Same-sex marriage in Norway

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Same-sex marriage became legal in Norway on January 1, 2009 when a gender neutral marriage bill was enacted after being passed by the Norwegian legislature in June 2008.^[1][2] Norway became the first Scandinavian country and the sixth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

Registered partnership

Norway has allowed same-sex registered partnerships since the April 30, 1993 act, which came into force on August 1, 1993. Norway became the second country to do so, after Denmark, which implemented a registered partnership law in 1989.

Registered partnerships granted virtually all the protections, responsibilities and benefits of marriage, including arrangements for the breakdown of the relationship.

The act states that the articles in the Adoption Act relating to married couples shall not apply for registered partners. It also follows from the Act on Biotechnology that artificial insemination can only be given to a married couple or cohabitants of opposite sexes. In 2002, however, registered partners were allowed to adopt their partner's children.

In 2002, Reuters reported that around 150 couples registered their partnerships each year. One of the more notable people to register a relationships was former Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss.^[3]

Couples who have registered their relationships may retain their status as registered partners or "upgrade" to a marriage since the new law has taken effect. However, no new registered partnerships may be created.

Same-sex marriage

May Hansen celebrating the June 11 vote outside the Parliament of Norway Building

A bill was proposed on November 18, 2004 by two MPs from the Socialist Left Party to abolish the existing registered partnership laws, and make marriage laws gender neutral. The move was withdrawn and replaced by a request that the cabinet further investigate the issue. The Conservative cabinet of that time did not look into the issue. However, the Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet announced a common, unified marriage act as part of its foundation document, the First Declaration of Soria Moria. A public hearing was opened on May 16, 2007.^[4]

On May 29, 2008, the Associated Press reported that two Norwegian opposition parties came out in favour of the new bill, assuring its passage at the vote on June 11, 2008. Prior to this, there were some disagreements with members of the three-party governing coalition on whether the bill had enough votes to pass.^[5]

The first parliamentary hearing, including the vote, was held on June 11, 2008, with the lower house approving by 84 votes to 41 a bill that allowed same-sex couples to marry.^[6][7] This came after the Norwegian government proposed a marriage law on March 14, 2008, that would give lesbian and gay couples the same rights as heterosexuals, including church weddings, full joint adoption and assisted pregnancies. The new legislation amended the definition of civil marriage to make it gender neutral.^[8][9][10] Norway's upper house passed the bill with a 23–17 vote on June 17. The King of Norway, Harald V, granted royal assent thereafter. The law took effect on January 1, 2009.^[11][12][13]

In addition to providing a gender-neutral definition of marriage, the bill states that when a woman who is married to another woman becomes pregnant through artificial insemination, the other partner will have all the rights of parenthood "from the moment of conception".

Four different polls conducted by Gallup Europe, Sentio, Synovate MMI and Norstat in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008, concluded that 61%, 63%, 66% and 58%, respectively, of the Norwegian population support gender-neutral marriage laws.^[14][15]

See also

• LGBT rights in Norway
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe

References

1. ^ Norway adopts gay marriage law
2. ^ New law in Norway grants gay couples marriage rights
3. ^ "Norway names gay prime minister, briefly". Gay.com. 2002-01-25. Archived from the original on 2002-02-02. http://web.archive.org/web/20020202060419/http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2002/01/25/2. Retrieved 2008-06-12. 
4. ^ "Norway Moves To Legalize Gay Marriage". 365gay.com. 2007-05-16. Archived from the original on 2008-04-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20080417103302/http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/03/031408nor.htm. 
5. ^ Majority in Norwegian parliament agrees on new law allowing gay weddings, adoptions
6. ^ Same sex marriage law passed by wide majority
7. ^ "Norway legalises gay marriage". 2008-06-11. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7926.html. Retrieved 2008-06-12. 
8. ^ Norway moves to legalise gay marriage
9. ^ Gays to win marriage rights
10. ^ Ravndal, Dennis; Gjermund Glesnes and Øystein Eian (2008-06-11). "Tårer da ekteskapsloven ble vedtatt" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=513117. Retrieved 2008-06-11. 
11. ^ "Norway Gay Marriage Bill Passes Final Hurdle". 365gay.com. http://www.365gay.com/news/norway-gay-marriage-bill-passes-final-hurdle/. Retrieved 2008-06-17. 
12. ^ Norway passes law approving gay marriage
13. ^ Norway approves same-sex marriage
14. ^ Norway Offers Legal Marriage
15. ^ Support for gay marriage