Austria to Strengthen Registered Partnerships Through a Symbolic Measure

(Blogmensgo, gay blog of October 9, 2016) On October 4, 2016, the Austrian Family Minister, together with the Interior Minister, has proposed a legislative initiative to amend the registered partnership. It proposes to unify the procedures for registered partnerships and regular civil marriage although these two will not actually have the same value in the end. This measure intends to enhance the status of registered partnerships but only has symbolic value in the end.

The new law project proposes same-sex partnerships in the future to be concluded by a marriage registrar just like heterosexual marriages. Partners in same-sex couples shall also be allowed to add the partner’s name to their own in the future.

Currently, gay and lesbian couples may only have their partnership registered at the district authority, and if they choose to adopt a double name, it does not count as a real family name but rather as a name of usage.

Since the current coalition government has a majority in the Austrian parliament, the law is likely to come into force late 2016 or early 2017.

Frank-S / MensGo
Main source: OTS, October 4, 2016.
Other source: foxnews.com, October 4, 2016.