After more than fifteen years of aspirations will same-sex couples finally get the equal rights and responsibilities that married and unmarried males and females have? The amendments are backed by MP's from the United Left, Miro Cerar's SMC party, the Social Democrats SD, as well by a part of the Pensioners' Party DeSUS parliamentary group. The parliamentary debate will certainly be fierce. Roman Kuhar from the Peace Institute warns that the Netherlands have already equalized the rights of all couples 15 years ago. Our neighbours Hungary, Austria, and Croatia, have meanwhile done the same in the last couple of years.
Several civil initiatives in coalition with the Catholic Church are strongly rejecting the equalization of marriage between all couples. Similar to their campaign three years ago, they see the amendments as a bid to diminish the values of family, motherhood and fatherhood. Even more, the opposing side is worried about the possibility of homosexual couples in Slovenia adopting children. Members of the "It's about Children!" coalition plan to gather in front the National Assembly and call on MPs to reject the amendments. They have also announced the collection of referendum signatures.