ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Skip to main content

EU's top court boosts the rights of same-sex parents

A pride flag is seen in this undated stock image (Pexels/Sharon McCutcheon) A pride flag is seen in this undated stock image (Pexels/Sharon McCutcheon)
Share
BRUSSELS -

A ruling by the European Union's top court on Tuesday has boosted the rights of same-sex parents and their children in the 27-nation bloc.

The European Court of Justice said a child with two mothers certified in one EU nation must also be recognized by the other EU members as such.

The ruling was based on a case in Bulgaria, where a local court questioned whether authorities could refuse to register the birth of a Bulgarian citizen born in Spain to married mothers.

The lack of such a Bulgarian birth certificate would impede the child's chances for an identity card and hence, their freedom of movement in the bloc, a cornerstone of EU policy.

"This is a true testament to the EU being a union of equality and we look forward to seeing rainbow families enjoying their right to freedom of movement and other fundamental rights on equal footing to anyone else," said Arpi Avetisyan of Europe's LGBTI rights group ILGA.

The EU court said Spain had already established the child-parent relationship through a birth certificate and that because of it, the two same-sex parents " be recognized by all member states as having the right, as parents of a Union citizen who is a minor and of whom they are the primary carers, to accompany that child when she is exercising her rights."

The court noted that in Bulgaria, where there is no same-sex marriage, the birth certificate has one box for "mother" and another for "father" where only one name may appear. The Bulgarian mother of the child objected.

Parenthood often remains a Kafkaesque challenge for same-sex couples who are faced with heaps of additional bureaucracy and other demands that traditional couples do not face.

Globally, the EU already includes 16 nations that have legal same-sex marriage, compared to about 30 nations overall in the world.

For the group ILGA, the ruling gives a legal backbone to last year's commitment by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen when she came out in defense of LGBT rights and said "If you are parent in one country, you are parent in every country."

CTVNews.ca ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.

Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.

Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.

Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.

A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.

The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.

Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.

Local Spotlight

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

A Good Samaritan in New Brunswick has replaced a man's stolen bottle cart so he can continue to collect cans and bottles in his Moncton neighbourhood.

Stay Connected