by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
France's Senate voted March 25 to recognize foreign same-sex unions.
The measure now moves to the National Assembly.
"We congratulate the French Senate for finally moving forward to solve this unfair situation which is discriminatory on the grounds of nationality as well as a hindrance to freedom of movement within the (European Union)," said Michael Cashman, president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights.
"We have been approached by many European citizens, especially British, who suffer discrimination because their same-sex partnership is not recognized in France," Cashman said. "One man was forced to sell his house after his partner's death because he could not afford to pay 60 percent inheritance tax. Otherwise this tax is not applicable to same-sex married spouses or couples in a French partnership."
