Proposal to give gay couples right to adopt rejected

According to unofficial results of a referendum in Slovenia, a proposal to give same-sex couples the right to adopt children has been rejected. A state commission in charge of organizing the referendum on the proposed changes of the Law on Family said that some 56 percent of those who turned out voted against, while 44 percent voted in favor. Proposal to give gay couples right to adopt rejected About a quarter of Slovenians eligible to vote turned out - 468,000 people, or 26 percent - which does not bring into question the results of the referendum. The new legislation on family issues was adopted last year by the Slovenian parliament where left-wing and liberal parties had a majority, but that has in the meantime been dissolved. After a referendum on the issue was requested, the law never came into effect. The results of the referendum this weekend mean that the Slovenian parliament will not be able to decide again on this matter for one year, during which time the old legislation will be in effect. Supporters of the proposed amendments campaigned by saying that they would make legal the changes that had already taken place in the society and would be in line with a modernization of the family law that already exists in Europe. Religious communities, including the Catholic Church, voiced their opposition to the idea. Slovenia has had a law in force since 2005 allowing same-sex couples to register at local municipalities, but without giving them the right to inherit property and other family rights, or the right to marriage, as is the case in some countries. A view of Ljubljana (file) Tanjug

Proposal to give gay couples right to adopt rejected

About a quarter of Slovenians eligible to vote turned out - 468,000 people, or 26 percent - which does not bring into question the results of the referendum.

The new legislation on family issues was adopted last year by the Slovenian parliament where left-wing and liberal parties had a majority, but that has in the meantime been dissolved. After a referendum on the issue was requested, the law never came into effect.

The results of the referendum this weekend mean that the Slovenian parliament will not be able to decide again on this matter for one year, during which time the old legislation will be in effect.

Supporters of the proposed amendments campaigned by saying that they would make legal the changes that had already taken place in the society and would be in line with a modernization of the family law that already exists in Europe.

Religious communities, including the Catholic Church, voiced their opposition to the idea.

Slovenia has had a law in force since 2005 allowing same-sex couples to register at local municipalities, but without giving them the right to inherit property and other family rights, or the right to marriage, as is the case in some countries.