Recognition of same-sex unions in Croatia

Croatia recognizes life partnerships for same-sex couples through the Life Partnership Act, making same-sex couples equal to married couples in everything except adoption. However, the Act provides couples with an institution similar to stepchild adoption called partner-guardianship. The Act also recognizes and defines unregistered same-sex relationships as informal life partners, thus making them equal to registered life partnerships after they have been cohabiting for a minimum of 3 years. Croatia first recognized same-sex couples in 2003 through a law on unregistered same-sex unions which was replaced by the Life Partnership Act. The Croatian Parliament passed the new law on 15 July 2014, taking effect in two stages (5 August 2014 and 1 September 2014). Since the 2013 referendum, the Constitution of Croatia limits marriage to opposite-sex couples.

In 2003, one year after the first gay pride in Croatia, the then ruling coalition consisted of mostly centre-left parties, managed to agree and passed a law on same-sex unions. Initially, the law that would recognize registered partnerships with most of the rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples was planned, but the right-wing Croatian Peasant Party that was the only right-wing party of the coalition threatened to leave the Government should they insist on this law, so the compromise had to be reached in order to save the Government. The law granted same-sex partners who have been cohabiting for at least 3 years similar rights as enjoyed by unmarried cohabiting opposite-sex partners in terms of inheritance and financial support, but not right to adopt or any other right included in family law as this law was not part of it, but rather a separate law had been created. Registering those relationship was not allowed nor had they included rights in terms of tax, joint properties, health insurance, pensions etc.

In early 2005, the Croatian Parliament rejected a registered partnership bill proposed by Šime Lučin (SDP) and Independent Ivo Banac. MP Lucija Čikeš, a member of then ruling HDZ, called for the proposal to be dropped because "all universe is heterosexual, from an atom and the smallest particle, from a fly to an elephant". Another HDZ MP objected on grounds that "85% of the population considers itself Catholic and the Church is against heterosexual and homosexual equality". Medical profession, physical profession, and media did not support these statements, warning that all the members of Parliament have duty to vote according to the Constitution which bans discrimination.

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Wikipedia