Tags

Vietnam Considers Approving Same-Sex Marriage: Vietnam 1, US 0

Posted by on Jul 29, 2012 in World | 1 comment

When I think of Vietnam, I normally think of pho. Blame it on my geographic ineptitude or my love of delicious noodle soup, but either way, I don’t tend to associate the country with LGBT rights.

But in a move that is as sociopolitically surprising as pho is delicious, the country’s government will consider legalizing same-sex marriage.

Whaaaaa?!

The Justice Ministry will consider the proposal while it overhauls its marriage laws.

“I think, as far as human rights are concerned, it’s time for us to look at the reality,” said Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong, in an online chat broadcast on national TV and radio last week.

“The number of homosexuals has mounted to hundreds of thousands. It’s not a small figure. They live together without registering marriage. They may own property. We, of course, have to handle these issues legally,” he said.

The proposal still has to clear several hurdles before becoming law, including being debated in front of the National Assembly next year. Color me skeptical, but in a country where being gay was considered a “social evil” until a few years ago, I’m not getting my hopes up too high just yet.

But if Vietnam can consider a nationwide law approving marriage equality, can’t the U.S.?

(Via LGBTQ Nation)