B-003: Marriage Equality Act

[Speaker Rejo]

Marriage Equality Act
An Act to provide to provide for Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Spouses and for other purposes

 
BE IT ENACTED by the duly elected Parliament of the Republic of Alduria assembled, 

ARTICLE 1: CITATION

This Act shall be cited for all purposes as the Marriage Equality Act.

ARTICLE 2: PROVIDING FOR CIVILLY RECOGNIZED SAME SEX MARRIAGE

a. It shall be lawful for couples of the same sex to enter into civilly recognized marriages, so long as they meet all other qualifications as required by law.

b. No Government treatment or legal status, effect, right, benefit, privilege, protection or responsibility relating to marriage, whether deriving from law, administrative or court rule, public policy, common law, or any other source of law, shall differ based on the parties to marriage being or having been of the same sex rather than a different sex.

c. It shall be unlawful for any civil servant, judge, or any public official to refuse to issue a marriage license.

d. Civil servants, judges, or any other public official refusing to carry out their duties under the law shall be removed from their office with immediate effect.

ARTICLE 3: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND THE INCAPABILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO DEFINE RELIGIOUS DEFINITIONS OF MARRIAGE

a. Nothing in this bill shall be construed as to prohibit religious institutions from defining marriage, or to prohibit them from withholding religious ceremonies or recognition of same-sex couples.

b. No member of the clergy shall be required to participate, officiate, or solemnize any same-sex marriage which has been civilly recognized by the Government.

c. Refusal of a member of a member of the clergy or any other representative of a religious denomination to conduct a religious service to participate, officiate, or solemnize any same-sex marriage which has been civilly recognized by the Government shall not be a valid cause for civil claim or cause of action.

ARTICLE 4. COMMENCEMENT

This legislation and all the provisions therein shall come into force upon receiving proper constitutional approval.

Parliament will now come to order to consider this bill, presented by the Prime Minister on behalf of the Government. 

The Chair now recognizes The Prime Minister.