Norway legalises gay marriage

Norway legalises gay marriage
By Tony Grew • June 11, 2008 - 19:12

Pink News

Members of Parliament in Norway today approved a bill that will allow same-sex couples to marry.

The new law, which passed by 84 votes to 41, will make marriage gender neutral.

The Scandinavian country already allows gay and lesbian couples to enter into civil partnerships, but LGBT rights groups had long complained the law does not go far enough.
In 2004 a similar law, which proposed to abolish the system of civil partnerships and replace it with one single gender neutral marriage law for all citizens, was rejected by the Norwegian parliament.

The new legislation, while not full equal marriage, amends the definition of civil marriage in Norway to make it gender neutral.

It will replace a 1993 law that gives gays the right to enter civil unions similar to marriage, but refuses them the right to church weddings or to be considered as adoptive parents.
As well as more equal partnership rights, it would expand the provision of parenting rights.
Family Issues minister Anniken Huitfeldt, introducing the bill in March, called it "an historic step towards equality." (source)