22 January 2008
Overwhelming Support For Equal Marriage
in Sweden
From: 365Gay.com
As the Swedish
government prepares to take up legislation that would allow same-sex couples to
marry a new poll shows the idea has the support of 71% of the electorate.
The new survey
indicates a marked increase in support for marriage equality over the past two
years. In 2006 a similar poll found that 46% of Swedes were supportive of gay
marriage, while 31% were opposed. The remainder were undecided.
The public opinion
polling company Sifo conducted the most recent survey of 1000 people between 14
and 17 January.
Like most European
countries Sweden allows civil partnerships. A law enacted in 1995 extended
same-sex couples most of the rights and obligations of marriage but did not
provide for adoption or IVF.
In 2003 the law was
amended to allow registered partners to adopt children and since 2006 women in
registered partnerships have been allowed to receive in vitro fertilisation.
A parliamentary
committee studying the issue has called civil partnerships outdated and
recommended Parliament allow same-sex marriage.
Six of Sweden's seven
political parties support the legislation that would allow same-sex couples to
marry, leaving only the small Christian Democratic Party opposing the measure.
Although tiny in
numbers the Christian Democrats form part of a four party coalition government
and the party has been successful in thwarting government attempts to bring in a
same-sex marriage bill.
The opposition parties
say they intend to introduce their own bill which would break the deadlock and
allow the measure to advance. A vote in Parliament would have little difficulty
in passing.
The proposed
legislation would create gender-neutral marriage, allow churches to perform
ceremonies, provide same-sex couples with the right to adopt children and allow
lesbians to have artificial insemination.
