MARRIAGE DIGEST: Israel recognizes first 'gay marriage'; Hawaii legislators may pass civil unions bill; ...

MARRIAGE DIGEST: Israel recognizes first 'gay marriage'; Hawaii legislators may pass civil unions bill; ...

By Michael Foust
Baptist Press

JERUSALEM (BP)--Israel registered its first "gay marriage" Jan. 29, two months after the nation's highest court issued a landmark ruling for homosexual couples.

Binyamin and Avi Rose, two homosexual men from Israel, became the first couple to have their marriage license recognized, the Jerusalem Post reported. They "married" in Canada last June.

The November decision by the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the country to recognize "gay marriages" from other countries, such as Canada and Spain. Although the ruling didn't allow same-sex couples to get "married" within Israel's borders, it nonetheless put the country at odds with other nations such as the United States and Great Britain, neither of which recognizes foreign "gay marriages." The U.S. government doesn't even recognize "gay marriages" from the state of Massachusetts, where it is legal.

"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 told the Jerusalem Post.

His father is a rabbi in the United States and supports "gay marriage."

"We wanted the government of Israel to recognize that we are a couple," Avi told the paper. "It was no more of a statement than [coming from] a 'regular' couple, but we are both committed Zionists and are hopeful that our union will bring more progress on this issue."

Despite Israel's conservative image, homosexual activists there have won significant legal and political battles in recent years. For instance, homosexuals in Israel can serve openly in the military. America's "don't ask, don't tell" policy prevents such open service, with U.S. military leaders saying open service would harm morale and cohesion.

Canada is a popular destination for homosexual couples because its marriage law doesn't require residency.

The 6-1 decision by Israel's highest court sparked outrage by some politicians.

"We don't have a Jewish state here. We have Sodom and Gomorrah here," lawmaker Moshe Gafni told Israel's Army Radio, according to the Associated Press. "I assume that every sane person in the state of Israel, possibly the entire Jewish world, is shocked, because the significance is ... the destruction of the family unit in the state of Israel."

Some legislators support passage of a bill that would prohibit the recognition of "gay marriage." Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, though, opposes the bill.

HAWAII CONSIDERS CIVIL UNIONS -- Democrats in Hawaii's legislature are hoping to pass a bill this session that would legalize same-sex civil unions, putting the state alongside Connecticut, New Jersey and Vermont. Democrats control both chambers. Civil unions grant same-sex couples the legal benefits of marriage.

"Committed couples, regardless of their sexual preference or orientation, should have the same rights. That's the bottom line -- we should treat people equally," state Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser said, according to AP. "There's broad support among Democratic party members."

Republican Gov. Linda Lingle hasn't taken a position on the bill, AP said.

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