The parliamentary committee for Labor gave the go-ahead to a bill on same-sex partnerships proposed by SMC MP Jani Möderndorfer. His bill is different from a similar bill proposed by the “Children are at Stake” coalition in that it does not call for same-sex adoptions. Instead, it seeks to place same-sex couples on an equal economic footing with their heterosexual counterparts.
The bill would not change the definition of marriage, which would remain a union of one man and one woman. Moreover, the bill would not affect adoptions or in-vitro fertilization.
Proponents of gay rights are not altogether satisfied with the bill, as it does not guarantee full equality. They nonetheless support it, saying that it does address certain aspects of the problem.
