Every single respondent in an online survey of homosexual people hopes that the law in Viet Nam will be amended to allow same-sex marriage.

Nguyen Hoang Bao Quoc and Truong Van Hen.

Huynh Minh Thao, communication manager of Information Connecting and Sharing, the NGO working for homosexual rights in HCM City that did the survey, said if gay marriages were approved, homosexual people would have the same rights as others, including inheritance and adoption.

He said in a press release that the Ministry of Justice had ordered relevant agencies to gather opinions about amending the 2000 Family Law to allow same-sex marriages.

The ministry organised meetings in April in Ha Noi and in May in HCM City to discuss the provisions that need to be amended in the law.

The issue is expected to be discussed at the National Assembly next year.

Thao said ICS supported the ministry's prompt action which showed that authorities were paying attention to the needs of citizens.

The support from the gay community would help amend the law soon, he added.

ICS and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will organise a seminar next Saturday to collect opinions from relatives of homosexual people, psychologists, and authorities about same-sex marriage. 

Source: VNS