JERUSALEM (BP)–An Israeli bill that would reverse a pro-“gay marriage” ruling by that nation’s highest court passed the legislature Dec. 6, although it still must pass twice more and apparently faces an uphill climb.
The legislation passed by a vote of 33-31, although several legislators who oppose the bill were absent and pledged to be there during the next vote, The Jerusalem Post reported. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert voted against the bill, which would prevent the government from recognizing “gay marriages” from other countries, The Post said. It passed in mid-day during a time when many legislators leave for lunch.
The bill would trump a 6-1 decision by the Israeli High Court of Justice, which in November ruled that the government must recognize “gay marriages” from Canada, Spain and other countries. The ruling put Israel to the left of Great Britain and the United States, neither of which recognizes “gay marriages” conducted elsewhere. The U.S. government doesn’t even recognize “gay marriages” from the state of Massachusetts.
“Clearly this is a disappointment for us,” Itai Pinkas, an Israeli homosexual man who was “married” in Canada, told The Post. “We are nearly sure that this will not pass a second and third vote.”
The bill is sponsored by legislator Mickey Eitan.
Canada, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and South Africa are the only countries worldwide to recognize “gay marriage.”
CONFUSION IN CALIF. — Despite the fact his side won at the appellate level, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, a Democrat, asked the state Supreme Court in legal briefs Dec. 4 to hear a lawsuit seeking the legalization of “gay marriage.”
Lockyer’s office is responsible for defending the current law, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. In October a state appeals court panel sided with Lockyer and voted 2-1 to uphold the current law. “Gay marriage” supporters appealed that ruling to the state Supreme Court, and Lockyer, too, asked the justices to take the case.
“The legality of same-sex marriage remains an issue of direct, personal importance to same-sex couples and their families,” Lockyer’s brief states, according to the San Jose Mercury News. “Like all Californians, these couples rightly expect the final resolution of this controversy to come from the state’s highest court.”
Meanwhile, pro-family legal groups are asking the court not to take the case. That would allow the appellate ruling to stand. In a legal brief Liberty Counsel asserted that “gay marriage” supporters “are now asking this court to assume the role of social engineer and to override the expressed will of the people of California that marriage is to continue to be defined as the union of one man and one woman.”
In 2000 a California initiative defining marriage in the natural, traditional sense passed with 61 percent of the vote.
The same day that Lockyer filed his legal briefs, California state Assemblyman Mark Leno, a Democrat, reintroduced a bill that would legalize “gay marriage.” Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed an identical bill previously, but Leno, who is homosexual, said he hopes Schwarzenegger changes his mind, the Associated Press reported.
POLLS GAUGE HOMOSEXUAL TOURISM — “Gay marriage” has been legal throughout Canada for more than a year, and not surprisingly, America’s neighbor to the north is quite popular among U.S. homosexual tourists. In an online annual survey by Community Marketing Inc., Canada ranked No. 1 among American homosexuals in international destinations, The Globe and Mail newspaper reported. Vancouver was ranked as the top Canadian city, while Montreal and Toronto were second and third, respectively.
The article interviewed Karen Wetzel of Louisiana, who traveled to Vancouver with her lesbian partner. After landing at the airport, they told a customs officer they were visiting the city to get “married,” The Globe and Mail reported.
“Well, congratulations and welcome to Vancouver,” he responded.
Vancouver’s tourism department has made a concerted effort to reach out to the homosexual community. Its website features prominently a banner reading, “Gay-friendly Vancouver.” Just below that a description reads, “Restaurants, coffee shops, nightclubs and boutiques catering to gays and lesbians.”
It’s the second year in a row Canada has been No. 1 on the list. Last year it beat Europe for the first time, the newspaper said. This year Mexico is second, the United Kingdom third.
Meanwhile, a new study conducted for the Travel Industry Association found that on average homosexual men spend 33 more than other travelers, the Detroit Free Press reported. Lesbian travelers, the study said, are more in line with heterosexual travelers. The Harris Interactive study surveyed 2,020 homosexual men and women. Homosexual men, the study said, also are significantly more likely to travel alone, the Free Press reported.
The Harris Interactive study also found that the top “gay-friendly” U.S. destination for American homosexuals is San Francisco. Key West, Fla., was second, followed by New York City; Fire Island, N.Y.; Provincetown, Mass.; Los Angeles; Miami; Las Vegas; New Orleans; Palm Springs/Palm Desert, Calif; and Boston, Chicago, San Diego and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (four-way tie).
Two prominent travel websites — Orbitz.com and Travelocity.com — feature links on their homepage for homosexual travelers.
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For more information about the national debate over “gay marriage,” visit http://www.bpnews.net/samesexmarriage
