Postmodern Critic
Morgan Bell
Jeff MusallSweden becomes 7th Country To Legalise Same-Sex Marriage!
April 2nd 2009 16:29
CNN reports:
Sweden's parliament on Wednesday approved same-sex marriage legislation, according to the parliament's Web site.
Previously, two people of the same sex could register their partnership, but with this vote, sex will no longer matter when two people want to get married.
The new "sex-neutral" law will take effect on May 1.
Couples who already had a registered partnership can now either stay in that union or transform it into a marriage if they wish, the Web site said.
The "yes" votes numbered 261, while 22 members of parliament voted "no" and 16 chose not to vote.
The Christian Democrats was the only party opposed to the new law.
"Unfortunately this is not an April Fool's Day joke, this is reality," Yvonne Andersson, member of the Swedish parliament for the Christian Democrats, wrote on the party's Web site following the vote.
The party had instead proposed a law that would remove the word "marriage" from Swedish law and replace it with a legally binding union between two persons, thus separating it from the Christian ceremony that the church conducts.
Asa Regner, secretary general of the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, told CNN 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.
~*~
See, I knew that the rest of Scandinavia wouldn't be too far behind Norway...
Sweden's parliament on Wednesday approved same-sex marriage legislation, according to the parliament's Web site.
Previously, two people of the same sex could register their partnership, but with this vote, sex will no longer matter when two people want to get married.
The new "sex-neutral" law will take effect on May 1.
Couples who already had a registered partnership can now either stay in that union or transform it into a marriage if they wish, the Web site said.
The "yes" votes numbered 261, while 22 members of parliament voted "no" and 16 chose not to vote.
The Christian Democrats was the only party opposed to the new law.
"Unfortunately this is not an April Fool's Day joke, this is reality," Yvonne Andersson, member of the Swedish parliament for the Christian Democrats, wrote on the party's Web site following the vote.
The party had instead proposed a law that would remove the word "marriage" from Swedish law and replace it with a legally binding union between two persons, thus separating it from the Christian ceremony that the church conducts.
Asa Regner, secretary general of the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, told CNN 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.
~*~
See, I knew that the rest of Scandinavia wouldn't be too far behind Norway...
Yay for Sweden!
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Comment by Wilson Pon
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We should give them freedom and let them decide their rights...
Comment by Optomistic Opportunism
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Optomystic Opportunism
To which I stated, "It's a shame the feeling isn't mutual," being that she was talking about gay men. One could not get laid with her by acting gay, because if you cracked onto her in the process she would call you 'fauxmosexual' and dismiss you as a liar.
...not that I tried that stance...
Sweden has certainly been raising free-thinking generations of late, hopefully see more of the same from countries to follow.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Oh boo fucking hoo. What must it feel like, I wonder to be such a bigot in one of the most open minded regions in the entire world? How exactly is Ms Andersson's world going to change now that fags and leszzos have rights too?
Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
You've got it...
Hi Optomystic One,
Well you can love gay men as friends, right? You're thinking too much about it or something
Your Swedish friend sounds very cool.
And yes, it's remarkable how quickly Sweden followed Norway's example and became a pioneer in this respect. I'm very proud of my Scandinavian brothers and sisters, and, like you, hope the trend towards legalising same-sex marriage continues at a speedy pace...
Hi Ruby,
Hey, I'm just glad that the opponents of same-sex marriage in Sweden won't have the chance to repeal the decision, like their Californian counterparts... poor Californians.
I don't want to inhibit your style, but could you please not use the words 'fags' and 'leszzos' on PADSOC? PADSOC is about creating the most positive environment for minority groups and their allies out there, and I don't feel that the terms you are using are ones I feel comfortable with.
Thank you for understanding.
Once again, I am just so happy to hear this news! Sweden rocks my socks!!!
Comment by Jeff Musall
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Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by the world of gaye
batty
Family Madness
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REFLECTIONS
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Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Yes, it's a shame that people are taking so give GLBTI folk the equal rights. Well, violence and child abuse also deserve not to be issues, don't they? But I guess we don't live in a perfect world, and there are always going to be some issues...
Thanks for your comment, and indeed - best of luck to all the Swedish gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered and intersexed people who can now get married...