Same-sex marriage in Latvia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Same-sex marriage |
---|
Performed nationwide in |
Netherlands (2001) |
Performed statewide in |
Massachusetts, USA (2004) |
Foreign same-sex marriage recognized in |
Israel (2006) |
Debate in other countries and regions |
Aruba |
See also |
Civil union |
In December 2005, Latvia became the third member state of European Union (after Poland and Lithuania) to constitutionally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The constitutional amendement was signed by President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, who at the time said that the amendment didn't change anything as marriage was already defined in civil law as being between a man and a woman, and Parliament could amend the Constitution whenever it wants. She said that the amendment did not give lawmakers free reign to discriminate against gay and lesbian citizens.