OSLO, Norway - Gay couples in Norway will be granted the same rights
as heterosexuals to marry, adopt and undergo artificial insemination
under a new equality law passed Tuesday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080617/aponreeu/norway_ gay_marriage
Norway's upper house of parliament voted 23-17 in favor of the
gender-neutral marriage law on the same day that gay couples were
marrying in California. /16-06-08/
The law replaces 1993 legislation that gave gays the right to enter
civil unions similar to marriage but did not allow church weddings or
adoption. It takes effect Jan. 1.
"We are so overjoyed. We have worked for this for so long," said Jon
Reidar Oeyan, leader of the Norwegian National Association of Lesbian
and Gay Liberation.
"Now we are going to celebrate," he said. "I didn't dare until I heard
the chairman of the upper house bang the hammer."
A parliamentary majority had announced agreement on the legislation
last month, and the lower house voted 84-41 in favor last week.
Opponents, including the Christian Democrats and the Party of
Progress, argued that children need both a mother and a father in a
traditional family; opposed assisted pregnancy for lesbians, and said
the law was rushed through the legislature.
The law gives individual congregations and clergy the right but not
the legal obligation to perform wedding ceremonies for gay couples.
About 85 percent of Norway's 4.7 million people are registered as
members of the state Lutheran Church of Norway, although far fewer are
active.
Since the church is split on gay marriage, the church is likely to
allow each congregation to decide on whether to allow gay wedding
ceremonies, as it did last year in allowing parishes to decide whether
to accept clergymen living in gay partnerships.
In 1989, Denmark became the world's first country to allow civil
unions for gays, similar to Norway's outgoing law. In 2001, the
Netherlands became the first country to offer full marriage rights to
gay couples.
Meneame
del.icio.us
No hay Comentarios »