[NYer]

Let's hear some more ideas.

Thousands Registered Under France's PACS Law
Friday, January 21st 2000

PARIS -- Since the passage of the Civil Solidarity Pact law in France last October, more than 6,000 same- and opposite-sex couples have registered their unions with the state, the Justice Ministry announced Thursday.

Registrants under the new law, known by its French acronym PACS, are able to enjoy many of the same rights and responsibilities previously restricted only to married couples.

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PACS provisions include allowing registered couples to file joint tax returns, collect pension, inheritance and other government-sponsored benefits, and reduce the waiting period for the issuance of foreign residency permits to partners of French nationals from five years to two.

The national debate over PACS legislation raged in France for the better part of two years. Tens of thousands of conservatives marched through the streets last year to denounce the proposed legislation. Opponents, joined by the Roman Catholic Church, issued dire warnings that the legislation would undermine family values and even bring about the end of French civilization.

The Socialists ultimately beat back Conservative attempts to derail the bill and passed PACS reform on October 13, 1999, by a vote of 315 to 249. Gay civil rights groups in France remain angry that the current bill does nothing to ease adoption restrictions and that a waiting period of three years was necessary before gay couples could file joint tax and claim other benefits.

Similar legislation already exists in several European countries, including Iceland, Belgium and Sweden. Laws in Denmark and the Netherlands are even more liberal. Germany is expected to begin debate on a national domestic partnership law early next year.

-- C. Barillas, Editor

[little jeremiah]

Apparently tens of thousands of conservatives marching through the streets didn't help. But I sure would love to see tens of thousands of conservatives marching through the streets HERE to protest "gay" marriage! Maybe on the same day as the revolting "Gay Prides".

I am NOT an organizer, live in a tiny rural community, but if anyone does organize any such protests/rallies, PLEASE publicize them well. I will drive anywhere north of mid-CA to attend, and I would bet that a lot of Freepers would as well.