Adoption by homosexual couples. The Belgians ahead of a battle

(B2) It's been a year already. Almost a year since Belgium introduced in its civil code, the good old Napoleon code, one or two codicils authorizing marriage between people of the same sex. And we cannot say that the hundreds of marriages celebrated in recent months have disturbed the public peace of mind.

The last two barriers put up at the time are falling. A circular from the Minister of Justice, Laurette Onkelinx, thus abolished, last February, the ban on foreigners getting married in Belgium. In short: two French people can now get married there. One condition is set: reside in Belgium. It is not a question of favoring "wedding tourism" as the minister explains.

As for adoption, the debate is now open. It was, paradoxically, the Flemish liberals - the party of Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt - who fired first. In December, they tabled an amendment extending the possibility of adoption to homosexual couples. Socialists and environmentalists followed. Only the French-speaking liberals - the party of Louis Michel - and the Christian democrats and the extreme right, in the opposition, are upwind against this proposal. But the vote seems acquired. It's mostly a matter of timing.

The parties are now more concerned about the regional elections which will take place on June 13, at the same time as the European ones, and could lead to a change of government. Belgium would then become, with the Netherlands and Sweden, the third country to recognize adoption for homosexual couples.

• It is not far from three o'clock in front of the town hall of Ottignies. An ordinary Saturday in this residential and student town — seat of the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve — which sees, as soon as the fine weather arrives, happy couples in search of an official blessing. Sabine and Michelle have known each other for almost 15 years. For them, "it is above all a question of formalizing our relationship, of celebrating with all our friends and also of thinking about the future" The emotion is present, shared moreover by the alderwoman (the deputy mayor ). After her “wishes of happiness” rituals, she adds a personal note: “ I have friends in France who are in the same situation. Today I think of them. I hope they can one day be like you ».

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

(published in France-Soir May 2004)