Parliament makes gay 'marriage' legal

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MADRID -- Spain became the third country to legalize same-sex "marriage" yesterday in a parliament vote that left homosexual activists blowing kisses to lawmakers and the powerful Catholic Church issuing calls for defiance.

The new law increases the chances of happiness for "our neighbors, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives," said Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The 350-seat Congress of Deputies, by a vote of 187-147 with four abstentions, approved the measure to give homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexual ones, including the right to adopt children.

After the tally was announced, activists watching from the spectator section of the ornate chamber cried, cheered, hugged each other, waved to lawmakers and blew them kisses.

"This is a disgrace," shouted several members of the conservative opposition Popular Party, which vehemently opposed the bill. Those in favor stood and clapped.

Outside the stately 19th-century chamber where other chapters of Spanish history have been written, activists jumped for joy and waved rainbow flags symbolizing the international homosexual rights movement.

"It is a historic day for the world's homosexuals. We have been fighting for many years," said Beatriz Gimeno, a longtime leader of the homosexual rights movement in Spain.

The Roman Catholic Church, which held much sway over the government just a generation ago when Gen. Francisco Franco was in power, was left smarting from the vote.

"Marriage, understood as the union of a man and a woman, is no longer provided for in our laws," the Spanish Bishops Conference said after the vote, referring both to the same-sex "marriage" law and a bill passed Wednesday making it easier for Spaniards to divorce.

"It is necessary to oppose these unfair laws through all legitimate means," a conference statement said, alluding to its hint last month that town-hall officials who oppose same-sex "marriage" should refuse to preside over such ceremonies.

About 80 percent of Spaniards consider themselves Catholic. However, polls say nearly half the country's Catholics rarely go to Mass, and a third say they are simply not religious.

Same-sex couples can get "married" as soon as the law is published in the official government registry -- as early as today or within two weeks at the latest, parliament's press office said.

The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other countries that recognize same-sex "marriage" nationwide. The Netherlands lets homosexuals adopt children. Belgium is considering the adoption issue.

Canada's House of Commons passed legislation Tuesday that would legalize same-sex "marriage" by the end of July as long as the Senate also passes the bill, which it is expected to do.

In the United States, Massachusetts is the only state to recognize same-sex "marriage." Vermont and Connecticut have approved same-sex civil unions.