Three Percent Of Marriages In The Balearics Are Between Gay Couples

According to a statement released by the Instituto de Politica Familiar de Baleares (IPFB), nearly 3 percent of marriages in Spain's Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares) are between gay and lesbian couples.

The archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea consists of four large islands – Majorca (Mallorca), Menorca (Menorca), Ibiza (Eivissa) and Formentera – and many smaller islands. The Balearic Islands are popular tourist destinations.

In 2009 a total of 4,275 marriages were held on the islands, according to the National Institute of Statistics, of which 124 were between members of the same sex, or 2.9 percent. The Balearic Island's rate exceeded the national average of 1.74%.

The socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero legalized gay marriage in 2005 over the objections of the Roman Catholic Church.

The IPFB, which opposes gay marriage, called on the government to end its “irresponsible and dangerous social experiment.”

Zapatero, the twice-elected prime minister of Spain, recently lauded gay marriage as a great achievement. His opponent in next year's election, Mariano Rajoy, objects to the law, and has recently said he would work to end it.