Hungarian Gays Win the Right to 'Wed'

Hungary is leading the way in Eastern Europe for gays and lesbians after the Government announced that from 1 July same sex couples will be able to register their partnerships.

The new law will give gay couples, when both partners are over the age of 18, the right to have their relationships legally recognized. 'Civil Partnerships' as they are generally known, allow gay partners to be named as 'next of kin' , and mean that both can benefit from their spouse's pension and inheritance rights. However, the Hungarian law doesn't give gay people the right to adopt children, although if there are children from one of the partner's previous relationships the other partner will also become legally responsible for the children.

The move marks a big step forward for gay civil rights in Eastern Europe, where gays and lesbians lack the acceptance and tolerance that they now enjoy in Western Europe. In the UK, Germany and France gay life is pretty much part of mainstream society and most city dwellers would hardly bat the wrong eye lid to a 'pink parade'. In the East, which never experienced the 'sexual revolution' of the 60s and 70s and where most people set their moral compass by what the Catholic church dictates, being gay still comes with all the old, weary baggage.

Since the 90s, Budapest has had a relatively thriving gay scene, compared to many Eastern European capitals, and gay campaigners are hoping that the bill will mark the signal of a new era in the way gay people are treated and perceived. The country joins the Czech Republic and Slovakia as being the only former Eastern bloc countries to recognize gay unions and it's hoped that more of their neighbours will follow suit.