Two Norwegian
opposition parties on Thursday backed the rights of gay
couples to marry in church, adopt, and have assisted
pregnancies, effectively assuring the passage of a new
equality law next month.
The ruling
three-party government proposed a law in March giving gay
couples equal rights to heterosexuals, but disagreements
within the coalition cast doubt on whether it would
receive enough votes to pass.
But two
opposition parties announced Thursday they were backing the
proposals, a move welcomed by gay rights groups, which
should ensure a parliamentary majority and allow the
law to be passed.
''This is a
historic day,'' said lawmaker Gunn Karin Gjul of the Labor
Party, which is part of the ruling coalition along with the
Socialist Left and the Center Party.
''A universal
marriage law allows homosexuals to marry, be considered as
adoptive parents, and have assisted pregnancies, just like
heterosexuals. This means we're removing all
discrimination of homosexuals.''
The new
legislation would replace a 1993 law that gives gays the
right to enter civil unions similar to marriage, but
did not allow church weddings or adoption. Gjul said
lawmakers will vote on the law on June 11, and if it
passes, as expected, it will go into force next year.
''We are very,
very happy.... This is a historic victory,'' said Jon
Reidar Oeyan, leader of the national Association of Lesbian
and Gay Liberation.
Under the
proposed law, gay couples can marry in a church, but only if
a majority in the congregation agree, and clergy
cannot be forced to take the service.
About 85% of
Norway's 4.7 million people are registered as members of the
state Lutheran Church of Norway, although far fewer are
active. The church is split on the issue of gay
marriage and is likely to allow each congregation to
decide on whether to conduct same-sex weddings. It did
the same last year in allowing parishes to decide whether to
accept clergymen living in gay partnerships.
When the law was
proposed, the Center Party said its members of
parliament would vote according to their consciences because
of strong opposition from some to allowing assisted
pregnancies for gays.
The largest
opposition party, the right-wing Party of Progress, also
opposed the law, saying it was being rushed through
parliament without sufficient national debate.
In 1989, Denmark
became the world's first country to allow civil unions
for gays, similar to Norway's current law. In 2001, The
Netherlands became the first country to offer full
marriage rights to gay couples. (AP)
