Danish Parliament OKs Homosexual Marriages
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COPENHAGEN — The Danish Parliament voted by a 2-1 margin today to legalize homosexual marriages, crowning a 40-year campaign by the country’s gay community and reaffirming Denmark’s liberal reputation.
“This represents a great step forward for gays and lesbians in Denmark,” said Bent Hansen, secretary of the National Assn. of Gays and Lesbians. “Our association has been fighting to get this law passed since it was founded in 1948.”
Only Sweden has passed similar legislation. It gave homosexual couples almost the same rights as those of married heterosexuals last year.
Homosexuals in Denmark may now enter a “registered partnership” giving them equal rights in housing, pension and immigration matters.
Among the few areas still closed to them are the right to adopt children and to demand a wedding in the dominant Lutheran Church, although it is already common for priests to give such partnerships a blessing.
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