
As I reported
three weeks ago,
Vietnam is seeing the early rumblings of a government-backed move
towards same sex marriage. That first report noted that change "would
not likely be coming soon." Or maybe it will
after all.
Vietnam's
Communist government is now considering whether to allow same-sex
couples to marry or legally register and receive rights — positioning
the country to be the first in Asia to do so. "Our love for each other
is real and nothing changes regardless of whether the law is passed or
not," said Loan, 31. "But when it is passed, we will definitely go get
registered. I can't wait!" Even longtime gay-rights activists are
stunned by the Justice Ministry's proposal to include same-sex couples
in its overhaul of the country's marriage law. No one knows what form it
will take or whether it will survive long enough to be debated before
the National Assembly next year, but supporters say the fact that it's
even being considered is a victory in a region where simply being gay
can result in jail sentences or whippings with a rattan cane. "I think
everyone is surprised," said Vien Tanjung, an Indonesian gay-rights
activist. "Even if it's not successful, it's already making history. For
me personally, I think it's going to go through."
The
Christian Post is worried about Vietnam and
today posted this concerning statistic:
92
percent of Vietnam's population is Buddhist, and another 6.7 percent is
Catholic and less than 0.5 percent is Protestant. The Roman Catholic
Church, which teaches that homosexuals are called to celibacy, staunchly
supports the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and
one woman, but due to the minority it holds in Vietnam, is unlikely to
be able to play a big part in the same-sex marriage debate in the
country.
Reposted from Joe
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