Denmark To Consider Gay Marriage Legislation; Minister Hopes For Same-Sex Weddings By Spring 2012

One church minister is doing everything in his power to push gay marriage legislation in Denmark.

The government is planning to propose legislation at the beginning of the year, the Copenhagen Post reports. Manu Sareen, the coalition government's church minister, said he hopes to see same-sex marriages legalized in the Church of Denmark by Spring 2012.

Currently, gay couples are allowed to join together through "registered partnerships," a civil union, the Copenhagen Post points out. Denmark was the first country to legalize civil unions in 1989, but the couples still cannot marry in the Church of Denmark.

"I look forward to the moment the first homosexual couple steps out of the church. I'll be standing out there throwing rice," Sareen told Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper.

Danish political parties are reportedly "extremely gay friendly," and many officials took part in the discussion to allow same-sex weddings in the church, an August article in the Copenhagen Post explains.
Scotland and England are both considering same-sex legislation for next year, but like other countries, officials there have faced opposition, namely from the Catholic Church, ATV Today reports.

A May 2011 article in the Copenhagen Post indicates that about 75 percent of Danes support same-sex marriages through the church. Religious leaders acknowledge the public's support for gay marriage and have expressed that a compromise -- such as a "specific marriage ritual for homosexual couples" -- might be the way to go.

New York state legalized same-sex marriages in June 2011. In 2000, Vermont became the first US state to "provide same-sex couples with rights, benefits and responsibilities similar to those of heterosexual couples, including medical decision-making, tax breaks and inheritance," CBC News reports.

Belgium, Canada, Norway, Iceland, Argentina are among the countries that all allow gay marriage today, ATV Today points out.

Comments

[Gyrlznluv]

07:18 AM on 10/26/2011

Goes to show that America is not the leader they what the world to think any more. Many other countries are way ahead of us......

[Conscientiouspirate]

06:24 AM on 10/25/2011

Legalizing same-sex marriage doesn't neccessarily mean that same-sex marriage in a church will be allowed.
As far as I can see the 10 or so countries that have legalized it provide a way to marry through some civil ceremony, but leave it to the church to decide if they should allow church ceremonies. And so far the churches doesn't seem to allow that.

Will be interesting to see if the Danish church allow it.

[Raniee]

08:46 PM on 10/25/2011

I know the Swedish Church allows it.

[mamahappy]

12:18 AM on 10/25/2011

I can't believe Iowa legalized gay marriage before Denmark. I'm so proud to be an Iowan.

[KurtMichaelFriese]

10:27 PM on 10/25/2011

Me too!

[mamahappy]

11:19 PM on 10/25/2011

You live in Johnson County too? I'm familiar with your name. Cook much?

[bbertaud]

08:43 PM on 10/24/2011

Catholics are scared that they will lose so many priests to gay marriage...that's all

[BornOKtheFirstTime]

10:13 PM on 10/24/2011

The Catholic laity is actually very supportive of gay marriage and civil unions. It's the hierarchy that persists in its anti-gay bigotry. But Catholics are quite used to ignoring the Church's bizarre, archaic teachings about sexuality.

[David Moore]

08:25 PM on 10/24/2011

It is interesting that Denmark and the list of other countries that allow marriage equality are not entirely that liberal nations. South Africa and Argentina allow marriage equality. Why can't the United States realize how backward we are?

[Agar1980]

08:15 PM on 10/24/2011

Isn't that funny how it's the church whose trying to get this to happen? Here in the US, it's the same religious people who are screaming blasphemy at any efforts for the government to legalize this "sanctity" of matrimony. The Scandinavian's have truly been pioneers and remain an ideal civilization we could all strive to achieve. I'm actually surprised it wasn't legit already

[SteveMD2]

10:49 PM on 10/24/2011

the sanctity of marriage? Back in the1960s, before scotus banished all laws that diallowed inter-racial marriage, the conservatives rallying cry was.....................

"Protect the sanctity of the white race"

Need I say more. Scotus fixed this problem in 1967.

[bkyf]

02:54 AM on 10/25/2011

Protecting the sanctity of the white race was clearly the motive of the angry, hate-mongering masses. After all, interracial marriage was only illegal when one of the spouses was white.

The real disgrace, in my opinion, was on the part of the courts, who ought to have known better. It was generally held in court cases that anti-miscegenation laws did not violate equal protection because white and black people were discriminated against equally. In other words, they were *equally* not allowed to marry each other.

[Joseph Mustich]

04:27 PM on 10/24/2011

Onward.
Cheers, Joe Mustich, CT USA
Officiant, Celebrant, Justice of the Peace,
& Non-denominational Minister

[Atwill]

03:56 PM on 10/24/2011

That would be nice. would also be nice to DOMA here to die and all states to have gay marriage.

[truth be told again]

04:04 PM on 10/24/2011

I have a gut feeling that the SCOTUS will strike down the "D"oMA, since it exempts itself from the Cosntitution's Full Faith & Credit Clause.

[incandesantlite]

06:30 PM on 10/24/2011

Don't be so certain with the current makeup of the court. Sotomayor, Kagan, Breyer and Ginsburg would probably strike it down but that's not a majority. Roberts, Alito, Thomas and probably Scalia would take a more conservative approach. Kennedy could go either way. I think it will be a couple years before this issue comes before the court so hold out for a little while longer. If Obama appoints one more liberal judge I would say DOMA's repeal is certain. The only one I see going anywhere would be Thomas with all of his "ethical issues". Ginsburg has talked about retiring in the next couple years too though.

[Atwill]

06:32 PM on 10/24/2011

I hope so

[truth be told again]

02:51 PM on 10/24/2011

If you haven't seen it yet, click on the link (in red, between the article and the comments) marked, "Gay marriage consequences in Denmark". Subtle, droll, and ironic as all get out.

[roscoewpa]

12:56 AM on 10/25/2011

yes the youtube link is under the catagory of comedy lol

[valmach]

02:22 PM on 10/24/2011

Scandinavia is always leading the way for the world.

[truth be told again]

02:45 PM on 10/24/2011

Canada's first legally recognized same-gender marriage happened in January, 2001.

[chemistrydoc]

04:16 PM on 10/24/2011

That's great - certainly the first in the Western Hemisphere - Denmark was doing registered civil unions in 1989! And, in Denmark, my feeling is that the majority of unions, both gay and straight, are civil, rather than religious. The Danes have held gay people to be equal to straights since the 1970s. They are possibly the most advanced culture on the planet, in addition to being the most tolerant.

[bbertaud]

08:43 PM on 10/24/2011

Go Canada !!

[BornOKtheFirstTime]

10:17 PM on 10/24/2011

They also did the right things economically. Instead of printing money and increasing debt, they bit the bullet, let everything crash, suffered for a few years and then rebuilt.

And in the US 40% of Americans believe in Creationism! But that's just too depressing to consider. I'll think about that tomorrow.

[rockysparks]

01:12 PM on 10/24/2011

Some homophobe is certain to post, "There's something rotten in Denmark," so I'll save them the trouble, and reply, "Yeah, it's your B&B (breath and bigotry)."

[Contact1972]

01:09 PM on 10/24/2011

And another country moves ahead of us......

[truth be told again]

01:54 PM on 10/24/2011

So many have.

[Contact1972]

09:06 PM on 10/24/2011

And unfortunately so many others will continue to.

[WheelsOnFire]

11:55 PM on 10/24/2011

Just as we were late to the party in allowing gays to serve openly in the military. Peru was ahead of us.

Makes one chuckle whenever someone tries to say that the US is the leader of the free world.

[Contact1972]

12:39 AM on 10/25/2011

Makes one chuckle whenever someone tries to say that the US is the leader of the free world.”
*******************************************
I always add 'unless you're GLBT'.

[Ioan Lightoller]

12:03 PM on 10/24/2011

The US may have same-sex marriage in some locales but it does not have it on a national level which is where it needs to go.

[truth be told again]

12:04 PM on 10/24/2011

Agreed, Ioan. 101%.

[Dirk1]

12:03 PM on 10/24/2011

Good for the Danes.
Another country emerges from the dark ages of Christian hatred.

[SteveMD2]

11:02 PM on 10/24/2011

Most of hte westeernized world has cus or marriage. The usa is considered the most religious Kountry in the west. Get the point?

[truth be told again]

11:59 AM on 10/24/2011

South Africa, Mexico, the United States - ALL have same-gender marriages too.

[Mikeygr]

01:04 PM on 10/24/2011

I live in Florida - which is in the United States - and I don't have the option to marry. Unless and until your statement becomes true in all states, there is NOT same-gender marriage.

[truth be told again]

01:54 PM on 10/24/2011

Mike, I do understand that not all States recognize same-gender marriages (ESPECIALLY Florida). But, you DO "have the option to marry". You can go to Massachusetts, New York, Canada - ANY place that doesn't have a residency requirement - and you cna get legally married. After that, it will (still) be up to you to fight for equal recognition of your perfectly legal marriage. I do encourage it.

[DonJM]

02:26 PM on 10/24/2011

I'm sure your wonderful governor has this at the top of his agenda!

[lhrgarcia]

06:03 AM on 10/25/2011

Actually only Mexico City allows same-sex/gender marriages. The rest of the country still needs to follow.