Gays from other nations can now get married in Belgium as long as one of the individuals lives there or visits regularly.

Previously, same-sex marriage had been open only to Belgians and people from nations that also allow same-sex marriage, namely the Netherlands and two provinces of Canada.

The change takes effect Feb. 6.

The Netherlands’ marriage laws are similar to Belgium’s. In the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, however, foreign same-sex couples can arrive from abroad, buy a license, get married the same day, and go back home.

Seven hundred same-sex couples got married in the Canadian province of British Columbia in 2003 after the Court of Appeal opened up the institution on July 8, the Vancouver Sun reported Jan. 28.

Eight hundred forty-seven of the individuals hailed from outside the province. Non-residents, including foreigners, can get married in British Columbia and also in the province of Ontario — arriving, buying a license and marrying the same day in either locale.

Seven-hundred sixty-six of the newlyweds were American and a total of 21 came from Australia, the U.K., France, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland. Sixty individuals came from elsewhere in Canada — Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and the Yukon.

Canada’s federal government has said it agrees with the court rulings in Ontario and British Columbia that opened up regular marriage to same-sex couples last year, and that it will pass legislation legalizing same-sex marriage across the country — although new Prime Minister Paul Martin is seen as less keen on the idea than former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who made the pledge.

On Jan. 28, the government added a question to its pending request for advice from the Supreme Court of Canada on the matter, asking if the Constitution actually requires legalization of same-sex marriage, as the Ontario and British Columbia courts insisted.

The addition of the question may hint at federal equivocation on the issue, given that there has been informal talk of trying to enact a civil-unions law instead of opening up marriage. The addition of another question also has the effect of delaying the Supreme Court hearing on the matter until after this spring’s election campaign, granting breathing room to politicians who would rather not defend gay marriage during an election cycle. However, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler confirmed that the government still supports opening up full marriage to same-sex couples nationwide. He said the question was added merely to be sensitive to the concerns of Canadians who believe the Supreme Court should weigh in on a matter of such profound social change. The three questions that were submitted earlier did not specifically ask the Supreme Court if it agreed with the provincial courts’ determinations.

The Netherlands and Belgium also let same-sex couples marry under the ordinary marriage laws. Numerous other nations unite gay couples via civil-union or domestic-partnership laws.

A former member of the cabinet of the Canadian province of British Columbia has married his male partner.

Full same-sex marriage was legalized in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario last year by their respective highest courts.

Member of the Legislative Assembly Ted Nebbeling, the minister of state for the Community Charter and the 2010 Olympic bid until last week, married his partner of 32 years, Jan Holmberg, in November, the Vancouver Sun reported Jan. 26.

The paper said it was “believed to be the first same-sex marriage of a cabinet minister anywhere in the world.”

“We thought it was a great opportunity to renew our commitment together,” Nebbeling said.

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell shuffled his cabinet on Jan. 26 and did not reappoint Nebbeling.

Campbell said the decision was unrelated to Nebbeling’s wedding.

A gay registered-partnership bill was withdrawn from the Czech cabinet’s agenda Jan. 28, the Czech News Agency reported.

The measure had been put forward by the justice and interior ministers.

A Justice Ministry spokeswoman said she was perplexed by the news, given that the government’s Legislation Council had only “formal” not “factual” objections to the bill.

No official explanation for the development was forthcoming but Gay and Lesbian League activist Petr Zaloudek said there was merely a “technical” problem and that the measure will return to the agenda soon.

The Philippines’ House of Representatives last month passed a bill banning discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, and sent the measure to the Senate.

About 30 gay activists spent the day lobbying senators Jan. 27, INQ7.net reported. They charged the measure is languishing in the Senate’s youth and family relations committee.

The proposed law prohibits anti-GLBT discrimination by employers, the police, the military, schools, public services and commercial establishments. It also bans forced psychiatric tests aimed at determining or changing someone’s sexual orientation.

The Montreal Police Service will begin testing new recruits for HIV and rejecting those who are positive, local media reported Jan. 24.

Current officers will not be tested.

A city spokesman said the tests are necessary to protect public health and save money.