UPDATE: Spain’s Constitutional Court has reaffirmed marriage equality, ruling on an appeal of the 2005 measure that legalized same-sex nuptials.

A panel of 11 judges ruled on the appeal, filed by members of the conservative Popular Party—Eight judges voted in favor and three dissented.

ORIGINAL STORY (November 6): A day after we told you prospects for France’s marriage-for-all measure are looking a little grimmer comes the news that Spain’s Constitutional Court is expected to render a verdict this week on an appeal against the country’s existing gay-marriage law.

The right-wing Popular Party filed the appeal when marriage-equality legislation was passed by a Socialist Party-led Parliament in 2005—claiming the European nation’s constitution defined marriage between one man and one woman—but it’s taken seven years for a ruling.  It likely got fast-tracked now that the Popular Party is in power.

It would be a cruel irony if America extends the freedom to marry to more citizens just as Europe takes it away.

Photo: GNU