Sweden has become the seventh country - and the fifth in Europe - to allow same-sex marriage.
Image from the Swedish Parliament web site, riksdagen.se. Photo by Melker Dahlstrand.
Six of the seven parties in parliament backed the bill, while the Christian Democrats, one of four parties in the governing coalition, was the only party opposed to the new law.
Currently in Sweden, heterosexuals can choose to marry in either a civil or religious ceremony, whereas homosexuals have until now only been allowed to register their "partnerships" in a civil ceremony. Sweden became the first country to offer same-sex couples the first domestic partnership package in Europe in 1987.
The law which comes in effect on May 1 will allow same-sex couples to wed in either a religious or civil ceremony although individual churches and pastors could still refuse to perform the ceremony.
Sweden, already a pioneer in giving same-sex couples the right to adopt children since 2002, would become one of the first countries in the world to allow gays to marry in a major Church.
Asa Regner, secretary general of the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, was quoted in a CNN report that Wednesday's vote meant a very important change in Swedish law.
"This was the last area where same sex couples were treated differently," she said.
Elsewhere in Europe, same-sex marriage is recognised in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Norway. Other countries that have passed same-sex marriage legislation are Canada, South Africa, and Massachusetts and Connecticut in the US.
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Good job Sweden!
This shows that a majority can change their minds about gay people, if only we can show them what we're really like.
As for the 22 opposed, well, they're the immovable object to our unstoppable force. In the case of Sweden, the unstoppable force washed over the immovable object.
Would love to visit someday ;))
But seriously, even Cuba is celebrating International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) in Havana this year on May 16.
+ A reform bill would allow legal recognition of same-sex unions, and grant them the same rights as civil unions between heterosexual couples.
The head of the National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX) is Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban President Ral Castro.
From: RIGHTS: Cuba Launches Anti-Homophobia Campaign
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46323
1) Greta Garbo ;-)
2) Marriage, gender diversity AND equality
Sweden's the first country in Europe to decriminalize sodomy way back in 1944.
There's no difference in age of consent between homosexuals & heterosexuals- everyone must conform to the 15-yr benchmark. That is bona fide equality..and the third reason I may be thinking of moving/ working in Sweden. ;-)
Oui, but homosexual conduct in France post-1791 was still occasionally charged under 'offence to good mores & public decency'.
Besides, there was a big difference in age-of-consent between gay & heterosexual intercourse
(21yrs & 15yrs respectively). Homosexuality was included, along with alcoholism & prostitution, as 'social scourges' by conservative politicians as recent as 1960...if you were caught cruising during that time you would be mercilessly persecuted by the French police. But thankfully the law was repealed in1980 & age-of-consent made equal in1982. Consequently the hostile climate eased considerably & France today boasts one of the most gay-friendly envirornments for same-sex couples, though personally I find Sweden a lot more open & accepting sociologically speaking.
Then again that's just my opinion. :)
That is fantastic, good on Swedish Parliament!
"we have no need to recruit new members nor resort to control techniques of spreading fear and guilt, forcing indoctrination and "brainwashing" in order to sustain our numbers"..."
All I can say is....AYE AYE AYE!!! :D
Yes, very well put!
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