(20 Dec 2015) Slovenians rejected a same-sex marriage law by a large margin in a referendum on Sunday, according to near-complete preliminary results.
Figures released by authorities showed 63.5 percent voted against a bill that defines marriage as a union of two adults, while 36.5 percent were in favour.
Slovenia's left-leaning parliament introduced marriage equality proposal in March, but opponents pushed through a popular vote on the issue.
The Children Are At Stake group collected 40,000 signatures to challenge the changes before any gay couples were able to marry.
"This result presents a victory for our children," said Ales Primc, a leader of the group.
Opponents to the law campaigned on traditional family values, arguing that marriage equality paves the way for gay and lesbian couples to adopt children.
Conservatives were joined by the Catholic Church in the EU-member nation in opposing the proposed law.
Supporters of same-sex marriage have called for Slovenia to join Western European nations that have allowed more gay rights.
Although Slovenia is considered to be among the most liberal of the ex-communist nations, gay rights remain a contentious topic in the predominantly Catholic nation of two million.
Voters in the former Yugoslav republic rejected granting more rights to gay couples in a referendum in 2012.
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