Civil Unions and gay adoptions are now possible in Malta after the countries government passed legislation last night. The opposition abstained from voting allowing the groundbreaking bill to pass.
Following the vote the parliament was lit up in rainbow colours. The Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said that his party was in favour of the civil unions but had concerns about gay couples being able to adopt.
The new law has been welcomed by the International Lesbian and Gay Association which highlighted that Malta is the 22nd European country to recognise same-sex unions and the 10th to allow couples to adopt.
Over a 1,000 people welcomed the announcement in the square outside the parliament in Valletta. The tiny Mediterranean island nation has a large Catholic community and Catholicism is the state’s official religion. Divorce was only legalised in Malta two years ago.
OIP Staff
