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Friday, May 1, 2009

Equal Marriage Arrives in Sweden

Map of same-sex marriage status in Europe as of today, from Wikipedia.

Swedish gays and lesbians can begin marrying today, following legislation passed by the Swedish parliament last month. Registered partnerships for same-sex couples have been available in that country since 1995, but today Sweden becomes the seventh country to offer full marriage rights for gay people.

The Lutheran Church of Sweden supported the legislation and does provide same-sex blessings for couples, but will not offer actual marriage services until the question is decided by a church assembly later this year.

The other countries that offer nationwide same-sex marriage are as follows:
  1. The Netherlands - 2001
  2. Belgium - 2003
  3. Spain - 2005
  4. Canada - 2005
  5. South Africa - 2006
  6. Norway - 2009
  7. Sweden - 2009
And of course, the U. S. states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont (beginning Sept. 2009); but same-sex couples in those states are not recognized by the federal government.

4 comments:

billboy5 said...

I'm glad that the coutries are coming around. We need this right and we need the people to understand that we are not a theart to them or there famly's.

Russ Manley said...

Yes, but I wish the process were happening a little faster . . . . it's practically nonexistent here in the deep red states.

Doorman-Priest said...

Us Europeans eh? Just a nightmare scenario for the Religious Right. I expect they'll be banning tourism here soon what with homosexuality being catching and all.

Russ Manley said...

You know it, DP. Europe is just the Devil's playground, it's America that God loves - that's why He told all the God-fearing people to leave and come here to start this great Christian Nation, 'cause there weren't none back yonder where you heathens live . . . .

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