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Loading ...Sweden OKs gay marriage
04.01.2009 4:56pm EDT
(Stockholm) Sweden on Wednesday became the seventh country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
Following a five-hour debate in Parliament, the legislation was overwhelmingly passed on a 261 to 22 vote, with 16 abstentions. The new law will go into effect May 1, replacing a 1995 law that allowed civil partnerships.Six of the country’s seven political parties backed the bill. Only the Christian Democrats voted against it.
“This is a great victory,” said Soren Juvas, president of the Swedish Federation for LGBT Rights.
A parliamentary committee studying civil partnerships in 2007 called them “outdated” and recommended Parliament allow same-sex marriage.
The new law does not require churches to conduct same-sex weddings, but the Church of Sweden, a Lutheran church, and the largest denomination in the country, will consider a motion this fall to allow pastors to perform gay weddings.
The Swedish Lutheran Church has offered blessing services for couples in civil unions since 2007, but it has balked at allowing pastors to perform weddings for gay couples.
Same-sex marriage already is legal in four European Union countries – Netherlands, Belgium Norway and Spain.
Elsewhere in the EU, the UK affords gay couples all of the rights and obligations of marriage but without the name. Several other EU countries such as Germany and France allow same-sex couples limited rights.
Outside Europe, gay marriage is legal in Canada and South Africa. Gays and lesbians can marry in two US states – Massachusetts and Connecticut.
NORWAY IS NOT PART OF THE EU!!!
Ginelle,
you do realize we are in the United States until religion is taken out of politcs it’s going to be like this
Sweden normalized sadomasochism and transvestitism, one step closer to normalizing genital mutilation even though GID is not cured. Could this recent rulling have been far behind? I presume this what happens to small countries perpetuating ethnocentrism and inbreeding. Where’s the Family Guy when you need him?
Another step forward in democracy in a democratic country. You cannot have democracy without protecting the rights of minorities. God Bless Sweden!
JA!! You go Svenska!
Absolutely wonderful news from Sweden, is it not long overdue for the United States of America, “land of the free and equality for all” to now step up to the plate and live up to it’s constitution in granting full and equal rights to it’s gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered citizens?
Bill S. – Nepal’s court ordered the legislation to enact same-sex marriage laws but didn’t actually legalize them itself.
Anyhow, this is great news and it’s great to here that more countries in Europe are allowing marriage equality!
Norway doesn’t belong to the European Union, as you say in your article
Norway is NOT a member of the EU, but does allow same sex couples to marry.
The Netherlands, Spain, Belgiam, and now Sweden are the EU countries which allow same sex couples to marry.
Equality is being allowed.
nepal will be effective only in 2010 but sweden will be from may
so sweden will be seventh
Nice to hear
Norway is not part of the European Union.
That’s great! I’m glad it passed by such a big margin.
What about Nepal? This would make Sweden country #8.
way to go sweden…can’t wait for us to join the 21st century here in the land of liberty!