Sweden moves
closer to marriage equality

Sweden's parliament is currently considering replacing the nation's civil partnerships with legalized same-sex marriage. A parliamentary committee studying the issue referred to civil partnerships--legal in Sweden since 1995--as outdated. They recommended parliament legalize same-sex marriage next year and allow gay couples the right to marry in churches.

A recent poll found that 46% of Swedes back same-sex marriage, while 31% oppose it, and the rest remain undecided. However, some conservative lawmakers jumped on the poll numbers.

"Less than half of the people support homosexual marriage, and you still want to carry it out," legislator Yvonne Andersson told the committee. "I am disappointed that the report is so nonchalant about [public] opinion."

If Sweden legalizes same-sex marriage, it would join the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Canada as the only nations allowing gay couples to wed. (The Advocate)