Same-sex marriage on rise in Belgium - UPI

United Press International
Same-sex marriage on rise in Belgium
Jul. 25, 2005 at 9:45AM

Same-sex marriage has boomed since the concept was legalized in Belgium and 3 percent of all marriages are between homosexuals.

Some 2,500 same-sex couples have tied the knot since September 2003, the Ministry of Interior Affairs announced. It is not certain that marrying will remain this popular among Belgian gays in the future since registered homosexuals are barred from adopting children under national legislation.

The Belgian parliament has been discussing adoption rights for same-sex couples in recent months and a vote is expected after the summer recess.

Belgium was the second country, after the Netherlands, to legalize gay marriage. Same-sex marriages are now allowed in a number of countries, including Spain and Canada, whereas gay adoption remains fairly restricted.