Vietnam - Same-sex wedding cancelled as officials intervene

A wedding of two women supposed to be held last week in Dam Doi, southern Ca Mau province was prevented and cancelled after local government interfered, saying it was breaking the law, VnExpress reported Monday.

According to the newswire, local residents reported the wedding of 20-year-old Nguyen Van Nhat and her 21-year-old partner Nguyen Thi Nhu to the authority when they spotted Nhat’s family coming to the reception held by the bride’s side.

A local said Nhat worked as a gasoline seller while Nhu, who is from Khanh Binh, Tran Van Thoi used to be a waitress at a restaurant in Dam Doi.

After being informed, Bui Hung Cuong, head of Dam Doi of People’s Committee, sent local officials to stop the reception ceremony. The wedding was cancelled after the officials talked to both families and explained about their law-breaking act.

“After that Nhu’s family agreed to take her home and gave their word that they would not come back. Now local officials are closely monitoring the case, and we will fine any other similar cases as this kind of marriage is against the law.”

VnExpress said Nhat’s family received four trays of dowry and a cash present of VND 5 million (US$ 240) from Nhu’s and the pair also received VND 900,000 (US$ 43) of lucky money from their relatives during the reception.

Huynh Trung Quang, deputy head of the committee, said Nhat’s family used to oppose the marriage but changed their mind after the pair threatened to kill themselves.

Same-sex marriage is illegal in Vietnam.

In December 2010, two 19-year-old women also married in Hanoi in a highly publicized wedding. A video capturing their wedding later spread fast on Youtube and other websites, stirring discussions and debates among many young people.

TUOITRENEWS

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