Israel’s new ‘covenantal partnership’ bill would legalize gay marriage

[King_David]

Well here's one way to legalize gay marriage, without even really having to mention gays, or marriage: Introduce a law that allows any couple, regardless of religion or gender, to obtain a "covenantal partnership" from the state.

This approach may only be possible in Israel, a nation built on religion but aspiring to the ideals of Western democracy. Current marriage law can't hold up forever: It quite insanely requires that all Jewish marriages be performed under the Rabbinate by a certain set of Orthodox rabbis, and doesn't allow for inter-religious marriages — much less gay ones. (Christians and Muslims can be married in Israel, too, under similarly strict religious rules.) This has set in motion a ridiculous system wherein hordes of betrothed Israelis fly off to nearby Cyprus, or any other country where a stodgy old Orthodox dude won't ruin their big day, then fly back to Israel, where their marriage is now recognized, but where nitty-gritty marriage stuff like wills and property distribution often have to be hashed out in court (instead of being automatic, as in Rabbinate-approved marriages).

http://www.jewishjournal.com/hella_tel_aviv/item/israels_new_covenantal_partnership_bill_would_legalize_gay_marriage

[Scootaloo]

1. Baby steps towards civilization.

Hopefully theirs take 'em farther than Americans have managed