This edited collection provides a forum for rigorous analysis of the necessity for both legal and social change with regard to regulation of same-sex relationships and rainbow families, the status of civil partnership as a concept and the lived reality of equality for LGBTQ+ persons. Twenty-eight jurisdictions worldwide have now legalised same-sex marriage and many others some level of civil partnership. In contrast other jurisdictions refuse to recognise or even criminalise same-sex relationships. At a Council of Europe level, there is no requirement for contracting states to legalise same-sex marriage. Whilst the Court of Justice of the European Union now requires contracting states to recognise same-sex marriages for the purpose of free movement and residency rights, unlike the US Supreme Court, it does not require EU Member States to legalise same-sex marriage. Law and Sociology scholars from five key jurisdictions (England and Wales, Italy, Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland) examine the role of the Council of Europe, European Union and further international regimes. A balanced approach between the competing views of critically analytical rights based theorists and queer and feminist theorists interrogates the current international consensus in this fast moving area. The incrementalist theory whilst offering a methodology for future advances continues to be critiqued. All contributions from differing perspectives expose that even for those jurisdictions who have legalised same-sex marriage, still further and continuous work needs to be done. The book will be of interest to students and scholars in the field of human rights, family and marriage law and gender studies.

The legal status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people has undergone significant changes in several countries, but remains highly complex and difficult for those affected. Although same-sex partners may have the right to marry or enter into a registered partnership in one Member State, this right may be denied when they exercise their right to freedom of movement. The same is true for certain parent-child relationships, which may be recognized as such in one Member State but not another. This book explores the challenges and controversies concerning the recognition of non-heterosexual relationships throughout the EU through the lens of EU legislation, the case law of the CJEU and ECtHR, and recent national developments. Following the Irish referendum and the recent ECtHR judgment in Oliari v. Italy, more changes are expected in the near future. The opening part of this book describes the current state of play in all EU Member States (and beyond) when formalizing a same-sex relationship, 'steady progress' being the key term in describing the developments in many countries (with the exception of six Eastern European States that object to legislation in this field). The second part concentrates on parenthood and children's rights, notably adoption, surrogacy, multiple parenting, and the range of parenting rights for same-sex couples, and transsexual and transgender people. The third section on gender identity and human rights, discusses the legal aftermath of the European Court of Human Rights' judgment in Oliari, condemning Italy for failing to protect homosexuals' right to family life. Furthermore, it explains European Union legislation against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, and the challenges lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender applicants are confronted with when reaching Europe as refugees. The book ends with a lively debate on the right to change one's legal gender, and it raises the fundamental question of whether we still need gender as a legal category or whether laws concerning partnership and parenting could feasibly be de-gendered. Does gender matter in the EU? This book is written for both the academic and professional readership. (Series: European Family Law, Vol. 42) [Subject: Human Rights Law, Family Law, EU Law]

Same-sex marriages are currently not permitted under Australian federal law. Although same-sex couples in a de facto relationship have had most of the legal rights of married couples since July 2009, there is however no national registered partnership or civil union scheme.

Rev. ed. of : Legal recognition of same-sex couples in Europe / edited by Katharina Boele-Woelki, Angelika Fuchs. c2003.

Evidence shows that married couples have better overall health than unmarried people. Scholars and policy makers contend that same-sex marriage provide similar benefits as well. Marriage and Health represents the forefront of marriage and health research on same-sex couples. This collection of essays presents new perspectives that address the challenges faced by same-sex couples in multiple domains of well-being.

In the last fifteen years constitutional issues regarding the rights of gays, lesbians and same-sex couples have emerged on a global scale. The pace of recognition of their fundamental rights, both at judicial and legislative level, has dramatically increased across different jurisdictions, reflecting a growing consensus toward sexual orientation equality. This book considers a wide-range of decisions by constitutional and international courts, from the decriminalization of sexual acts to the recognition of same-sex marriage and parental rights for same-sex couples. It discusses analogies and differences in judicial arguments and rationales in such cases, focusing in particular on human dignity, privacy, liberty, equality and non-discrimination. It argues that courts operate as major exporters of models and principles and that judicial cross-fertilization also helps courts in increasing the acceptability of gays' and lesbians' rights in public opinions and politics. Courts discuss changes in the social perception of marriage and family at national and international levels and at the same time confirm and reinforce them, forging the legal debate over sexual orientation equality. Furthermore, by promoting the political reception of the achievements of foreign gay movements in their own jurisdictions, courts play an essential role in breaking the political stalemate.