Fridae

Despite vehement opposition by conservative Christian groups, the Finnish parliament approved a law on Friday allowing gays to register as couples.

The new legislation, which is expected to become effective in a few months, will allow adults of the same sex to register their relationships officially but does not give same-sex partners the right to adopt each other's children.

While the gay community celebrated their new rights, opponents of the law were disappointed.

"I would have wished homosexuality had not been made a norm in our culture," Christian Democrat member of parliament Kari Karkkainen, one of the most vocal opponents of the law, told Reuters news.

He said it may force schools and homes to change their approach to young people becoming aware of their sexuality and force homosexuality to be considered an option.

Finland was the last of the Nordic countries to give gay couples the right to register. In the other Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland, gay partnerships have been legalised while Denmark and Iceland permit adoptions by gay couples in certain circumstances.