Jerusalem Registers First Same-Sex Marriage

Jerusalem Registers First Same-Sex Marriage
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 30, 2007 - 11:00 am ET

(Jerusalem) The Interior Ministry's Jerusalem office has recorded the first same-sex marriage - three months after the country's highest court directed the government to register gay marriages performed outside of Israel.

Last June Jerusalem residents Binyamin and Avi Rose flew to Canada where same-sex marriage has been legal for several years. They obtained a license in Toronto and were wed on June 28 and then returned to Israel.

On November 29 the High Court of Justice, in a case involving several couples who were married in countries where gay marriage is legal, ruled that

the government to register the marriages of same-sex couples married abroad in countries that recognize such unions. (story)

The high court ruling only directs the government to record the marriages for the purpose of collecting statistics. It does not require that the marriage receive official recognition or that the couples receive any of the rights of marriage.

Marriage under Israeli law is the monopoly of rabbis. There is no civil marriage in Israel.

"It was wonderful to get married at the city hall in Toronto, but it was far more important for the State of Israel to recognize us as a couple," Avi Rose told the Jerusalem Post.

Binyamin, a student at a Conservative yeshiva in Jerusalem, said the registration sends a strong positive message to other gay couples - especially after the protests the resulted in Jerusalem's gay pride celebrations being scaled back this year. (story)

"The protests last year over the Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem really spooked us, and many of our friends here chose to leave the city," Avi Rose said. "But we are very committed to building our lives in Jerusalem and the Interior Ministry provided us with a very positive experience today."

The issue of civil marriage and same-sex unions is expected to come before the high court again as same-sex couples fight for spousal benefits.

Same-sex couples have been slowly gaining recognition in Israel. In 2005 Israel's Family Court for the first time recognized a same-sex couple as the joint parents of their children. (story)