The Slovenian National Assembly on
Tuesday approved a gay marriage bill.
Lawmakers
voted 51-28 in favor of changes to the family law allowing gay
couples to marry and adopt children.
Gay couples could previously enter a
registered partnership, which offers few benefits. In 2011,
lawmakers expanded partnerships to include all the rights, benefits
and obligations of marriage except joint adoption. However, voters
rejected the law during a national referendum.
The National Council now has 7 days to
decide whether to require lawmakers to hold a second vote.
“We commend the elected
representatives of Slovenia for passing such historic legislation
ensuring the nation’s LGBT citizens receive the rights they
deserve, and we congratulate the LGBT activists and advocates who
helped make this momentous day possible,” Ty Cobb, director of HRC
Global, said
in a statement.
Under the theme “Children Are At
Stake,” a few thousand people rallied Tuesday against passage of
the bill and vowed to force a referendum on the issue.
According to a Delo Stik poll conducted
last month, 59 percent of Slovenians support marriage equality, while
37 percent remain opposed.