Others May Follow: The Introduction of Marriage, Quasi-Marriage, and Semi-Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in European Countries
Judicial Studies Institute Journal, Vol. 5, pp. 104-127, Dublin, 2005
21 Pages Posted: 9 Jul 2009 Last revised: 28 Sep 2009
Date Written: 2004
Abstract
This article is based on the text of an affidavit written by the author in October 2003, at the request of the Department of Justice Canada, for the Supreme Court of Canada, in the matter of a reference by the Governor in Council concerning the proposal for an act respecting certain aspects of legal capacity for marriage for civil purposes, as set out in Order in Council P.C. 2003-1055, dated July 16, 2003. In this reference the Canadian government asked the Supreme Court of Canada for an advisory opinion on proposed legislation to extend the definition of civil marriage to samesex couples (after appellate courts in two common law provinces ruled that the exclusion of same-sex partners from marriage is unconstitutional, and a superior court in civil law Québec ruled the province’s statutory bar to be similarly unconstitutional). The article introduces the terms 'quasi-marriage' and 'semi-marriage' for comprehensive and more limited forms of registered partnership. It gives detailed information on the legislative developments in the Netherlands and Belgium, and also covers those in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Germany and France.
Keywords: same-sex marriage, registered partnerschip, cohabitation, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe, comparative law
JEL Classification: K1
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation