Spain to approve gay marriage in 2 weeks


MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Socialist government will approve gay marriage at an October 1 cabinet meeting, a partyleader says, putting into action a plan that has enraged church leaders in this traditionally Catholic country.

"The cabinet...is going to approve the change to the civil code so that people of the same sex can marry. Why are we doing this? Because people have to be in charge of their own destiny," Jose Blanco, a leading member of the Socialist party told a rally in the northwestern region of Galicia on Sunday.

The reform will then have to be approved by parliament.