French PACS By Diana Luna WHAT ARE PACS

French PACS By Diana Luna

WHAT ARE PACS? The Civil Solidarity Pact law (PACS), is essentially “a contract concluded between two physical persons who have reached the age of majority, of different or the same gender, for the purposes of organizing their life in common. ”

PACS vs. Marriage • File joint tax returns • Share common property rights • Enjoy same social welfare and inheritance advantages • Held accountable for each other’s debts

PACS vs. Marriage • No possibility guardianship, joint adoption, or access to medical assisted procreation • Doesn’t accord partner automatic immigration rights • Union registered in court, not in City Hall • No dissolution process

TIMELINE: Court ruled against extension of benefits to homosexuals 1989 First partnership law proposed Contract D’union Sociale was introduced 1990 1992

TIMELINE: First draft of PACS written Draft rejected New PACS proposal passed 1998 Oct. 1999

Conservative Opposition • Huge rallies organized by conservative groups • Demonstrations called for by several “profamily” organizations • In Feb. 1998, Paris rally drew 200, 000 demonstrators

The Church’s Response • Undermines the sanctity of marriage • Doesn’t produce children • Undermines morality

“One cannot ignore… that this legislation is just the first step, for example, towards the adoption of children by people in a homosexual relationship… We fear for the future and we regret what has just happened. ” - Louis Marie Bille, head of the Council of French Bishops

Foucaultian Lens • Language of discourse • Power/knowledge • Negative relation

THE BIBLE SAYS SO…

The Policing of Marriage?

Voulez-vous `pacser' avec moi? "

Changing State of Affairs • Change from marriage to cohabitation in last 30 years • French marriage rate fallen more than 30% in past generation • 40% of children born out of wedlock

Some Numbers: • In 2007, 75% of civil unions signed between heterosexual couples • 175, 000 PACS were registered in 2009, of which 95% were heterosexual • 2 civil unions for every 3 marriages