[JURIST] The Slovenian Parliament [official website] passed legislation granting same-sex marriage and adoption rights Tuesday amid public opposition from conservative and religious groups. Although thousands of people from conservative groups and the Catholic Church rallied to oppose the lawmakers’ action, the legislation was passed [press release] by a vote of 51-28. The new laws will expand on Slovenia’s previous policy of allowing same-sex unions without the right to adopt children. Legislation that sought to expand same-sex couples’ rights was rejected by referendum [JURIST report] three years ago, and representatives of the opposition announced their intention to see a similar result for this legislation.

The rights of same-sex couples have been an ongoing issue across Europe. This legislation makes Slovenia the eleventh EU nation to approve same-sex marriage. In February Slovakia failed to pass [JURIST report] a referendum banning same-sex marriage. In January France allowed [JURIST report] a same-sex French-Moroccan couple to marry although Morocco refuses to recognize marriage between two men. France legalized same-sex marriage in 2013. Also in January Macedonia banned same-sex marriage [JURIST report] by defining marriage as between a man and a woman.