Civil union bill may be coming to Latvia

While EU-integration may bolster rights in 8 more states

Just a short update after yesterday’s marathon.

Politico has a report that suggests the bill to introduce civil unions in Ukraine faces weak support in Parliament. It also suggests politicians see it as a possible boost to the country’s ambitions to join the EU, whose enlargement commissioner has set a goal of admission for it and seven other applicant countries (Moldova and the Western Balkan states) by 2030.

But a civil union bill in Latvia appears to be back on the agenda, as a new progressive coalition is poised to take power in the country’s Parliament following the resignation of its prime minister last month. Latvia’s parliament recently elected the country’s first openly gay President, but shortly after it rejected a civil union bill earlier this year. Same-sex couples have been able to register their unions since a court ruling last year, but without legislation, it’s been unclear what rights these couples actually have. The parties involved in the new coalition talks say there’s support for closing this legislative gap as a matter of human rights. The parties are also talking about ratifying the Istanbul Convention on domestic violence as soon as possible.

Elections in the next few weeks in Slovakia and Poland also may bring progressives to power who have supported LGBT rights and called for civil union laws.

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