After only brief debate and token opposition, the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) overwhelmingly votes for gender-neutral marriage, allowing same-sex couples in the Scandinavian country to marry.
Radio Sweden reports the center-right coalition government was "split on the issue with the Christian Democrats the only party to oppose the extension of the term 'marriage' to include non-heterosexuals. But in a free vote in parliament 261 MPs voted in favor of the reform, 22 voted no, while 16 abstained.
"Same-sex couples have been able to become civil partners in Sweden since 1995, and the law change doesn’t automatically make them husband and husband or wife and wife, if they want to get married they will have to either have a new ceremony, or send in an application to get the partnership converted into a marriage."
The law becomes effective May 1. Sweden becomes the seventh nation to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, joining Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, neighboring Norway, South Africa and Spain. Only Connecticut and Massachusetts in the United States allow gay and lesbian couples to wed.
Good news and more proof that the world does not implode and Jesus won't be here tomorow as some of the "Christians" in this country claim when same sex loving people want to tie the knot and have equal rights.
Posted by: Luther | 01 April 2009 at 17:04
It's going to be a good while before this country gets to that level. As much as we brag about how advanced we are and the quality of lie here, this country has a history of taking decades just to make moderate changes.
Posted by: Ravenback | 01 April 2009 at 17:28
I just LOVE the Swiss
Posted by: thegaytekeeper | 02 April 2009 at 07:57