Amsterdam to make history by performing same-sex weddings

A story released today by Expatica.com reports that on March 31, Amsterdam will be the first city in the world to officiate the first legal civil marriage of same-sex couples.

Officiating at the service was the new Amsterdam Mayor, Job Cohen.

As the former deputy Justice Minister, Cohen was directly responsible for the move to legalize gay weddings.

Under the new laws, the same basic requirements will be in place for same-sex couples as for heterosexual couples. That is, one partner must be a resident of the Netherlands, the intention to marry must be registered and the two participants are not allowed to be closely related.

They are bound by the same laws of both marriage and divorce.

But important differences arise when recognizing the marriage outside of the Netherlands. There is also a major difference in the law if the married couple wish to have children.

"We are seeking recognition contracts with other countries," the senior legal advisor of the Registrar's Office in Amsterdam, Hans Tomson, said.

"But our expectations are not high. In Scandinavia maybe."

"In some countries homosexuality is still against the law. I can imagine you could get serious problems in Islamic countries or even the Balkans," Hanson said.

In these types of scenarios, Hanson said it would be better to leave the marriage license at home.

The Christian Democrats and three smaller Protestant political parties voted against the legalization of same-sex marriages and the Vatican also denounced the change.

It is interesting to note here though, that in the Netherlands, all marriages must first be performed as a civil ceremony before a religious ceremony can be staged.

But church groups maintain their strong attitudes, despite division among their ranks.

"I have heard of a few priests who will perform same-sex weddings against the authority of the church," Tomson said.