If the new law is passed, couples who have entered such unions would
automatically be considered legally married, said Hans Regner, who led the
committee that presented the proposal. "Two men or two women should be able to
wed and in the future be called spouses," Regner said. "All the rules for
heterosexual spouses will be applied also to homosexual couples."
Same-sex marriage is legal in five other countries: Canada, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Spain, and South Africa. In the United States, only the state of
Massachusetts allows same-sex marriage.
The Swedish proposal needs parliamentary approval but is expected to pass
because same-sex marriage has widespread support in the Scandinavian country,
Regner said.
However, the clergy has been divided on the issue, and the government proposal
would allow individual churches to refuse same-sex weddings. Sweden's
predominant Lutheran Church said last week it would be willing to marry gay
couples in church if the law is changed but that the ceremony would be given a
different name than wedding.
Gays in civil partnerships already enjoy similar rights as married couples. One
difference is that the age limit of 18 years for civil unions is absolute,
while married couples can request an exemption.
