Malta: Same sex couples can marry as from Friday

Gay couples can start marrying as of next Friday, when all provisions of the amended Marriage law come into force. Equality Minister Helena Dalli signed off on the legal notice published in the Government Gazzette last Friday.

Changes to the law were enacted by Parliament last July before the summer recess, making the law gender-neutral and opening marriage to same-sex couples.

It was the first law moved by the Labour administration after the June election and fulfilled an electoral pledge.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca signed the new law on August 1, giving the LGBTIQ community additional cause to celebrate during the Gay Pride festivities to be held on September 9. Parliament approved by an overwhelming majority the changes proposed by the government to the Marriage Act, which replaced references to a mother or father with ‘parent’ and a husband or wife with ‘spouse’. Read more via Times of Malta