Sweden closer to same-sex marriage legislation

Jan 21, 2009, 15:04 GMT

Stockholm - Sweden inched closer to adopting same-sex marriage Wednesday with proposed legislation presented to parliament by three of the four parties in the ruling centre-right coalition.

'People in a steady relationship have the need, regardless of sexual orientation, to manifest their feelings and wish to live together,' the proposal said.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's conservative Moderate Party, the Liberal Party and the Centre Party were likely to get support from the opposition.

The three parties failed to woo the Christian Democrats, who remain opposed to a gender-neutral marriage law.

The opposition Social Democrats, Green Party and Left Party also support same-sex marriage, indicating that the proposal will pass and take effect from May.

Since 1995, same-sex couples have been able to form a union in Sweden via registered partnership. The law was later amended to allow them to adopt children.

The new legislation would cover civil marriage ceremonies while pastors and other religious officials would still be allowed to opt out of this.

Asa Regner, head of the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, was critical of the opt-out saying it meant 'people could still be discriminated against.'

Some 80 per cent of Sweden's 9 million people belong to the Church of Sweden, a Lutheran church. It was disestablished in 2000, receiving the same 'faith community' designation as other faiths, such as the Pentecostal, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim.

Currently, 39 faith communities have the right to conduct legally- binding marriage ceremonies.