Vietnam Now Allows, But Does Not Officially Recognize, Same-Sex Marriage

The most permissive approach to gay unions in Southeast Asia

Another domino falls:

Vietnam's new marriage law, which went into effect New Year's Day, abolished regulations that "prohibit marriage between people of the same sex."

Same-sex marriages can now take place, though the government does not recognize them or provide legal protections in cases of disputes.

This has been in the works for a while, and it isn't the first step the country has taken toward a more permissive system. The government used to punish gay weddings with a fine, but that stopped in 2013. In practical terms, the real change happened then; it's just that now the marital law has been officially revised.

The fine, incidentally, was about $24. If this process ends with the nation fully recognizing same-sex unions, it'll be darkly comic if registering the marriage costs a $24 fee.

Comments

[Almanian!]

When Vietnam recognizes the gaiz marrij....

[thom]

Things are about to get a lot worse for Vietnamese cake bakers.

[mad.casual]

The fine, incidentally, was about $24. If this process ends with the nation fully recognizing same-sex unions, it'll be darkly comic if registering the marriage costs a $24 fee.

About as darkly comic as it would be in America for a same-sex couple in a lower tax bracket to be granted the right to file jointly in/above the ~$450K bracket because of a lawsuit returning property to a lesbian widower, married in Canada, who actually falls into that tax bracket.

[John]

If you support and care about American soldiers, sailors, airman and marines, you will respect The Prophet Muhammad. Slandering The Prophet is apparently treason akin to publishing secret war plans.

http://dailycaller.com/2015/01.....-articles/

[Almanian!]

The bravery, foresight, leadership and moxie of our Commander in Chief is amazing.

[Pro Libertate]

Seriously? During the Cold War, we made whole movies and published myriad other works insulting the Soviet Union, communism, and even some of the leadership personally. This with an opponent that could've nuked us and the rest of the planet into the Stone Age.

[John]

If Obama had been President in 1940, Charlie Chaplin would have been imprisoned for making The Great Dictator and the White House would have seen to it that no theater would show it.

[Pro Libertate]

Charlie don't wed.

[Fist of Etiquette]

My understanding was that not recognized is the same as not allowed.

[John]

Exactly. Gay marriage has been allowed in this country for decades. It just hasn't been recognized.

[XM]

If a Vietnam doesn't recognize same sex marriage, then all this means is that they'll allow the marriage ceremony.

A gay couple who entered into a "civil union" somewhere else may enjoy more legal protection than whatever passes as a "married" gay couple in Vietnam.