Survey of a Velvet Revolution:
Liz Trinder, Alan Firth, and Christopher Jenks,‘So Presumably Things Have Moved on Since Then?’ The Management of Risk Allegations in Child Contact Dispute Resolution;
Portugal poised to approve same-sex marriage
Portugal’s parliament has passed legislation to authorize gay marriage. If approved by the President, Portugal would become the sixth European nation to recognize same-sex marriage, joining Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden (as well as Canada and South Africa). This article by Barry Hatton in the Washington Post — Portuguese parliament approves same-sex marriage bill – suggests that Portugal’s president is unlikely to veto the bill, which could go i
Same-Sex Marriage in Argentina
A judge in Buenos Aires ruled on November 13 that a same-sex couple must be permitted to marry on constitutional equality grounds; on November 15 the mayor announced that the city would not appeal the ruling. Here’s an item on Jurist with more details, and here’s an Associated Press story available from the New York Times.