スペイン軍で初の同性婚、セビリアで結婚式＝市長も祝福

スペイン軍で初の同性婚、セビリアで結婚式＝市長も祝福

【ライブドア・ニュース　09月16日】－ AP通信によると、スペイン南部アンダルシア地方の古都セビリアで15日、スペイン空軍の軍人男性2人が結婚式を挙げた。

　　スペインでは、2005年7月に同性婚を合法化する法律が施行され、法務省によると、それ以降、約4500組の同性カップルが結婚しているが、スペイン軍の軍人同士の同性婚は初めてとされる。スペイン軍は、伝統的にカトリック的価値観が強く、同性婚には否定的な姿勢だった。

　　今回、結婚式を挙げたのは、アルベルト・リネーロさん(27)とアルベルト・サンチェスさん(24)。結婚式には、セビリアのアルフレード・サンチェス・モンテセイリン市長も出席し、「これは、二人の結婚式にとどまるものではない。あなた方は、同性愛に対する差別に苦しみ、この場にいない数百万人の人々を象徴する存在でもある。セビリア市は、あなた方の権利を守ります」と述べ、祝福した。

　　スペイン軍の一部には、今回の結婚に反発する声も出ているが、国防省は、同性婚は個人の選択であり、二人は今後も軍人としてのキャリアを続けていくだろうとしている。

　　リネーロさんは、結婚式が終了した後、記者団に、「大したことをしたわけではない。社会がこれをしっかりと認識してくれればと願っている」と述べ、同性愛者に対する平等意識の向上に向けた小さな一歩だと強調していた。【了】


ライブドア・ニュース　岩城伸也記者
(参照：http://blog.livedoor.jp/emasutani/)

2 Male Spanish Air Force Privates Wed
- By DANIEL WOOLLS, Associated Press Writer
Friday, September 15, 2006
(09-15) 13:58 PDT SEVILLE, Spain (AP) --

The Spanish military — once a crusty remnant of a right-wing regime closely linked to the Roman Catholic Church — got its first public taste of gay marriage Friday as two male soldiers wed, sealing their union with gold rings and a long kiss.


Alberto Linero, 27, and Alberto Sanchez, 24, both privates in the air force, wore dark blue dress uniforms with red and gold epaulets as they exchanged vows in a reception room at Seville's town hall — the first known wedding among same-sex members of the military since Spain legalized gay marriage last year.


Some members of the military may not be happy about the union — the grooms declined to say if they are suffering harassment from commanders or colleagues — but the Defense Ministry has said it considers the wedding a personal matter and the men will be allowed to continue with their careers. It had no comment Friday on the nuptials.


Spain has no law against gays in the military, and other service members have acknowledged their homosexuality in the past.


In the United States, the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy prohibits the military from inquiring about the sex lives of service members but requires those who openly acknowledge being gay to be discharged.


The men were married by Seville Mayor Alfredo Sanchez Monteseirin, who said their wedding marked a victory for gay people everywhere who have suffered discrimination.


"This is not just your wedding. You symbolize millions of people who are not here and suffer from homophobia," Sanchez Monteseirin said. "The city will protect your rights."


After they were pronounced spouses, Linero and Sanchez placed gold rings on each other's fingers and shared a kiss. The 100 people in attendance clapped wildly. Sanchez later wept as he hugged his younger brother Sergio.


The mayor is a member of the Socialist party, which oversees a government that legalized gay marriage last year and has pushed through laws including fast-track divorce and easier terms for medically assisted fertilization.


The laws have irked the church and the country's conservative establishment, which has accused the government of tearing away at the nation's traditional values.


Addressing a gaggle of reporters after the ceremony, Linero said the wedding was a small step toward complete equality for homosexuals.


"We've done our little bit. We hope society realizes this," he said.


Some 4,500 same-sex couples have wed under the gay marriage legislation, which took effect in July 2005, according to the Justice Ministry.


The wedding is believed to be the first marriage between two same-sex members of the Spanish armed forces, said Beatriz Gimeno, president of Spain's Federation of Gays and Lesbians.


She welcomed the wedding as something the military and Spaniards in general have to get used to.


"I don't think the army in a democratic society has to be conservative," Gimeno said.


Besides Spain, the Netherlands, Canada and Belgium have legalized same-sex marriage, while Britain and other European countries have laws that give same-sex couples the right to form legally binding partnerships.


In the United States, only the state of Massachusetts allows gay marriage, while Vermont and Connecticut permit civil unions.