Sweden Moves Closer To Gay Marriage

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: October 5, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET

(Stockholm) Legalized same-sex marriage moved closer in Sweden on Friday when the country's three opposition parties introduced a marriage equalization bill.

Sweden already has civil partnerships under a law enacted in 1995 that gives most of the rights and obligations of marriage to same-sex couples who register.

On Friday, the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Party said the time had come to join the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain in Europe to allow full marriage. Elsewhere in the world, Canada and South Africa also allow same-sex couples to marry.

The measure has wide support within the coalition government of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Two of Reinfeldt's coalition partners, the Center and Liberal parties, already have announced their support for the bill. A third party, the Christian Democrats, is opposed to same-sex marriage.

Although the smallest party in the coalition, the Christian Democrats have been able to use procedural motions to block the government from introducing its own bill.

A spokesperson for the Greens on Friday said that the only way of getting the measure on the floor for a vote was for the opposition parties to join together.

It is expected that with the support of the majority of members from five parties the bill will pass.

A parliamentary committee studying the issue last year called civil partnerships outdated and recommended Parliament allow same-sex marriage.

The committee noted a public opinion poll showed that 46 percent of Swedes are supportive of gay marriage, while 31 percent are opposed. The remainder were undecided.

The Swedish Lutheran Church has said once the bill is approved it will conduct same-sex marriages in its churches