Harman Patil (Editor)

Recognition of same sex unions in Albania

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Recognition of same-sex unions in Albania

Same-sex unions are not currently recognized in Albania.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced in a cabinet meeting on 29 July 2009 that the government would push for a law that recognises marriages between partners of the same sex. He said that the law had already been put to parliament.

On 5 February 2010 the Albanian parliament passed an anti-discrimination law which banned discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Gay rights groups praised the new law but said they hoped that Berisha would eventually keep his promise on legalising same-sex marriage.

As of 2013, the same-sex marriage bill was not introduced by the government. Legalization of same-sex marriage would require a change in Albania's Family Code, and changes to the Family Code require 84 votes in the Assembly. The ruling Democratic Party, together with their then allies, had only 71 votes at the time of adoption of anti-discrimination law. The Socialist Party, which had 63 votes, and their leftist allies were boycotting parliament in protest against alleged voter fraud in the 2009 parliamentary elections.

References

Recognition of same-sex unions in Albania Wikipedia