Recognition of same-sex unions in Monaco

{{Same-sex marriage map Europe|align=left}}

The legislative process leading to the recognition of same-sex couples started in the early 2010s. In November 2010, an interview mentioned that Jean-Charles Gardetto,{{cite web |url=http://www.conseil-national.mc/elus.php?idcat=11&idelu=5&idprotocole=protoc |title=Constitution Monégasque - 17 décembre 1962 - Site Officiel du Conseil National - Principauté de Monaco |access-date=2011-09-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401135633/http://www.conseil-national.mc/elus.php?idcat=11&idelu=5&idprotocole=protoc |archive-date=1 April 2012 |df=dmy-all }} a member of the National Council and lawyer, was preparing a draft bill intending to legally define cohabitation, either for heterosexual or for homosexual couples.[http://www.monacohebdo.mc/3359-les-cas-de-discrimination-existent Monacohebdo.mc], "Les cas de discrimination existent", question : "Vous aviez en projet de proposer un texte sur le concubinage ?", 8 November 2010 (French) On 18 June 2013, the opposition Union Monégasque party submitted a bill to Parliament to establish gender-neutral cohabitation agreements.{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.conseil-national.mc/index.php/textes-et-lois/propositions-de-loi/les-propositions-de-loi-en-cours/item/85-207-proposition-de-loi-relative-au-pacte-de-vie-commune n°207 Proposition de loi relative au Pacte de vie commune] The bill was immediately sent to the Women and Family Rights Commission for consideration. In July 2015, the commission's president said that debate on the bill would begin in late 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.rivieratimes.com/index.php/monaco-article/items/civil-partnership-an-option-in-monaco-from-2017.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010161510/http://www.rivieratimes.com/index.php/monaco-article/items/civil-partnership-an-option-in-monaco-from-2017.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 October 2015|title=Homosexual unions could be an option in Monaco from 2017 - The Riviera Times Online|date=10 October 2015}} Originally submitted as {{lang|fr|pacte de vie commune}}, the bill was amended to establish a "cohabitation agreement" ({{langx|fr|contrat de vie commune}}, {{IPA|fr|kɔ̃tʁa d(ə) vi kɔmyn|pron}}; Monégasque: {{lang|lij|cuntratu de vita cumüne}}, {{IPA|lij|kuŋˈtɾatu de ˈvita kuˈmyːne|pron}}). The bill's rapporteur, Jean-Louis Grinda, submitted his report on 7 September 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.conseil-national.mc/index.php/textes-et-lois/propositions-de-loi/les-propositions-de-loi-en-cours/item/download/787_92caf1d8748fb7ddb20e68b4ca6eab8e|title=RAPPORT SUR LA PROPOSITION DE LOI, N° 207, RELATIVE AU CONTRAT DE VIE COMMUNE}} It noted that the Monegasque administration has recognised concubinage since 2008, and that the European Court of Human Rights considers non-recognition of same-sex relationships to be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights as per its ruling in Oliari and Others v Italy. On 27 October 2016, the National Council unanimously approved a resolution mandating the Council of Government to draft a bill recognizing same-sex unions.{{cite news|url=http://www.monacohebdo.mc/18641-pacs-monegasque-projet-de-loi|title=Bientôt un pacs monégasque ?|date=9 November 2016|publisher=Monaco Hebdo}} On 27 April 2017, the Council responded positively to the proposal, and said it would introduce a draft law by April 2018 following the February 2018 elections.{{Cite news|url=http://www.monacohebdo.mc/21802-%E2%80%89je-suis-independante|title=" Je suis une indépendante " - Monaco Hebdo|date=2017-07-19|work=Monaco Hebdo|access-date=2017-09-01|language=fr-FR}}

The cohabitation agreement bill was introduced to the National Council on 16 April 2018. Under the bill, cohabiting same-sex and opposite-sex couples would be considered on par with siblings for inheritance tax but not at the same level as married couples. The agreement, which is open to siblings and parents and children as well, also provides an enumerated set of property and social security rights, and reciprocal obligations. The contrat is signed in front of a notary and then deposited at a public registry.{{cite web|url=https://www.conseil-national.mc/2019/12/04/1481-loi-du-17-decembre-2019-relative-aux-contrats-civils-de-solidarite|title=n° 1481 - Loi du 17 décembre 2019 relative aux contrats civils de solidarité|date=4 December 2019 |language=fr}} The agreement provides some but not all of the rights of marriage. For example, a foreign partner is not eligible for Monegasque citizenship, and both partners cannot share the same surname.{{cite web|url=https://www.conseil-national.mc/2020/08/24/lunion-libre-enfin-reconnue-a-monaco/|title=L'union libre enfin reconnue à Monaco|work=Conseil National|date=24 August 2020|language=fr}}

On 4 December 2019, the National Council approved the bill in a unanimous 22–0 vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.lequotidien.lu/international/monaco-institue-un-pacs-pour-tous-les-couples/|title=Monaco institue un pacs pour tous les couples|website=Le Quotidien|date=6 December 2019|language=fr}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/europe/monaco/la-principaute-de-monaco-autorise-l-union-libre-pour-tous-les-couples-6641741|title=La principauté de Monaco autorise l'union libre pour tous les couples|website=Ouest France|date=6 December 2019|language=fr}}{{cite web|url=https://www.monaco-tribune.com/2019/12/loi-contrat-vie-commune-votee/|title=La loi sur le contrat de vie commune votée à l'unanimité hier soir|website=Monaco Tribune|date=5 December 2019|language=fr}} The legislation was signed into law by Prince Albert II on 17 December 2019, published in the official journal on 27 December and took effect six months later (i.e. 27 June 2020). Several lawmakers criticized the "hypocritical" opposition of Catholic officials, notably Archbishop Bernard Barsi who had written to all deputies urging them to vote against the bill, noting that the law concerned solely civil matters and not religious ones. Many deputies called the law "long overdue", and President of the National Council Stéphane Valeri called it "great news for all couples".{{cite web|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/societe/monaco-reconnait-l-union-civile-pour-tous-les-couples_AN-201912060091.html|title=Monaco reconnaît l'union civile pour tous les couples|work=BFM TV|date=12 December 2019|language=fr}}

Same-sex marriage is not recognized in Monaco. The Civil Code of Monaco does not explicitly ban same-sex marriages, but article 116 requires "the man" and "the woman" to be at least 18 years of age to marry.{{cite web|url=https://www.legimonaco.mc/305/legismclois.nsf/ViewCode/AA34AFF34E178B9FC1257BF00028309B!OpenDocument|title=Code Civil, Livre I Des Personnes, Titre V Du Mariage, Article 116|work=LégiMonaco|accessdate=15 September 2022|language=fr|quote=L'homme et la femme ne peuvent se marier avant dix-huit ans.}} The Constitution of Monaco does not restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples.{{cite web|url=https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2020/05/30/pourquoi-monaco-est-si-mal-classe-dans-le-classement-de-l-association-lgbt-ilga-europe_1789689/|title=Pourquoi Monaco est si mal classé dans le classement de l'association LGBT+ Ilga-Europe ?|work=Libération|date=30 May 2020|language=fr}}

On 10 March 2022, a lower court ruled that the government had to register the marriage of a dual Monegasque-American same-sex couple who had married in Michigan in August 2019. The couple had applied to register their marriage in Monaco in February 2020, but the civil registrar refused to do so on the basis that their marriage "contravened the Monegasque public order" and that the Civil Code did not recognize same-sex marriages. The lower court held that the marriage was legally valid and did not violate the Monegasque public order. It ordered the government to register the marriage and provide the couple with all the rights and benefits of marriage. An appellate court upheld the decision on 28 September 2023.{{cite web|url=https://legimonaco.mc/jurisprudence/cour-appel/2023/09-28-30175/|title=Cour d'appel, 28 septembre 2023, Le Procureur Général D. c/ Monsieur E. et Monsieur r. A.|language=fr|work=LegiMonaco|date=28 September 2023}} However, the appeal decision was overturned by the highest court, the Court of Revision, on 18 March 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2024/04/14/out-in-the-world-lgbtq-news-from-europe-asia-21/|title=Out in the World: LGBTQ+ news from Europe & Asia|date=14 April 2024|work=Los Angeles Blade}}

An organisation campaigning for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Monaco, {{lang|fr|Mon'Arc en Ciel}}, was officially created in May 2024.{{cite web|url=https://monaco-hebdo.com/actualites/societe/succession-et-transmission-une-association-pour-defendre-les-droits-des-personnes-lgbt-a-monaco/|language=fr|work=Monaco Hebdo|title=Succession et transmission : une association pour défendre les droits des personnes LGBT+ à Monaco|date=12 June 2024|first=Clément|last=Martinet}} In June 2024, the High Commissioner for the Protection of Rights, Liberties and for Mediation, Marina Ceyssac, published a government report recommending enhancing the rights of same-sex couples in accordance with European case law but stopped short of calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage.{{cite web|url=https://monaco-hebdo.com/actualites/societe/droits-lgbt-a-monaco-marina-ceyssac-on-pourrait-deja-faire-des-avancees-avec-les-outils-existants/|language=fr|work=Monaco Hebdo|date=12 June 2024|title=Droits LGBT à Monaco — Marina Ceyssac : « On pourrait déjà faire des avancées avec les outils existants »|first=Clément|last=Martinet}} Councilwoman Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo said that same month that she was "prepared to act" to introduce legislation recognizing foreign same-sex marriages.{{cite web|url=https://monaco-hebdo.com/politique/droits-de-succession-pour-les-couples-de-meme-sexe-beatrice-fresko-rolfo-je-reste-prete-a-agir/|work=Monaco Hebdo|language=fr|date=17 June 2024|title=Droits de succession pour les couples de même sexe — Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo : « Je reste prête à agir »|first=Clément|last=Martinet}}

In May 2015, the United Protestant Church of France, which has one parish in Monaco, voted to allow its pastors to bless same-sex marriages. The measure, which was passed by 94 votes to 3, also includes a freedom of conscience clause allowing pastors with objections to opt out.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2015/05/17/mariage-gay-eglise-protestante-france-lgbt_n_7299906.html|title=Mariage gay: L'Eglise protestante unie de France autorise la bénédiction des couples de même sexe|work=HuffPost|date=17 May 2015|language=fr|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818104103/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2015/05/17/mariage-gay-eglise-protestante-france-lgbt_n_7299906.html|url-status=live}} The Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage and does not allow its priests to officiate at such marriages. In December 2023, the Holy See published Fiducia supplicans, a declaration allowing Catholic priests to bless couples who are not considered to be married according to church teaching, including the blessing of same-sex couples.{{Cite web |last=Flynn |first=JD |date=2023-12-22 |title=Is the 'false narrative' narrative a false narrative? |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/is-the-false-narrative-narrative |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=The Pillar |language=en|archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223121603/https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/is-the-false-narrative-narrative |url-status=live }}

According to a survey conducted in 2007 by the Union pour Monaco (UPM) party before the 2007 municipal elections, 51% of the respondents (only native Monegasque inhabitants asked) agreed that living in a registered partnership should be accepted. Monegasques being a minority in Monaco, the survey is not representative of the entire public's opinion.{{cite web|url=https://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/MonacoSociological_E.pdf|title=Study on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Sociological Report: Monaco|website=The Danish Institute For Human Rights}}

• LGBT rights in Monaco
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe

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• {{cite web|url=https://monaco-hebdo.com/politique/inclusion-des-lgbt-pourquoi-monaco-est-si-mal-note-en-europe-et-dans-le-monde/|title=Inclusion des LGBT : pourquoi Monaco est si mal noté en Europe et dans le monde|date=16 January 2024|first=Clément|last=Martinet|work=Monaco Hebdo|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515003504/https://monaco-hebdo.com/politique/inclusion-des-lgbt-pourquoi-monaco-est-si-mal-note-en-europe-et-dans-le-monde/|archive-date=15 May 2024}}

{{Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe}}

{{Status of same-sex unions}}

Category:LGBTQ rights in Monaco

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