ZAGREB, Croatia — The Eastern European country of Croatia on Tuesday approved a law granting civil partnerships for same-sex couples.
The Life Partnership Act, approved in the Croatian parliament by a vote of 89-16, grants same-sex couples many of the same rights as marriage, with the exception of adoption.
Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic proposed the legislation, saying he was determined to establish legal rights for same-sex couples.
The unions will be called “life partnerships” and not “marriage,” but will be defined as a form of family, and protected by the country’s Constitution. The official ceremonies will be held in town councils.
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“This long-awaited legal recognition of our unions means that all family forms are equal, that they deserve to live in a safe, happy environment and that the dignity of every person, regardless of his sexual orientation, is inalienable,” said Marko Jurcic of Zagreb Pride.
In December, 65 percent of Croatia’s voters approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
