Recognition of civil unions came to the top of the legislative agenda in Italy after the European Court of Human Rights held in Oliari and Others v. Italy in July 2015 that failure to recognize same-sex couple relationships violated the European Convention on Human Rights.
Latin America also moving to permit same-sex marriage
In recent weeks, both Uruguay and Brazil have moved toward joining Argentina and Mexico and other nations in which same-sex marriage is possible. Uruguay enacted legislation in April; see Zack Ford, Uruguay Becomes 12th Country to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage (Think Progress, April 11, 2013).
France Approve Same-Sex Marriage
The French Parliament approved legislation to allow same-sex marriage on April 23, 2013. See Scott Sayare, Amid Much Tumult, France Approves ‘Marriage for All’ (NY Times April 2013).
Preview 2013: Same-Sex Marriage in France and the UK
Legislation to extend full marriage rights to same-sex couples is on the political agenda in both France and the UK for 2013. See Harvey Morris, Gay Marriage Fight Intensifies in Britain and France, International Herald Tribune/NY Times, Dec. 12, 2012.
Policy Guidance on Deportations and Same-Sex Partners
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to develop written policy guidance treating consider long-term same-sex couple relationships among the “family relationships” that may be considered in the decision whether to grant a stay of deportation. Here’s coverage of the story:
Cross-Border Issues for Same-Sex Couples: European Version
Excellent article in the New York Times on the situation facing same-sex couples in Europe. See Paul Geitner, On Gay Marriage, Europe Strains to Square 27 Interests (NY Times, July 25, 2012).
New Issue: International Law, Policy and the Family
Online access to the August 2011 issue of the International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family is available here.
DOMA, Immigration Law and Bi-National Couples
In late February, the Obama Adminsitration announced that it would no longer defend the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in litigation pending in several courts. (See Charlie Savage and Sheryl Gay Stolberg, In Shift, U.S. Says Marriage Act Blocks Civil Rights, NY Times Feb. 23, 2011).
Two PACS for every three marriages in France
Statistics for 2009 showed 250,000 marriages in France and 173,045 registrations of a pacte civil de solidarité (PACS). France allows both opposite-sex and same-sex couples to enter a PACS, and 95 percent of the newPACS registered in 2009 were between opposite-sex couples. See Scott Sayare and Maïa De la Baume, In France, Civil Unions Gain Favor Over Marriage (N.Y. Times, Dec. 15, 2010).
WSJ on “Assembling the Global Baby”
Amazing description in this Wall Street Journal story of the new world of international surrogacy, with particular attention to the recruiting of women located in Greece and India to act as surrogates and a broker based in California. See Tamara Audi and Arlene Chang, Assembling the Global Baby (12/10/10).