h/t petey.  The Austrian parliament legalized civil unions today!  The vote was 110-64, so it passed by almost a super-majority.  Congratulations, Austria!!!

Austrian civil unions are not equal to marriage, since CU’d couples aren’t allowed to adopt or use artificial insemination, and couples have to register in the coat closet rather than the regular registry office.  Still, this is a huge and excellent start.  We know that these prohibitions will fall away in time.  

Couples may begin registering January 1, 2010.  Starting to treat your LGBT citizenry with dignity is one great way to ring in a new year, is it not?

Austria joins the following countries in offering civil unions/partnerships: Andorra, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Switzerland, Wallis and Futuna, United Kingdom, Uruguay.

And these countries have full marriage equality: Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden (more…)