|
| Cohen: Refusing Gay Marriage Illegal |
2/14/2007 |
|
AMSTERDAM — Mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen believes it is very sad that under the new cabinet, municipal officials will be allowed to refuse to perform marriage ceremonies for homosexual couples, ANP reports.
The Mayor made the above statement on Wednesday morning at the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at city hall in the memory of the first same sex marriage in Amsterdam officially recognized there on 1 April 2001.
Cohen also said he regretted that the new cabinet was seemingly not prepared to take any steps in the further emancipation of homosexuals in the Netherlands.
“It has been six years now and we can say that same sex marriage is fully integrated in our society. That said, it is a shame that the new coalition accord allows municipal officials to refuse to marry gay couples. I think the officials must follow the law'''''''', Cohen said.
It was reported earlier today that the leader of the Christian Union (ChristenUnie) André Rouvoet is going to confront the Centre for Culture and Leisure (COC), the organization protecting the rights of homosexuals, who said they planned to publish the names of all the municipal officials who refused to marry gay couples.
[Copyright Expatica
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
